393: SHIFTING PERSPECTIVES ARIEL’S POV The minutes passed by, Luke and I were in the car, as I drove in silence, the rhythmic hum of the engine seemed to amplify the weight of the situation. I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of my stomach, a constant reminder of the skepticism that lay ahead. Glancing at Luke from the corner of my eye, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. I was guilty of what he was going through, for the turmoil his mind was in, and for the things I had yet to reveal. Well, not that it was my fault or that I should be guilty, but it was just a thought, and it couldn’t escape my head. Still gazing at Luke, his profile was illuminated by the soft glow of the dashboard lights, casting shadows across his features. He looked lost in thought, his brow furrowed in enthrallment, as if trying to piece together fragments of a puzzle that refused to fit. I couldn’t begin to imagine what was going through his mind, the confusion and frustration that must be paddling around inside him. And yet, despite it all, he remained remarkably composed, a substantiation to his strength of character. Turning my attention back to the road, I focused on the rhythmic pattern of the passing streetlights, each one a fleeting reminder of the miles we had yet to travel. The silence stretched on, heavy and apprehensible, filling the car with an unspoken tension that seemed to hang in the air like a thick fog. But through the quiet, a sense of solidarity began to take root within me. Despite the doubt of our circumstances, I knew that we were in this together, bound by a shared history and a promise of companionship that transcended memory. And so, I drove on, the steady measure of the road beneath us a comforting reminder that no matter how twisted life may seem, there was always a path forward, waiting to be discovered. Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed when Luke finally broke the silence, his voice soft and hesitant as he spoke. “Ariel…” 料 I turned to him, startled by the sound of my name on his lips. His eyes met mine, searching for something I couldn’t quite name. “I just want to say… thank you,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “For everything.” His words caught me off guard, a swell of emotion rising within me at the sincerity of his acknowledgement. Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I managed a small smile. “You don’t have to thank me, Luke,” I replied, smiling incompletely at him. “I’m just doing what any person in this world would do.” He nodded a faint smile right at the corners of his lips. “Still… I appreciate it. Everything feels kind of strange, but I appreciate it. And once again, thank you.” 393 SHIFTING PERSPECTIVES 2/3 My smile grew wider. At this moment, as the miles stretched out before us and the world outside faded into darkness, I knew that no matter what twists and turns lay ahead, we would face them together, bound by a bond that even the most twisted of paths could not break. Get a perfect view of it. A lot of terrible things had come right at us. Different villains in our story, heartbreaks that one could barely count. But still, the sun always shines brightly upon our lives, and the setting is in the positive sectors, coming out of the negative scenes that unfold. We continued our journey, and the heaviness of our shared silence seemed to press heavier upon us. The cadenced hum of the engine provided the only constant in the otherwise still atmosphere. The city lights began to fade behind us as we approached the gated entrance of our mansion, a chandelier of familiarity, right there, and we might still be clouded with gloom, but we would overcome this eventually. Pulling up to the imposing gates, I glanced over at Luke, expectancy tingling in my veins as I awaited his reaction. But as his gaze swept over the grandeur of the estate, I noticed a change of perplexity in his eyes, a shadow of dubitation clouding his expression. “This… this isn’t where I used to live, is it?” Luke’s voice broke through the silence, his tone streaked with disbelief. “No, Luke,” I replied softly, my heart aching at the realization of his lost memories. “You… moved here. Currently, this is our home. Not the normal mansion you used to live in.’ Luke’s brows furrowed in confusion, his mind undoubtedly struggling to reconcile the reality before fin with the fragmented memories of his past. “But… what about my grandfather?” he asked, his voice vibrating with distrustfulness. I hesitated, my heart clenching with a load of unspoken words. I knew that revealing the fate of his grandfather could unleash a tidal wave of grief and pain, emotions that he may not be ready to confront in his current state of confusion. But at this point, as I met Luke’s pleading gaze, I made a silent vow to protect him from unnecessary suffering, even if it meant withholding painful truths for the time being. “He… he’s not here right now, Luke,” I replied carefully, choosing my words with deliberate caution. “But let’s focus on the present, okay? We’re here together, and that’s what matters.” Luke nodded, though the furrow in his brow remained, a silent voucher to the turmoil raging within his mind. “So, don’t you think it’s time we leave the car?” I asked him. “Yeah, sure.” He nodded and left. I burst out as well. “So now you’re telling me that this is my house,” Luke vocalized as the both of us moved forward. “Yes, Luke. This is your house.” 393: SHIFTING PERSPECTIVES 3/3 We passed through the gate, and there was Marcus in his usual position. “Wassup, Marcus?” I greeted hirn. “Evening, miss,” Marcus greeted back, standing upright immediately. “Good evening, sir.” Luke made a puzzled cast, and he looked at me. “Who is this man?” The look on Marcus‘ face showed that he was colossally stunned by Luke’s words. But what could he say? I generated a smile that’s sort of fake, reaching out to Luke’s shoulder. “Let’s get going. We can talk about that later.” After that, the two of us traipsed away, leaving Marcus alone. I could tell he was still going through the goddamn shock. And finally, we both entered the mansion. The familiar grandeur of the foyer welcomed us with its opulent furnishings. “Welcome home, Luke,” I said softly, guiding him further into the expansive hallway. Luke’s gaze wandered, taking in the elegant surroundings with a mixture of awe and confusion. I could sense his struggle to reconcile the unfamiliar with the fragments of memory that danced just beyond his reach. But as we walked, a wave of warmth enveloped us as the familiar faces of the household staff greeted Luke with genuine delight. Their smiles were infectious, banishing the shadows of doubt that lingered in his yes. Mariam emerged from the sitting room, her face lighting up as she caught sight of her nephew. “Luke, darling, you’re back!” she exclaimed, rushing forward to envelop him in a warm embrace. And then, as if on cue, Celine appeared at the top of the staircase, her expression a mixture of relief and longing. “Luke!” She went to hug him quickly, but Luke was just giving her a stupefied face. He kept on with the expression as he brought out, “Mom, you’re alive?”
