AT THE SAME TIME
ISABELLA
The cafe had officially crossed into unreality. Not the fun, quirky kind. Someone is about to pass out or confess to murder. My parents were staring at the copper haired man like he had walked straight out of a locked memory. Xavier and Aiden stood frozen near the door, tension sharp enough to cut glass. Wanessa had climbed onto a chair for a better view, because of course she had. Michael was behind the counter whisper-praying to whatever god protected baristas from narrative disasters. He stood there like this moment had always belonged to him.
"I suppose." The man said calmly, eyes never leaving mine. "This is the part where I stop pretending."
The system flickered weakly above the pastry case.
"CAUTION." It warned. "IDENTITY DISCLOSURE MAY CAUSE MEMORY DESYNCHRONIZATION."
"Oh, hush." Wanessa muttered. "You started this."
The man inhaled, slow and steady, like someone bracing himself.
