I wake up with a sense of anticipation, my mind immediately jumping to the evening. I'm meeting Stella today, again. Something about her lingers in my mind, like she's more than just a new face in town. There's just something about how easily we clicked, and I can't shake the feeling that today will be just as easy, just as... right.

Still, the day drags on. Each hour feels like it's stretching just to mess with me. I keep checking the clock, feeling restless. Lunch, a quick walk around the neighborhood, even scrolling through my phone—it's all just passing time, until it's late enough to head to the park. I'm not nervous exactly, but there's an energy in me that wasn't there yesterday. I am no doubt excited to meet her.

My wait is over soon and the time finally comes. I grab my jacket and step out the door, hurriedly. The walk to the park feels lighter today. I find myself moving quicker, eager to reach the park.

As I reach the park, the familiar sounds of laughter fill the air, with kids messing around as always. The flowers bloom vibrantly, their colors seemingly more alive today. I make way to the bench, settle down and wait for Stella.

Five minutes pass.

Then ten.

Fifteen.

Twenty.

She doesn't show up.

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"Maybe she got caught up in something," I mutter to myself, trying to brush off the growing unease.

But as the minutes drag on, the weight in my mind grows. I check my watch again. Two hours have passed since I arrived, and still, there's no sign of her. Each tick of the clock feels like an eternity. I scan the park, looking for any sign of her, but I'm met with disappointment.

The laughter of other kids echoes in the background, but it feels distant. It's as if the world around me is continuing on, unaware of my turmoil. Yet, I can't shake the feeling that something is off.

"Maybe she just lost track of time," I tell to myself. But deep down, I sense that this isn't just a simple delay. There's an unsettling feeling creeping into my thoughts, a sense that something more sinister might be at play here.

The sun is about to set. With a heavy heart, I finally decide to leave. As I walk home, I replay our last conversation in my mind. It feels like a distant memory now.

'Why didn't she come?'

I ponder the possibilities. Did I misjudge her interest? Or did something prevent her from meeting me? My thoughts spiral, turning over every detail, every word exchanged, and I can't shake the feeling that I might never know the truth. That I might never see her again.

By the time I reach home, the sun has dipped below the horizon. The door creaks as I push it open, and the familiar sight of home greets me.

I head straight up to my room, thoughts racing in my mind. I need something to clear my head. I turn on the water heater and wait, the soft hum filling the silence in the room.

A warm bath—that's what I need.

Once the water is ready, I sink into the tub, letting the heat relax my muscles. For a moment, I allow myself to melt into the warmth, with my mind going blank.

But the peace doesn't last long.

As I close my eyes, an image of Stella flickers into my mind—except something about it is not right. She looks... terrified. Her eyes are wide, darting around frantically, her face pale.

"Help! Help! Heliar, help!"

Her voice echoes in my head. I shoot up from the water, breathing uneasily, my heart pounding.

"What the hell was that!?" I gasp, standing there, as I try to piece together what just happened. Just what was that?

I step out of the tub, questions flooding my mind.

What's going on? Where is she? What's happened to Stella?

The vision, or whatever that was, felt too real to ignore. There's something seriously wrong with my mind. First the dreams with that bird, now this...

I grab a towel and dry off quickly, my mind still shaken. Her image is burned into my memory now, impossible to forget.

Something has happened. Something bad. And I need to figure out what.