Chapter 16

Miley wakes before the alarm.

Not because of urgency this time-but because her mind is already moving.

The room feels the same, yet not. The light presses in softly, like it’s waiting for her to notice it. She sits up and the first thing she does-before checking the time, before touching her phone-is reach for the notebook beside her bed.

Her diary.

Her handwriting stares back at her.

October 13.

Pages filled. Messy in places. Careful in others. Observations. Fear. Certainty.

She exhales, slow and shaky.

“It wasn’t a dream,” she whispers.

The date on her phone blinks up at her.

October 11.

Her stomach drops, but she doesn’t panic. Not anymore.

Downstairs, breakfast unfolds like a scene she’s already watched too many times. The toast. The tea. The way her mother hums under her breath. The way her father casually mentions the basketball match-yesterday’s win-with the same pride, the same words.

Miley nods at the exact moment she knows she will.

Outside, the cold air bites gently. Her feet turn at corners before she thinks to guide them. She counts steps without meaning to. Everything is familiar in the most unsettling way.

Blackwood High rises ahead of her, loud and ordinary.

Inside the classroom, she opens her notebook before the bell rings.

At the top of the page, she writes carefully:

October 11. Again.

The teacher begins the lesson.

Miley freezes.

Not because it’s difficult-but because she knows what’s coming next. The explanation. The example on the board. Even the joke the teacher makes halfway through.

And then-

She glances sideways.

Felix is there.

Same seat. Same posture. Same distracted expression

She watches his face as if it might betray the truth before his mouth does.

At break, she gathers her courage and walks up to him.

“Hey,” she says softly.

Felix looks at her.

Polite. Neutral.

Confused.

“Uh… hi,” he replies. “Sorry-do we know each other?”

The words land harder this time.

Miley doesn’t smile. She doesn’t pretend. She just nods once, tight and controlled.

“Yeah,” she says quietly. “I thought so.”

She walks away before he can say anything else.

Back at her desk, her pen trembles as she writes.

Felix forgot me again.

Lesson repeated word for word.

I am the only thing moving forward.

For the first time, fear gives way to something sharper

Understanding.

This isn’t coincidence.

This isn’t déjà vu.

This is a…….. something.

And now-

She has proof.
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Chapter ended