Echoes of you

Telling the Truth

The words hung between them like fragile glass, waiting to shatter at any moment. Sophie stared across the table at Aiden, his expression frozen in an unreadable mix of confusion and disbelief. She had just told him everything—the voice she'd heard in her mind, the connection she'd felt to Riven, the ritual that had brought him into her world. The impossible story that had become her reality.

For a long moment, Aiden didn't say anything. He just sat there, blinking at her as if waiting for the punchline, as if expecting her to laugh and say it had all been a joke. But Sophie wasn't laughing.

Her heart pounded in her chest, her hands trembling slightly as she gripped her coffee cup. She had known this would be hard. She had known it would sound crazy. But part of her had hoped that Aiden, of all people, would try to understand. That he would believe her.

"Aiden..." Sophie began, her voice small, unsure. "Say something."

Aiden shook his head, running a hand through his hair, his mouth opening and closing as if he couldn't quite form the words. Finally, he let out a long breath, his eyebrows drawing together in a mix of concern and uncertainty.

"I don't," he began, his voice hesitant. "I don't even know where to start, Sophie."

Sophie's heart sank, dread pooling in her stomach. "You don't believe me," she said softly. It wasn't a question. She could see the doubt in his eyes, the way he was struggling to make sense of what she had just told him.

Aiden rubbed the back of his neck, looking at her with a painful expression. "It's not that I don't believe you," he said carefully. "It's just... what you're saying, it's... it's impossible. You're telling me that some guy from another dimension... just appeared in your apartment?"

Sophie swallowed hard, nodding. "Yes. I know it sounds insane, but it happened, Aiden. He's real."

Aiden's gaze softened slightly, his concern for her growing more evident. "Sophie, I'm worried about you. You've been distant, avoiding me, and now you're telling me this... I don't know; it sounds like maybe you're going through something."

Sophie's heart twisted painfully. She had expected doubt, but this—this was worse. Aiden thought she was losing her mind.

"I'm not crazy," Sophie said firmly, though her voice wavered slightly. "I know how it sounds, but I'm telling you the truth. Riven is real. I wouldn't make something like this up."

Aiden sighed, leaning back in his chair, clearly struggling with how to respond. "I've never known you to make stuff up, Sophie. But this... it's just... it's a lot. You're asking me to believe something that doesn't make sense. Dimensions? Rituals? I don't know how to process that."

Sophie bit her lip, her throat tightening with frustration. "I didn't know how to process it either, Aiden. But it's happening. I need you to believe me."

Aiden stared at her, his expression unreadable, and for a moment, Sophie felt a crushing weight in her chest. Maybe he would never believe her. Maybe this would be the thing that drove a wedge between them and tore apart their friendship. The thought made her stomach churn.

Before she could say anything else, Aiden let out another sigh and ran a hand down his face. "Look, Soph," he said softly, "you're my best friend. I care about you, and if you're saying that this Riven guy is real, then... I'll try to believe you. I just need to understand."

Sophie blinked, caught off guard by his words. "You... you'll try?"

Aiden gave her a small, tentative smile. "Yeah. I mean, I don't get it, but I trust you. So, if you say it's real... then I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. But," he added, holding up a hand, "I'm gonna need to meet this guy. I need to see it for myself."