The doorbell rang just as Dahlia was arranging her books on the shelf. Her body tensed instantly. She wasn't expecting anyone.
She approached the door slowly, remembering the landlord's warning. But this time, there was a reason. She had posted the ad for the apartment.
She opened the door.
Kali was there, a backpack slung over her shoulder, a radiant smile on her face, and an energy so warm that for a second, the grey hallway seemed to glow.
"Are you Dahlia?" she asked, extending her hand.
Dahlia nodded, hesitating before touching her. But when she did... something sparked. A shiver ran down her arms. Kali also paused for a moment. An eternal second.
"I'm Kali. Kali Gethwine," she said.
Dahlia froze. That last name. Gethwine. Her ex had the same one. Was it just a coincidence? And those eyes... light grey, exactly the same.
"Gethwine...?" she repeated softly, almost to herself.
Kali looked at her with a slight smile. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, it just... reminded me of something," Dahlia replied quickly, then changed the subject. "Come in, you can leave your things wherever you want."
Kali stepped inside, looking around curiously.
"It's great. It has soul," she commented as she dropped her backpack on the floor. "Have you been here long?"
"A few weeks," Dahlia replied. "I like the quiet. Although sometimes it's a bit too much."
"Well, looks like I'm here just in time to ruin that peace," Kali said with a playful half-smile.
Dahlia laughed, surprised at herself.
They spent a couple of hours talking in the living room while eating pizza. Kali shared stories about her sisters, her old high school, her friends. Dahlia listened attentively, contributing little, but with gestures that spoke louder than words. She spoke briefly about Alone, about working in a café, and studying Philology. Nothing more. Not yet.
"You know," Kali said as they cleaned up the pizza box, "I feel like I already know you. Weird, right?"
Dahlia nodded slowly. She felt it too. A strange familiarity, like a forgotten song playing once again.
Night gradually wrapped around them. Each one retreated to her own room. But sleep brought no rest.
...
Kali's Dream
She was running through a green meadow. Her dress was simple, from another era. She was ten years old. Laughing. And someone else laughed with her.
Dahlia. But it wasn't Dahlia. It was another little girl with the same face.
They ran among flowers, screaming, playing. They held hands and spun around. The sky was vast, and everything felt eternal. A voice whispered something in her ear. She couldn't remember what.
...
Dahlia's Dream
They were in a small wooden cabin, lit only by a candle. They were six years old. They whispered secrets into each other's ears, giggling. Kali, although younger, had the same laugh.
"Promise me we'll never forget each other."
"I promise."
Dahlia woke up suddenly, her heart racing. She sat up in bed. Stared into nothingness.
What was that?
...
The next morning, Dahlia woke up first. She got up quietly, preparing coffee with automatic movements. The aroma filled the kitchen, slowly coaxing Kali to appear, messy-haired and wrapped in a blanket.
"You're already up?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.
"For a while now. I had trouble sleeping," Dahlia replied, pouring two cups.
"Me too... I had a really strange dream. I was in a field, with a girl who was... you."
Dahlia placed the cup on the table, avoiding her gaze.
"You were in my dream too. We were six years old."
They fell silent. The coffee steamed between them. Neither dared dig deeper.
Maybe they were just dreams.
They had a quiet breakfast, got dressed, grabbed their things, and headed off together toward the university. The sun bathed Aarush in an unusual warmth. They walked side by side. Still distant, but with something invisible already forming between them.
The cycle had begun once again.