William sat back in his chair, the soft rustle of pages turning the only sound in the silent library. The journal lay open before him, a relic of a self he barely remembered but desperately wanted to reclaim. The faded photo of Archie tugged at something deep inside him—a mix of warmth and ache.
His phone buzzed again: I need to hear you say the truth, William.
He hesitated, fingers hovering above the keyboard. How could he explain the labyrinth of memory loss, family secrets, and expectations? How could he admit that part of him wanted to run, not toward a future with Amanda, but back to the man whose face haunted his dreams?
A sharp ping interrupted his thoughts—a video call from Amanda.
William's breath hitched. He swiped to answer.
Amanda's face filled the screen, eyes red-rimmed but fierce.
"We need to talk," she said, voice trembling with equal parts anger and vulnerability.
"Yeah," William said softly. "We do."
-
Later that evening, Archie waited outside the campus coffee shop. His phone buzzed—William was on his way.
Anne met him there, already with a cup of steaming tea.
"Ready?" she asked, eyes steady.
Archie nodded, though his heart pounded. "I have to know. I need to understand."
William arrived moments later, looking worn but resolute. The three of them sat at a corner table, the weight of unspoken words heavy between them.
William took a deep breath. "Amanda... she's not just someone I'm engaged to. She's part of the life my family wants me to live. I don't hate her—I think she's trapped too. But my memories—my past—feel like a different person's story. And you, Archie... you're the missing piece I've been trying to find."
Archie's eyes filled. "I want to believe that, William. But how do we move forward when there's so much between us?"
William reached across the table, taking Archie's hand. "By being honest. No more secrets. No more pretending."
Anne smiled softly. "Sounds like a start."
Meanwhile, Amanda sat alone in her room, staring at her phone, conflicted but beginning to understand that the life she thought she wanted might not be hers to keep.