Aria's breath came out slowly.
White in the cold air.
"But… I'm here."
Her voice trembled.
"I'm standing right here."
Kael watched her carefully.
"Yes."
Silence stretched between them.
The frozen city surrounded them.
A car hung in the middle of the road.
Its wheels slightly above the ground.
A bird floated in the air.
Wings open.
Never landing.
Aria stepped toward the street.
Her hand reached toward the frozen coffee cup in the man's hand.
Her fingers touched it.
Cold.
Completely still.
"Why aren't they moving?"
Kael answered quietly.
"Because this moment isn't supposed to exist."
Aria pulled her hand back.
"What does that even mean?"
"You died."
The words came again.
Simple.
Heavy.
"Yesterday."
Aria shook her head again.
"No."
Her voice was louder now.
"No, I didn't."
Kael didn't move.
Instead he slowly looked toward the road.
"The car hit you."
Aria felt her chest tighten.
"You're wrong."
"You never woke up."
Her heartbeat grew louder.
"Stop saying that."
"You were supposed to disappear."
The silence after that felt enormous.
Aria looked around the frozen world again.
Then back at him.
"If that's true…"
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"…why am I still here?"
Kael's eyes held hers.
For a moment,
something unfamiliar appeared in them.
Concern.
Then he said the words slowly.
"Because someone broke time."
Aria's throat tightened.
"Who?"
Kael didn't answer immediately.
Instead he looked down at his coat.
At the place where the cracked pocket watch rested.
Then he whispered something so quietly
it almost disappeared in the silence.
"…me."