No one was there when she looked back.

  The moment she stepped through the door, everything changed.

  Warmth. Light. A breeze that smelled like spring and something sweeter, unnamable.

  Unlike the draining heaviness of the forest, this world gave her energy. It wrapped around her gently, like an old friend pulling her into an embrace.

  The land stretched in shades of lavender and gold. Trees with silver leaves shimmered under floating lanterns. Strange, adorable creatures with curious eyes peeked out from behind glowing mushrooms. Somewhere in the distance, music played—soft, magical, welcoming.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  She walked, dazed, through a meadow of swaying flowers that lit up with her touch. People began to appear, dressed in soft robes, their eyes kind and warm. They didn’t stare or whisper. They smiled. They welcomed her. Some bowed.

  And for the first time in forever… she felt seen. Celebrated. Loved.

  Children tossed flower petals in the air as she passed. A girl placed a crown of glowing lilies on her head.

  “You’ve come home,” someone whispered.

  She didn’t understand what they meant—but something in her heart responded, aching and hopeful.

  And then… she saw him.

  The boy.

  He stood at the top of the hill, bathed in sunlight, his eyes locked on hers with that same familiar warmth. But there was something more—an ache in his gaze. A secret.

  Her heart skipped.

  She ran to him.

  But just before she reached him… she heard a whisper. Not from him. From the wind.

  “She mustn’t remember yet.”

  She froze.

  He smiled gently, as if he’d heard it too.

  And in that moment, a flicker of memory flashed behind her eyes—

  A crooked tree.

  A shattered carriage.

  A woman screaming.

  And then—darkness.