The risk of love is loss | a Lovely Runner Fanfic

Prologue

Prologue: A Love Transcending Time

Im Sol gazed at the delicate timepiece on her wrist, its golden hands ticking away steadily. To anyone else, it might have seemed like an ordinary watch, perhaps a bit old-fashioned. But to Im Sol, it was so much more – a key to the past, a bridge across time, and the very reason she now stood beside the love of her life, Sun Jae.

Fifteen years, three time jumps, and countless tears had led to this moment. As Sol's fingers absently traced the watch's smooth surface, memories flooded her mind – memories of a past that no longer existed, of timelines erased and rewritten.

She remembered the first jump, triggered by a devastating accident that left her paralyzed in high school. In that timeline, she had watched helplessly as Sun Jae, her idol and secret love, met a tragic end. The second leap had been deliberate, a desperate attempt to change their fates. She'd succeeded in avoiding her own accident but failed to save Sun Jae from a killer's blade.

The third and final jump had been the hardest. Sol had distanced herself from Sun Jae, erasing herself from his memories in hopes of keeping him safe. For years, she had carried the burden of their lost connection, the weight of a love remembered by only one.

But fate, it seemed, had other plans. Their paths had crossed again when Bon Cinema, the production company where Sol worked as a PD, sought to cast Sun Jae in their new drama. The moment she saw him again, all the feelings she had tried to bury - and she tried so hard, came rushing back.

Now, as Sol stood on the balcony of their honeymoon suite in Positano, Italy, she could scarcely believe how far they had come. The warm Mediterranean breeze carried the scent of lemon blossoms and salt air, and the setting sun painted the sky in hues of gold and pink. It was a view straight out of a fairy tale, but even its beauty paled in comparison to the sight of Sun Jae emerging from their room to join her.

"There you are," he said, his voice warm with affection as he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. "Lost in thought again?"

Sol leaned back against his chest, reveling in the solid warmth of him. "Just thinking about how lucky I am," she replied, turning her head to meet his gaze.

Sun Jae's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled, and Sol felt her heart skip a beat. Even after all this time, he still had that effect on her. "I'm the lucky one," he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her temple.

As they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms and bathed in the golden light of sunset, Sol silently thanked whatever forces had finally allowed them to be together. The road had been long and fraught with heartache, but every struggle, every tear, had led to this perfect moment.

Little did they know, their journey was far from over.