Zhang Yi 's pov

Qíng Yù, forgive me........ I didn't mean to leave you......" (From a faint fading voice) 

  The faint voice echoed in my mind as I jolted awake. My heart pounded in my chest, I sat up, gasping for breath, drenched in sweat, and my sheets tangled around my legs. 

 The dream still lingered a jumbled mess of images and emotions in me. The dream had been too real, too vivid. 

 I could still smell the incense, freshly cooked street food and fresh produce from the market, the strong earthy fragrance of dried herbs, and that sterile, antiseptic scent of a hospital. 

  My mind replayed the images, trying to make sense of them. It was all tangled together in my mind, swirling like memories instead of a simple dream.

 “That same dream again…” I muttered, rubbing my temples. 

 I found myself in the middle of a crowded and busy market, its narrow alleyways lined with wooden stalls covered by colourful silk canopies. 

 The scent of incense, roasted duck, freshly cooked food, and fresh produce filled the air, blended with the earthy fragrance of dried herbs and spices stacked in neat piles. Lanterns hung above, swaying gently in the breeze.

 Around me, women in traditional hanfu clothing were bargaining over bolts of embroidered silk, while elders in a traditional changshan sat by the tea stalls, sipping their drinks.

  In the middle of all this, a little girl rushed past me, her traditional handbok flowing as she run. Her laughter ringing like a bell as she chased after brightly colored kites that danced in the air.

 “Slow down, Rú Yi!” 

 I heard a voice call out, soft yet firm. I turned to see a woman not far behind, dressed in a traditional kimono, her face kind and warm as she tried to keep up with the girl. 

 “ Come back here, Rú Yi! Listen to your mother." 

 Another voice called out. The voice turned to the woman. 

  “Bâo Huā, you’ll lose her in this crowd!” 

  I recognized it instantly. The woman’s name was Bâo Huā, and she was the little girl’s mother. 

 I knew them, though I had never met them. Their names settled into my mind as though I’d always known it.

But what marveled me was that the little girl and her mother looked exactly like me and my mother. 

  As they walked through the market, Bâo Huā began to fade away, her body dissolving into thin air. Leaning close to Rú Yi, she whispered,

  “Be strong, little one… Be strong…”

Rú Yi reached for her mother, but her hand grasped only air. It was too late. Bâo Huā was gone, leaving Rú Yi alone and scared. 

  The market dissolved into chaos, with people running and screaming. Rú Yi was left standing alone, calling out for her mother. 

  The dream shifted. Suddenly, i found myself in a different life, a different environment, and at a different place.

  This place was far more modernized than the last dream. 

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  I was in the hospital room.

  The antiseptic smell hit me first, followed by the sound of machines beeping steadily.

  A young lady sat beside the hospital bed, gently holding the hand of a middle-aged woman, who was lying on the hospital bed, whom I assume was the young lady’s mother.

  The woman’s breath was shallow and uneven, each inhale barely lifting her chest, as if every breath was a struggle to hold onto life. 

  Her mother's eyes, weak and tired, locked onto hers, her lips parted slightly, her voice barely above a whisper.

  "I'm sorry, Qíng Yú", “forgive me.... i didn't mean to leave you..,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. 

  My heart ached, and tears pricked at the corners of my eyes.

  I felt a tightness in my chest, an ache as though I had experienced this loss myself.

  I wanted to cry, to reach out to them. But the dream dissolved before I could react, leaving me alone with the overwhelming weight of the emotions.

  I sat in bed, staring at the morning light creeping through the curtains.

  I have been having these dreams for weeks now, and they always ended the same way—loss, confusion, and that unbearable sadness. 

  I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the feeling of unease. 

  As i got out of bed and began my morning routine, I still couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. 

  I felt different, like there was a part of me that i couldn't quite access. 

  It was as if I was watching a reflection of myself and my mother, a life I had never lived but somehow knew.

  I glanced in the mirror, catching my own reflection. But something felt… off. Like I wasn’t looking at myself—like I was looking at Rú Yi. 

  Rú Yi… Who are you? The name echoed in my mind as I muttered under my breath, “And Qíng Yù… 

 I have been thinking about the dream I had, since the minute I woke up from bed. It felt mysterious, strange, and so real. Why do I always have this same dream? What’s so special about this dream? Why do i feel that those names sound so familiar? Rú Yi......Who are you..... “I murmured to myself” and Qing Yú,

  Gosh, why am I speaking to myself. 

  I pressed my hands to the table, grounding myself. My head was spinning again. 

  “Zhang Yi, are you okay?” My mother’s voice cut through my thoughts.

  I turned to see her approaching from the kitchen, concern etched on her face. 

  “You’ve been acting strange this morning. Shouldn’t you be excited for your first day of college? " 

  Baby, what's wrong”? My mother asked with concern

  "Qíng Yi ... "I whispered to myself

Come on, tell me what the matter is 

 I hesitated. How could I explain the strange dreams, the weight they carried?

  “It’s just these strange dreams, 

  Mom… They feel so real.”

  My mother's expression turned serious. 

  "Strange dreams?" “She asked. " I nodded

"Yeah, I see a woman lying on a hospital bed every time and a woman and her daughter in traditional clothes. They looked exactly like us. "

 "It felt like she was sad to leave her daughter behind, and she encouraged her to be strong. I can still remember their names. Rú Yi, yes, her name was Rú Yi, her mother was , Bâo Huā and……… "

 My mother's eyes widened, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of fear in her eyes. But then, her expression smoothed out, and she smiled. 

  “it’s fine, my child” She interrupted. “It’s just a dream, sweetie. Don't worry about it”. She reassured me.

  “But Mom, I just can't shake off the feeling that there's more to this dream. 

 "Rú Yi looked just like me when I was young... isn't it weird to have the same dreams, seeing people I have never seen, with the same names each time and the same ending every time ...” 

 “Sweetie, it was just a dream, okay. Don't worry yourself over this. And get ready for your first day of college, Meiying will be here in no time”. 

 I had been so lost in my own thoughts, replaying the strange dream over and over in my mind. 

 How could I have forgotten, I felt a wave of panic rise as I realized I hadn’t even thought about it once.

 “Oh my God,” I mumbled to myself. “I was so caught up in that dream, I completely forgot today’s the day.” 

  Right on cue, the door swung open, and Meiying bounced in, her usual bright energy filling the room. 

“Morning, Auntie! Morning, Zhang Yi!”

“Morning,” I muttered, glancing at her with a half-smile. 

 “ Gosh, is she spirit or what. Why does she always appear anytime her name is mentioned”. I murmured to myself. 

  “You’re not even going to say you missed me?” Meiying teased, nudging my arm. 

 I rolled my eyes. “We talked last night. Don’t get so dramatic.”

  “Okay, you both should stop the fight and get going. You’re already late”. My mother said while coming from the kitchen. 

I was so engrossed in the quarrel that I didn't even realize the moment my mom left for the kitchen.

 ” Why do I always lose my senses when I'm around this silly girl”? I murmured to myself. 

 “You couldn't have breakfast, so I packed some food for you," my mother said while approaching with a lunchbox in her hands. 

  "Eat when you get to college, OK ... and, please baby, don't bother yourself about that dream again, okay”. she added.

  “Okay, don't worry about me, mom. I'll be fine”. I said to my mother with a warm smile. 

Meiying grabbed my arm, practically dragging me toward the door. “Come on! First day, Zhang Yi! Let’s make it count!”