The first light after three storm-ravaged days cast a soft glow on the cottage walls, illuminating the quiet figure resting on Mavis's small, rugged bed. The man, who called himself Axel Jay Montgomery, lay still, his breaths shallow yet steady. To Mavis, he looked as if he had stepped out of an ancient myth, with strong, chiseled features and an intensity that exuded both power and something darker she couldn't place. Each time she found herself drawn to him, her heartbeat quickened, stirred by his silent aura and haunted by questions that no answer could satisfy.
Finally, on the morning of the fourth day, Mavis and her grandmother sat across from Axel, who had stirred to wakefulness, his gaze both piercing and distant. He looked at Mavis as if recognizing her, but his eyes clouded over quickly, hiding whatever thoughts crossed his mind.
Her grandmother spoke first, her voice calm but probing. "How are you feeling, Mr. Montgomery?"
For a moment, he was silent, as if considering whether to answer at all. Then he nodded, his voice smooth but with a sharpness that didn't go unnoticed. "I've had worse," he replied, his accent hinting at origins far from their coastal village.
Mavis couldn't resist the urge to ask, "What brought you here? Did you know someone here before...?" She trailed off, catching herself, wondering if she had overstepped.
Axel's gaze flicked to her, studying her intently before he responded in a low, almost inaudible murmur, "I thought I knew someone...perhaps I was wrong."
Her grandmother cleared her throat, breaking the tense silence. "We don't mean to pry, but you must have family or someone waiting for you. If you need to send word—"
"I have no one to send word to," he interrupted, his words hanging heavy in the air. It was not a statement of sorrow but one of finality, as if there was nothing else to say on the matter.
The three sat in silence, a quiet storm of unspoken thoughts filling the space between them. Mavis's mind raced, caught between fascination and trepidation. Who was this man with such an aura of secrecy and strength? And why did he feel so familiar, yet completely unknown?
Despite her reservations, Mavis found herself wanting to help him, to understand the mysteries veiled in his guarded eyes.
YOU ARE READING
"The Me She Never Had"
Random"The Me She Never Had" tells the haunting and mysterious tale of Mavis, a girl who was born dead in one world, but alive in another. Unknown to her mother, Yvonne, Mavis has been living in a parallel reality-a realm where she exists as a vibrant you...
