In Another's Skin

Embers Preserved In Frames

Chapter 33: (Aaira's pov)
6 August, 2025.

The following days felt like a surreal blur, each one blending into the next with a strange mix of comfort and unease. It had been six days since I'd started living in Ian's home.

I had tried my best to maintain a polite distance from Ian, not wanting to give him the wrong signals. I was married, and he knew it now. But even with this knowledge, there was an underlying tension in our interactions.

It wasn't that Ian was unkind or intrusive-quite the opposite, in fact. He was considerate and respectful, always making sure I had everything I needed. Yet, there was a certain awkwardness, making our conversations stilted.

Each morning, I would wake up to the sounds of the house stirring to life. The soft hum of the magical machine that would wash the clothes itself, the clinking of dishes in the kitchen, and the gentle murmur of voices as Ian and Azura started their day.

I would lie in bed for a few moments, gathering the strength to face another day away from Jungkook and Aimin. The ache of missing them was a constant companion.

Azura was a bright spot in my days. Her boundless energy and innocent curiosity were a welcome distraction from my own thoughts. She would often burst into my room in the mornings, her face lit up with excitement as she clutched her stuffed kitten.

I couldn't help but smile at her antics. She reminded me so much of Aimin, and the bittersweet pang of missing him would resurface every time I saw her. I took care of my wound on the shoulder too.

Ian, for his part, was unfailingly polite. He would greet me each morning with a gentle smile, asking if I had slept well and if there was anything I needed. Our interactions were cordial but brief, both of us seemingly aware of the unspoken boundaries between us.

I was grateful for his kindness, but I also felt a growing sense of awkwardness. There were moments when our conversations would falter, and an uncomfortable silence would settle between us.

The night was still, the house cloaked in a comforting quietness. Azura had insisted on sleeping in my room. Her small body snuggled close to mine, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. She reminded me so much of Aimin. I wish I had Aimin with me too.

Azura: Aaira, sleep here.

Her voice was small, and I had no heart to deny her. I smiled weakly, nodding my agreement.

Aaira: Alright, Azura. You can stay here.

As we settled into bed, Azura fidgeted with something small and rectangular in her hand. The same thing that scared me that day, which has my photo in it too. She caught my curious gaze and her face lit up with excitement.

Aaira: What are you playing with ?

Azura: Phone!

Aaira: What is it ?

Azura: You, no know ?

I shook my head as no, as she held up the device, its sleek, black screen reflecting the dim light of the bedside lamp. My heart pounded in my chest. I had never heard of these strange devices from the stories people in the 1800s told, but seeing one in real life was different, it's like a magic.

Aaira: A phone?

Azura: Yes! Can call, play games, watch videos!

The concept seemed alien to me. A device that could do all those things? I stared at it, my curiosity piqued but also filled with trepidation. She was giggling when she mentioned the name games, I could never imagine playing games in this small rectangular thing.