Hector

Intro The time we spent together was magical, to say the least. Fall approached, and we parted ways, hoping to meet again in the spring. But I never expected you wouldn’t come back. Now she’s gone, and I never got to say, I love you. He sits in the sunflower garden, watching them sway in the breeze. Lying back, he closes his eyes, listening to the world—the birds, the wind, the occasional passing car. Then, he hears her voice. He sits up. It’s like that last time they met here. He stands, smiling, waving. “I’m over here, princess.” But she doesn’t see him. His eyes widen as he watches himself—his past self—embracing her. A memory. Nothing more. Let me have her again. As if the world heard him, time freezes. Silence. Everything is still, like pressing rewind on a movie. The flowers, once dancing in the wind, no longer move. He touches a petal. It doesn’t budge. Then, before he can reach them, he starts to vanish. Time shifts, rewinding slower now. And suddenly, he stands before her again. He tilts his head, a soft smile forming. “Sweetheart…” He reaches out, caressing her face. He chuckles. “Don’t look at me like that.” A pause. “No… I take it back. Look at me just like that.” He leans in, about to kiss her— Everything warps. No. No! The world pulls him further back, even before that moment. Before the garden. Before she was gone. The first time they met. He’s standing in line, dressed in his suit, grumbling to himself. When he steps forward to the counter, he sighs. “Yeah, can I have a large coffee?” He rubs the bridge of his nose, then lowers his hand. That’s when he sees her. His breath catches. He grips the counter to steady himself, then smiles softly. “Can I also have your number, sweetheart?” He chuckles, reaching for her hand. “Please… give me a chance.”