Chapter 2: The Last Time Again
I walked out like always.
Quietly closed the door, slid the key in slow to not wake anyone, and stepped into the night.
I didn't even check the time. I knew it had to be around ten.
This walk wasn't like the others though.
This time, I was heading out for someone. Not just because I couldn't sleep.
She asked if we could walk again. And I said yes.
I followed the usual path — down the street, past the silent houses. Around 400 meters out from home, just before the bridge, I saw her.
She was sitting under the streetlamp again. Same hoodie. Headphones around her neck. Still. Quiet. Familiar.
I walked up to her with a small smile.
"Hey… shall we go?"
She looked up at me. Her face didn't change.
No smile. No hint of recognition.
"...Who are you?"
That caught me off guard.
I blinked.
"…Huh?"
She looked at me, calm but confused.
"I'm sorry, do I know you?"
That moment hit harder than I expected.
I took a step back, trying to keep my voice steady.
"I thought we met yesterday," I said. "We walked. You said we could meet again today."
She looked away for a second. Then quietly said,
"I forget things. I have this... condition. It's hard to explain. Sometimes I wake up and my head just... resets. Like parts of yesterday are missing."
I didn't know what to say.
She wasn't joking. She wasn't playing with me.
She just genuinely didn't remember.
I nodded slowly, awkwardly.
"Ah… I'm sorry then. I didn't mean to bother you."
I turned to leave.
And just as I took a few steps, she called out—
"…Have we met before?"
That one stopped me.
Froze me in place for a second.
I wanted to say yes. I wanted to remind her how she made me feel less alone last night.
But I didn't want to make it harder for her.
So I kept facing forward and said quietly,
"I don't think so. I just mistook you for someone else."
I started walking again.
Then she called out once more—
"…Wanna walk together?"
I turned slowly.
She was still sitting under that light, looking at me like something in her heart remembered, even if her mind didn't.
And I couldn't help but smile a little.
"…Yeah," I said. "Let's walk."
Even if she forgot again tomorrow…
I'd still come back.