The air feels new, but kind of polluted. But it was nice with the two of them together. There's chaos everywhere—from the airport to the end of the city in the east. Ember and Rhea stood outside the airport, waiting for Charles, his personal driver, who was also his buddy, to come back with a rented car. The noise in the atmosphere seemed to cease by the nightfall.

"Where are you staying for the night?"

"With you," Embed smiled.

"But I can't take you home with me," Rhea said, rather worriedly as they seated themselves in the car.

"But can you take yourself home at this time of the night?"

"What do you think of me?" Said Rhea, pretty agitated, "of course I can. I've been living here in this city my whole life."

He flicked her head, "silly, I'm speaking about you parents. Won't they question you if you go back home this late and that too, with this heavy luggage?" The car stopped at an empty ground. "You don't wanna go to your neighborhood friend's home for a vacation. You packed so much!"

"Ahhh," she nodded in agreement, "you do have a point! No doubt I raised you well," she patted his shoulder and rushed out of the car, giggling. He ran after her, trying to control his laughter.

Running on the grassy ground, Rhea skidded and fell flat on the land. Ember finally reached her and picked her up.

"Ah! Why didn't you catch me??" She nagged, rubbing her nose.

"Sorry...I wish it was some drama," he said, apologizing, helping her find the wound. He asked Charles to fetch some band-aids as he wanted to spend some quality time with her, "sit down, it feels good."

"The grass may be dirty....What! Why are you sitting already?!"

"It's nice here, sit down!" He held her hand to pull her down.

"MY JEANS!"

"Mine are also dirty!"

"Your jeans are ripped anyways! You can cut another whole!"

"As if! Where would I cut?" Ember laughed.

"The-" Rhea laughed out loud, "hahah."

"You know what....I love to see you laugh. Even though it's not so proper here in this light setting. But at least I can feel your presence and hear your laughter," he confessed, looking at the sky.

Rhea smiled, "and you know what? These little arguments are what I look for," she giggled, "I love to argue with you over silly things."

"Really?" He lied down, smiling and she didn't bother staying seated anymore either. They both lied down. "Rhea..." He looked at her, "do you remember now?"

"Rem...ember what?"

"Uh-" Ember hesitated to start this conversation, "the-"

"......." She looked at him because she knew something was up with him.

"The desk in the mall classroom, you, me, Loraine and Maple, Alicia and Neel... Noor... Jessica... Nikki... Sabrina and Miranda... Nason... Painting.... The USB I left for you... The four kids in a small village of Kerala...

And the death of one-"

"WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!" Rhea rose up, holding her head tightly with both of her hands.

"I'm talking about the bicycle we rode together till the end of the bridge, the sweet shop we met after ten years of separation. I'm talking about the fearless Arorhea who saved me at the age of four,

The Ember who couldn't speak Hindi, the crash course centre, the flirty pick up lines that faded over time, the painting of the wall of the hospital room, the songs we sang, the white empty canvas..."

"ENOUGH EMBER, STOP IT."

"Sweet autumn clematis," he sighed, "and I hope this time I'm not that unimportant to you. You have to remember me! You NEED to Remember US, Rhea!" Ember shouted.

The whole world vanished into a white fade and soon turned into void. Numbness spread in from head to toes.

"RHEA?!"

"Brown eyes are just brown eyes until you fall in love with someone who has brown eyes,"

"You haven't changed, have you, Rhea?"

"It's Ember Cardilia Helberg! Remember? Or Berry, your children friend!"
"No...I don't remember growing up with a foreigner with blonde hair."
"It's not blonde. It's yellow," he chuckled.
"Huh? Whatever you say."

"I remember but you forgot....was I that unimportant to you?"

"Was it a bad day?"
"Yes, it was an ugly day! Tell me something beautiful," Rhea said.
"Arorhea,"
"What is it?"
"Something beautiful," Ember smiled.

"Isn't it wonderful?" Ember pressed his face over his palm.
"What is?"
"That we laugh because our bodies cannot contain the joy."
"Yes, you're right," She smiled and looked down, "It's the little things that matter."

"Always," he said.

"Always," she said.

Little things.

"I just cannot see myself in a future with you," Rhea said.
"Art and love are the same thing. It's the process of seeing yourself in the things that are not you."

A gentle breeze flew through their hair. She stopped and turned towards him. He was already looking at her. She slowly moved her hands towards his blonde hair, gently touching his flicks.

"Rhea?"
She smiled.
"You smile a lot. It's my favorite thing in the world, seeing you smile."
"Of course I smile lot. You're my happy place after all," she smiled.

"You must be hiding so much pain behind that smile—"
"Rhea..." He interrupted, "if I tell you about my past, it's not because I want you to feel sorry for me but so you can understand why I am who I am."
"You're okay, right?"

"It's so unfair that you get to be so beautiful when everything is so ugly down here!"

"Love cannot be concealed. Even a small love."

"You'll fall in love before you know it."
"But I don't want to fall in love. Because everything that falls...breaks."
"You only break when it ends. If the fall continues for eternity you can never break. And it's only death which brings the ending."

"I want you to stay in my life....because look at me, without when realizing it, I told you things I never thought I'll ever tell anyone."

"Ember," she whispered.
"Yeah?"
"You said you'd fight for me," she smiled subconsciously, "I'd fight for you too."
"I know you will, Rhea, I know."

"You have such a beautiful voice, Ember."
"You do too," He looked at his feet and smiled, "I can make music endlessly, but it's only your voice that calms me down," he turned to her brown eyes.
"Don't look at me,"
"Why?" He chuckled.
"Your eyes....make me shy."

* * * * *

"I'm sorry....Rhea....I shouldn't have forced these words inside your head so impulsively. My way was wrong. But I'm getting impatient now. I'm becoming restless. I can't wait for you to remember me. Please remember me,

I'm Ember Cardilia Helberg. We were four years old when we met. Remember Neel, Alicia...you need to remember all of us. You need to remember yourself!

Even though I can't remember any farther than the empty hospital room and the wall we painted and the songs we sang... I do hope you had lived well and forgot about me. But now it's time that you wake up and remember me. Remember me, okay?

Remember your Ember.

Yours.

* * * * *

The world started to appear again. She blinked her eyes twice until she saw Ember. It was a hospital room that he sat inside, beside her. Her hand was in his. She got up in the speed of light.

"Why am I here?!"

Charles bowed, "miss Arorhea, you fainted."

She removed the blanket from her body and noticed the band-aids on her knees. She said, "people would think I'm crazy! Ended up in a hospital because of such timid wounds!"

Ember chuckled, "it's a nursing home that's really deserted. No one minded a guest. Plus you're not here because of these wounds."

Rhea sighed.

"But, Rhea..." He leaned towards her, "do you...remember now?" He was quite concerned.

She gasped. The very next second, she got down from the bed and rushed out of the room. He was about to follow her but the doctor had just arrived, "wait! There's paper work to do!"

"Charles, take care of it!" He said and ran out of the hospital after her.

Arorhea ran in the middle of the streets, panting heavily, dodging the vehicles on the road, ignoring the drivers shouting, "IF YOU DESIRE TO DIE, GO JUMP OFF A CLIFF! NOT IN FRONT OF MY CAR," until she reached a house in her neighborhood and rang the bell.

Alicia received her and received a big hug, "w-woah, Rhea, you're back," she said, "but so soon?"

"I missed you!" Said Arorhea with teary eyes.

Alicia was stunned, "wow, I wonder what good deed I have done in my previous life to have such a good friend!" She chuckled and then held her shoulder to push her farther and look at her face, "not a good friend who AGAIN didn't inform that she was AGAIN going to America!!! I had got to know about it from you cousin!" She stomped her on the doormat.

Rhea ignored her words. She was too happy to see her. Alicia's anger melted away and they hugged again.

"I missed you too," she smiled.

"Oh!" Rhea remembered something else, "see ya later then! I have something to do!" She said and ran into the street again, "let's have a good chat later!"

"Geez..." She smiled and closed the door, "she looks homeless. I wonder how things went in USA."

Rhea remembered someone else now. Someone more important, whom she was supposed to remember first. After all he did for her. She ran on the sidewalks until she noticed him walking towards her with a smile.

"EMBER!" She called him and rushed in for a hug. He smiled. Not like the usual one. He smiled differently. More happy, peaceful, delicate and beautiful. She held onto him for a while until he realized what was going on with her.

"I'll never leave you again," he said that brightened up the smile on her face, "until I die of old age," he received a punch on his stomach, "ow!" He chuckled and held her tightly.

He wanted to say a few more words to her. Something that wasn't said in the previous life. The words of love. But he hesitated. Though his heart was tingling with the urge to scream it out, he waited impatiently for her to say it first.

"Take me home," she smiled. But that wasn't the reply he awaited for.

"Always," smiled he anyway as they started walking towards Rhea's home which was about five minutes away from Alicia's house.

They stood at the door of her house. She was reluctant to press the calling bell. Charles stood behind them with her suitcase.

Jessica opened the creaking door, "HEY-" She lowered her voice down, "hey!" She whisper shouted as she noticed Charles picking up a call.

"Let us in, Jess," laughed Ember with his arms folded.

"Are you sure you wanna go in? Her mom's inside. Plus her dad. And did you get back your passport?"

"Too many questions! Just let us in!" Rhea said and Charles began whispering something to Ember.

"Jess, please take the suitcase we have somewhere to be," Ember said.

"W...where...?"

"Places," he smirked.

"Ohhhh," she laughed, "go, I'll tell her it was the mail man asking for direction."

"Thanks!"

They sat in the car again and drove back to the airport.

"Why are we heading back?" Rhea questioned.

"To meet someone," Ember answered.

"Loraine and Maple? Is it important? We can send them my address."

"Do you think it would be a good idea to return from America without your passport fixed?" He smiled and looked ahead at the windshield.

"They are bringing my passport?!" She rejoiced, "seriously?! So fast?!"

"Happy or not?" He chuckled.

"Relieved!" She laid back on the seat.

* * * * *

Loraine and Maple walked with their bags and luggages. Loraine dressed up formally, as if going for a business meeting or in a banquet hall. He had a bow tie attached to his neck and his tuxedo was maroon on color, with black trousers and polished shoes.

On the other hand, Maple wore a red, sun and palm tree printed loose shirt with the top button unbuttoned, as if going to a beach of Hawaii or the Bahamas. He was wearing 'aloha' printed blue shorts and flip flops. He also had a sunhat, shades on his eyes and a flower garland around his neck.

"Your brothers are so extra," Rhea rolled her eyes, looked over and glanced at ember, who was wearing a white hoodie with white denim, white sneakers and a white jacket. It was June. It was freaking JUNE. "You're no less," she rolled her eyes at the headphones around his neck and airpod plugged into his ears. He also had a wristwatch and white socks on. "You guys are so weird!" She shivered and ran towards Loraine and Maple.

She noticed someone walking behind them. The face was well hidden by their heads. It was Sabrina. She walked out from behind and Ember smiled. Rhea wasn't expecting that.

"Arorhea," said Sabrina, looking back at Loraine, "let's go somewhere, we need to talk."

Rhea clenched at her heart and asked Ember for the permission to follow with her, through her eyes.

His eyes smiled, "of course."

They walked for about a minute and now they walked on grass rather than the paved roads of the airport. They were in a children's park. Sabrina walked ahead of Arorhea. She had a sudden pause near the swings and turned back to face her.

"Sit," she said.

"N-no," she said and thought, "what if the swing falls down?"

Sabrina crossed her arms, "are you wondering if the swing will fall on the ground?"

Rhea nodded with the thought, "you do are self-aware."

"Ugh," Sabrina sat on a swing to prove it to her that it was safe to sit even though she had never been here before. Rhea sat on the other one.

She swung her golden flocks of hair back and took out a paper bag from which she unfolded something and handed it over to Rhea.

"Your....passport...and your family's," she said with a face full of guilt and didn't look at Rhea's, "everything is solved. Dad worked on it. And....you can go back to the states with your family anytime you want."

"But would you like that?" Asked Rhea as she slowly got the hold of the envelopes.

"Of course I won't," Sabrina smiled, "but it's not like you're invited to my house."

"And we're not even in the same school anymore. So yeah,"

"You're still in school?" Laughed Sabrina.

"Final year of college," Rhea tucked her own hair behind her ear.

Sabrina got up, "fine, then, all the best with that and....and him," she said as she looked at the Helberg cousins approaching them. Rhea had her eyes wide open to see her. "I hope to never see you again," Sabrina whispered as they got closer to them and smiled.

"Same," Rhea smiled back, "but you're invited to my birthday party. We can do that after that."

"Haha okay. Get my number from Ember. I'm hoping that he ain't gonna leave here any soon."

Rhea nodded, "at least not for now."

"Text me the address and birthday date. I'mma go back home now. See you at your party," she gently patted her shoulder and left after exchanging smiles with everyone, "and thank you...Rhea."

Loraine walked her back to the airport to see her off. Maple followed them, "see you in the evening then! Loraine and I are gonna go book some place for us to stay."

"Oh, and don't forget to contact Lia!" Said Loraine from a distance.

"Oh yes, I must tell the news to Lia di," Rhea said to herself as she began searching for her phone in her bag, "wait a second. How does Loraine know her?"

"She helped us solve the case. Remember the news reporter in the clip he showed us the day before yesterday?" Ember explain, "that's her."

"Are you serious?!"

"How come have you not recognise her by her voice?"

"She was speaking English!"

Ember chuckled. He smiled with both his lips and eyes as the went back to her home. Rhea had an unusual sweet smile too. Their eyes shined into each other's after she was done talking to her new elder sister.

* * * * *

They stood at her doorstep again and he pointed at her red suitcase buried inside a bush beside the wall. She had almost lost it.

"You're bag isn't here," Ember said.

"Wha-" She gasped, "someone must've stolen it!" Suddenly she received a text from Jessica asking her to came back with Ember. "With Ember?" She looked up from the phone screen and knocked the door. Noor opened it and rejoiced after seeing her. He looked unusual. He hugged his elder sister. She was surprised about it.

"Good thing that you didn't forget to bring back the bag di," Noor joked and Rhea and Ember realised that the bag was with her the whole time. The siblings held hands to the living room with Ember carrying the suitcase and the envelopes into the living room.

Mr. And Mrs. Laghari waited impatiently for them and sighed of relief at the sight of her. But they were a little taken aback seeing a blonde inside the household. Not just a blonde. He must be a God. A blonde one. He smiled and joined hands.

"Namaste," said he with a sweet, non-native American accent, "I'm Ember Cardilia Helberg. I brought your daughter back home safely."

"Emb- ur- we heard about you," Mr. Laghari said, "from Jessica. Thank you so much for your kindness and help," he said in English with a decent Indian accent. Rhea noticed both of the men's nervousness while speaking to each other.

"Dad, here," Rhea hesitantly took the envelopes from Ember's hand and passed them to her father, "he helped me restore them. And we're invited back for an apology from t-them-" she panicked, "oh, you can see the news where-"

"Arorhea, okay, relax!" Her father cut her off and stood up to hold her hands, "I'm extremely sorry, for not having enough trust in you."

Mrs. Laghari hugged her, "sorry beta, we should have listened to you," she said in Hindi and Mr. Laghari hugged her too, "we have watched the news already."

Noor joined them. And Ember took that opportunity to click the moment into a picture. He got only one as he was pulled into that hug too. Someone knocked at the door and walked in without any permission.

A middle aged lady in a yellow silk saree with a tiffin box full of food in her hand said, "hello ji!" She said, "I made some gajar ka halwa for you all."

"Ah! Mrs. Sharma!" Mr. Laghari rushed towards her with a chair, "sit down, please." His wife rolled her eyes.

"Oh Rhea, I heard you were on a trip!" Said Mrs. Sharma in haryanvi accent, "oh and who's this? Oh my God, he looks like a God! Who is he?"

Rhea smiled and pulled Ember out of the house with her, leaving her mother speechlessly laughing in surprise at her daughter shouting, "MY SOULMATE!"

-to be continued...

"I hope to never see you again"
— Sabrina Calire Wilson