SERIS was helping Elena to water her herbs when suddenly an image flashed in her mind, so suddenly that it stole her breath. A man and a woman—faces blurred by the haze of memory, yet their presence feels achingly familiar—holding both of her hands.
The man’s grip was firm, and it felt like a protective shield. The woman’s touch was soft, and it felt like it carried the scent of flowers. They’re walking her—no, accompanying her—through a forest bathed in silver moonlight. She can hear their voices, faint and distant, like whispers carried in the wind.
For some reason, her chest tightens painfully. Are they, my parents?
The thought crashes over her like a wave, sharp and cold, because the truth is… she doesn’t know. She never knew.
She could not remember anything about her childhood
