Yesterday Once More

Chapter 1 - Between Yesterday and Tomorrow

Today marks three years with Eli. I didn't expect much. He wasn't big on celebrations, I knew better than to hope for grand gestures. Still, a small part of me, tucked away in a quiet corner of my heart, wanted to be surprised—just a little. There was a faint sadness that I couldn't shake, but it was something I had grown used to. Eli was busy, I told myself. And if he forgot, I could understand. But that didn't mean I couldn't try to make today a little special, even if it was just for me.

I woke up earlier than usual, feeling the kind of nervous excitement that I hadn't felt in a while. I wanted to surprise him, maybe brighten his day with something small. After all, I wasn't looking for fireworks, just a moment—a simple reminder that today was ours.

After getting ready for class, I decided to leave the house earlier than planned. Living with my family in our cozy bungalow meant my commute to the university took longer, especially compared to Eli's, who lived just a short walk away. But today, I didn't mind the extra distance. I took a taxi to our favorite coffee shop, the one we used to go to when we first started dating, back when everything felt fresh and new.

It was still early when I arrived. The shop wasn't too busy yet, and I liked it that way. I ordered two iced lattes, one for each of us. I smiled to myself, imagining the look on his face when I handed him his drink. I found a seat near the window and waited, tapping my phone to call Eli.

No answer.

Of course, I wasn't surprised. Eli rarely answered his phone, even on the best of days. He was always too engrossed in something, whether it was his studies, work, or just the noise of life. But still, I tried. I sat there for a little while longer, sipping my iced latte, watching the morning crowd slowly fill the shop.

After a few minutes, I realized there was no point in waiting here if Eli didn't even know I was here. With a sigh, I stood up, grabbed the second latte, and left the shop, heading towards the university.

The walk was nice. The cool breeze in the air brushed against my skin, and the smell of eucalyptus mixed with the scent of fresh grass. The path I took from the coffee shop to Eli's building was a bit of a detour, but I didn't mind. I loved the view—green fields stretched out under the early morning sun, the pine trees standing tall in the distance, and the birds chirping cheerfully as they flitted through the air. It was one of those moments when everything felt serene, even if I couldn't quite shake the nagging thoughts about the day ahead.

When I finally reached Eli's classroom, he wasn't there yet. His classmates greeted me with friendly smiles, and one of them even offered to let me wait inside. I politely declined. Standing outside the room felt more comfortable, even if I was just trying to keep my nerves at bay.

As I paced down the hallway, my eyes wandered to the bulletin board on the far wall. It was covered in colorful posters—club invitations, event announcements, things I wasn't really paying attention to anymore. We were third years now, and most of that stuff was behind us. My mind was more focused on our upcoming thesis, how busy Eli had been, and how our lives seemed to be moving faster than I could keep up with.

But then something caught my eye.

A small, pink sticky note, almost hidden in the corner of the board. I wouldn't have noticed it if I hadn't been scanning the board so mindlessly. Curious, I stepped closer and read the words written on it.

"Apart for awhile, from a distance, but an eternity without you."

The words were poetic, simple yet heavy. They felt familiar somehow, like something I had heard before, but I couldn't quite place it. I stood there, staring at the note, my fingers grazing the edge of the paper as if touching it would give me the clarity I needed.