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Cold water
runs down on me as soon as I turn on the shower. The coolness of the water barely soothes my restless mind.
The voices, the images—they never stop.
Never. I remember everything like it happened yesterday.
It’s like a curse, eating me up inside.
Bit by bit.
To avoid it as much as possible, I bury myself in work. I work until my body can’t take it anymore, until I’m so exhausted I fall asleep, just to escape my thoughts.
And now I’m back in London after seven years in New York, studying finance and becoming the CEO.
Thinking that time would heal everything was the biggest lie I ever told myself.
They say ‘time heals all wounds,’ but I scoff at that. Time does nothing. We just get used to the pain, the wounds, and how to handle it all.
I grab a towel as I turn off the shower. I’m only supposed to be here for two days, but because of Arhaan—and her—I’ll be staying a week.
I can’t stop myself.
I’ve tried. Over and over. But I always fail.
Being near her feels like winning and losing everything at once.
It’s strange, so strange that I can’t even explain it to myself.
I could conquer the world, but in front of her, I lose it all.
I never thought someone so small could have such a big impact on me. I thought staying away would make it easier to forget her. But distance only made it worse.
It’s not right, I repeat in my head like a mantra.
I need it not to control me, but whenever she’s in front of me, I forget to look away.
Drying my hair, I slip into a white shirt and sleek black pants. Turning the doorknob, I step out, only to be met with her in my sight.
Black doe eyes stare straight into mine.
She stands near the bed, frozen in place. Her hands clutch each other, and her eyes are now filled with shock.
I raise a brow, expecting an explanation for why the princess has come to my room.
Finally, breaking the silence, she speaks awkwardly. "Oh… well, I... I thought this was Arhaan's room." She glances at the doorway before looking back at me.
