A scene appeared in front of me.
Young Aria sat at the kitchen table, eating breakfast while Mom rushed around getting ready for work.
But Young Aria didn't notice any of it — she was glued to Mom's phone, watching one of Evelora's shows with the kind of focus people only had when they were being paid.
"Aria, baby, you need to stop watching all things Evelora," Mom said gently, breaking the silence.
"You're slowly forgetting reality."
"Am I banned from watching a little of her shows, Mom?" Young Aria asked, eyes still locked on the screen.
"No, sweetheart, you're not banned… but this is more than a little. This is too much."
Mom tried to continue, but the school bus honked outside. Young Aria hadn't heard a single word — too lost in her obsession to realize Mom was trying to help her.
Mom kissed her goodbye. Young Aria waved and ran toward the bus.
The moment she stepped inside, she froze.
Everyone was cheering for her — like she was already a celebrity.
She couldn't help smiling. She didn't say anything as the cheer grew slowly, carefully, it felt like she didn't want to ruin it.
I saw it all.
I felt it all.
Before she could even sit, kids she'd never spoken to greeted her.
It was new — but to her, it felt like the beginning of the future she dreamed of.
She sat beside Marie, who was practically glowing.
"So, I guess people still remember my presentation?" Young Aria asked, smiling proudly.
"Why wouldn't they? It was legendary," Marie replied with a huge grin.
"But I didn't even put much effort into it," she lied.
I remembered how hard she'd practiced.
Marie raised an eyebrow.
"You sure about that? I know you, Aria. You prepare for everything."
"Fine, you caught me. I prepared like Evelora does before giving a speech."
They laughed, and the bus rolled into school.
In the classroom, everyone paid attention to the lesson — everyone except one boy.
He stared at Young Aria like they were in a silent competition she didn't know she'd entered.
Back then, I thought it was nothing.
But watching it again… a sharp pain cut through my chest.
Class ended. Students packed up and left, but the boy stayed sitting there like he owned the room. Young Aria spotted Marie leaving and almost followed, but the teacher called her name.
"Aria, hold on! Please see me in my office."
Fear flashed across her face.
"Yes, ma," she said quietly, trying to figure out what she had done wrong.
Before leaving the classroom, she looked back —
and the boy was still staring.
Their eyes met for a moment, and she quickly looked away, hurrying toward the office.
She knocked gently.
"Come in," Ms. Susanna said.
"Good day, Ms. Susanna," Young Aria whispered.
"Oh — sit, sit, Ariana," she said warmly, pointing at the chair.
"Thank you, you called for me. Did I do something wrong? Am I in trouble?" She asked looking worried
"You're not in trouble. I called you for a good news, your mom is on her way." She said after seeing Aria's worried look
"Good news? Why is Mom coming too?" Young Aria asked, panic rising again.
"What I'm about to share is important," Ms. Susanna said seriously.
"It needs both you and your mother."
Young Aria nodded, trying to stay calm.
Then Mom burst into the office — out of breath.
"I'm here!" she announced.
"Moooom, you didn't knock," Young Aria said, embarrassed.
"Oh! Sorry."
Mom stepped back out, knocked properly, then poked her head in.
"May I come in?"
Young Aria, Mom, and Ms. Susanna all burst into laughter.
"Of course, Mrs. Larken," Ms. Susanna said, still chuckling.
I laughed with tears on my face emotions mixing at once, creating an unbearably bittersweet moment. I already knew the 'good news.'
I wished I could warn Young Aria — show her the weight of the consequences she was about to step into — but all I could do was watch it unfold, as though the memories were never mine to begin with.