LOVE BEYOND TIME

CHAPTER 1: WHATS'S THAT BOOK?

After a week of recuperation, Mia was released from the hospital , marking her return to school.

She experienced mixed feelings on her first day back at school: exhilaration, nervousness, and a hint of melancholy. She could still feel the usual buzz of the school as she strolled through the hallways, but it felt different. Everything seemed more ephemeral and valuable.

Mia sat with her pals during recess; they were happy to see her again. In the courtyard, where the sun streamed through the trees and created dappled light on their faces, the group gathered around their regular table.

"Hi, Mia! She was embraced tightly by her best friend Lily, who said, "We missed you so much!"

"Yeah, school was so boring without you," Jake smiled teasingly and continued. "Do you even know how much I was struggling with math without your help?"

Mia laughed in a way that was musical and gentle, making her companions happy.

"I also missed all of you. Even though I'm only here temporarily, it's nice to be back."

Another close friend, Sophie, leaned forward with a worried voice. "What state are you in? Are you certain you're prepared to return? You realize that you don't need to exert yourself."

Mia acknowledged their concern with a nod. "I'm doing fine. Even if I needed the relaxation, I can't live at home all the time. I want to spend as much time as possible with you people here and create some memories."

Her buddies looked at each other, melancholy colored on their smiles. They all tried not to think about it too much, but they understood what she meant. But they were motivated to make every day matter by Mia's resilience and optimism.

The group began returning to class as the bell sounded, announcing the end of recess. Mia stopped and turned to face the school building.

"You guys go ahead," she added in a light-hearted tone. "Give me a minute or two to catch up. I have a task to complete first." Her companions gave her space by nodding. They respected Mia's desire for her alone time because they knew she enjoyed it.

Mia moved toward the library, her footfall resonating across the deserted corridor. She had seen Ethan for the first time here, in a moment that seemed to have happened in a previous life. The smell of old books welcomed her as she pulled open the library entrance, and she experienced an odd sensation of calm.

And there he was. Ethan sat at the same table where she had seen him before, engrossed in a book. Time seemed to stop as she gazed at him, her heart skipping a beat. There was something about him that drew her in, a connection she couldn't explain. His presence was calming, yet it stirred something deep within her.

She walked over to him, her steps soft, almost hesitant. When she reached his table, she stood there for a moment, watching him as he read. His brow was furrowed in concentration, his lips slightly parted as if he was mouthing the words on the page.

Mia cleared her throat gently, trying to get his attention. "Hey... what are you reading?"

With a fleeting glance up at her, Ethan's eyes slid back down to the book. "Just a high school love story," he said in a calm, aloof tone of voice. "It's my favorite novel."

His posture was tense somewhat, as if he didn't want to be disturbed, and Mia noticed it. She was not, however, going to give up so quickly.

With her gaze fixated on his face, she took out a chair and sat down across from him. "Are you serious? Those are the stories that I also adore. They're sort of consoling, really," she remarked quietly, attempting to continue the discussion.

When Ethan did look up at her, their dark eyes met for a fleeting second. Something was in his stare, maybe pain, maybe a fear of approaching someone too closely. He swiftly put his head back down and buried himself in the book once again, as though attempting to escape the outside world, before Mia could say anything more.

Heart hurting, Mia watched him. She was all too familiar with the impulse to block out the world and shield oneself from the unavoidable. She wanted to make the most of their remaining time, even if it required breaking past his barriers, because she was aware that they wouldn't have much.

With a little lean, she spoke in a soft yet persistent manner. It's wonderful to tell those stories to someone sometimes, you know. They seem more genuine as a result."

After a brief moment of hesitation, Ethan sighed gently and lowered the book a little. His eyes lingered on her once more, slightly curious this time. "I guess... you're right."

Mia smiled a warm, understanding smile that seemed to reach into his guarded heart. "Maybe you could tell me about it sometime? I'd love to hear what makes it your favorite."

Ethan didn't answer right away, but there was a small, almost imperceptible nod. It wasn't much, but it was enough for Mia. She knew she had planted a seed of connection, and she was determined to nurture it, even if it took time.

As the school bell rang, signaling the end of recess, Mia stood up, giving him one last look. "I should get back to class. But I'll see you around, okay?"

Ethan nodded again, and as Mia walked away, she felt a strange mixture of hope and sadness. She knew they were both on borrowed time, but maybe, just maybe, they could find something beautiful in the days they had left.