Carina adjusted the strap of her bag as she strolled through Hyde Park, the crisp morning air carrying the scent of damp grass and blooming flowers. The year 2000 had been kind to London—modernity thrived amidst tradition, and the city buzzed with life. But today, a peculiar stillness hung in the air, like the world had paused just for her.
She slowed her pace, her heels crunching against the gravel path. A figure seated on a bench caught her attention—a frail old woman with silvery hair cascading over her shoulders. The woman’s pale blue eyes fixed on Carina with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.
“Stay strong,” the woman said, her voice both soft and commanding.
Carina frowned, stopping mid-step. “Pardon?”
The woman didn’t repeat herself. Instead, she offered a knowing smile, her gaze unwavering. Carina hesitated, unsure whether to engage further or walk away. Before she could decide, a group of joggers passed by, momentarily breaking her line of sight.
When the path cleared, the woman was seemingly sleeping, as if she hadn't just been wide awake and talking.
“Strange,” Carina muttered, shaking her head. She tried to brush off the encounter, yet the words lingered, an echo she couldn’t quite ignore.
As she continued her walk, her mind raced. Who was that woman? Why did her words feel so significant?
By the time Carina reached her flat later that afternoon, the unease had burrowed deep. She couldn’t know it then, but the mysterious woman and her cryptic advice were about to change everything.
YOU ARE READING
Stay Strong
Historical FictionStay Strong follows Carina, a young woman from 2000 who is mysteriously transported to 1930. Struggling to adapt in a world shaped by societal expectations, she forms an unexpected bond with George, a man who becomes her anchor through the trials of...
