The wind moved calmly through the tall trees, carrying along with it the smell of wet sand and something else Sam couldn't quite wrap his head around.
He was standing still, looking around.
Something about this place felt… different.
Not dangerous.
Just unfamiliar.
The cloud above him looked like it had been painted with strange looking colors—a mix of purple turning into silver, like that of sunset that wants to remain visible. The air was so calm in a way that made every sound heavy, louder and more traceable than it should.
Sam cleaned his eyes.
"Where the hell am I?"
He didn't remember walking here.
The last thing he remembers was him lying in his bed after a tough long night of working on reports for his company. The next moment he was standing in the middle of what looked like a ghost park with no sight of humans.
He turned slowly, trying to make sense of his surroundings.
Then he saw someone.
A girl sitting all alone on a wooden bench under a very big tree.
At first Sam thought she was just another person enjoying the quiet evening, but there was something off about her presence that made the entire place feel different.
Her long and dark hair was gently resting over her shoulders, moving slowly with the direction of the wind. She was dressed in a simple white dress that moved slightly as she adjusted herself on the bench.
Even from a distance Sam could tell she was very beautiful.
No.
Beautiful wasn't the right word.
She looked almost too good to be real.
For a moment Sam just stood there staring at her.
Something deep inside him turned.
It felt like a spark.
Like meeting someone he had known for years… even though he was so sure he had never seen her before.
Before he could question himself further, his feet started to move towards her.
Step by step, he walked toward her.
The closer he got, the more his heart began to beat faster.
Why am I nervous? he wondered.
When he was just a few steps away, the girl looked up.
Their eyes met.
Sam felt his breathing caught up in his throat.
Her eyes looked dark, almost black, but they held a strange depth that made it difficult to look away.
For a second neither of them spoke.
Then Sam cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Hi."
The girl smiled back politely.
"Hi."
Sam suddenly became aware that he probably looked embarrassing just standing there staring at her.
Still, something made him continue.
"My name is Sam," he said, making a small wave. "And I must say… you're probably the most beautiful girl I've ever set my eyes on."
The girl raised one eyebrow slightly, clearly amused.
Sam laughed nervously.
"If love at first sight is real like they say, then I think I might have just experienced mine."
The girl laughed softly.
It was the kind of laugh that made anyone around her feel comfortable instantly.
"Thank you," she said.
Her voice was calm, smooth, and strangely soothing.
"My name is Elena."
Sam smiled.
"Well, Elena… it's really nice meeting you."
He pointed toward the empty space beside her on the bench as if asking for permission to sit with her.
"Would it be okay if we talk for a bit? I'd like to get to know you."
Elena looked at him carefully, as if studying him.
There was something curious in her eyes.
Almost like she was trying to figure something out.
Finally in a soft tone she said.
"Sure."
Sam sat beside her.
For a moment they simply listened to the sound of the wind moving through each tree.
"So," Sam said, "do you mind telling me about yourself."
Elena crossed one leg over the other.
"I'm twenty-four."
Sam's smile faded slightly.
Elena noticed immediately.
"Why do you look sad?" she asked.
Sam sighed like a kid.
"Well… that depends."
"On what?"
"Do you believe age is just a number?"
Elena studied him for a moment.
Then she smiled.
"Yes."
Sam's expression brightened again.
"Good," he said. "Because I was about to feel very old."
Elena laughed.
"How old are you, Sam?"
"Thirty."
She raised her eyebrows slightly.
"Oh wow."
"See?" Sam said jokingly. "Too old for you, right?"
They both laughed.
For the next few minutes they talked about random things.
Sam told her about his work, his best friend Jeffrey, and how he hated waking up early in the morning.
Elena talked about traveling, music she liked, and how she enjoyed quiet places away from crowds.
The conversation felt so natural.
Like they had known each other much longer than just a few minutes ago.
But eventually Elena glanced toward the path behind them and stood up.
"I have to go now."
Sam quickly stood up as well.
"Already?"
She nodded.
Sam took a moment before speaking again.
"Can we meet again?"
Elena tilted her head slightly.
"No," she said.
Then after a moment she added with a small smile,
"Maybe."
They both laughed again.
But Sam shook his head.
"I'm serious, Elena. I'd really like to see you again."
She looked at him silently.
"Can I at least get your number?" Sam asked hopefully.
Elena shook her head.
"You won't be that lucky."
Sam placed his hand over his chest.
"I've never been lucky before. But meeting you… I would definitely count that as my first luck."
Elena watched him closely.
Her expression slowly became more serious.
"Even if we never meet again?" she asked quietly.
Sam thought for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"Well… if that happens, can you at least visit me in my dreams?"
For a brief moment something strange flashed across Elena's face.
Then she said softly,
"This is a dream."
Sam laughed.
"No it isn't."
"It is."
Sam crossed his arms.
"I can prove it isn't."
Elena raised an eyebrow.
"Oh really?"
"Yeah."
"How?"
Sam grinned.
"Hit me."
"What?"
"Go ahead," he said. "Slap me. But not too hard."
Elena stared at him.
Then she burst out laughing.
"You're serious?"
"Very."
She stepped closer.
"Fine."
Before Sam could react—
SMACK.
Her hand struck his cheek.
Pain exploded across his face.
And suddenly—
Sam's eyes flew open.
He was standing in his bedroom.
Breathing heavily.
Confused.
Right in front of him stood his best friend and roommate, Jeffrey.
Jeffrey looked both annoyed and half-awake.
"Dude… what the hell was that?"
Sam blinked.
"What?"
"You were talking in your sleep," Jeffrey said. "Like you were having a full conversation with someone."
Sam slowly rubbed his cheek.
It still felt like he had actually been slapped.
Jeffrey shook his head.
"You were loud too. I thought you were fighting someone in your dream."
Sam stared at the wall.
Then he said quietly,
"I think I just met the love of my life."
Jeffrey stared at him.
"You cannot be serious."
Sam smiled slightly.
"She was perfect."
Jeffrey grabbed his jacket and tossed Sam his keys.
"Get dressed," he said. "We're almost late for the meeting."
Sam nodded, not paying attention to Jeffrey.
But his mind was far lost somewhere else.
Still stuck in that strange place.
Still thinking about her.
About Elena.
And the strange way she had said those words.
This is a dream.
Sam shook his head and walked toward the bathroom.
But deep down he couldn't shake the feeling that the dream was too real to be a dream.
And somewhere far away…
In a quiet apartment across the city…
A young woman with long dark hair suddenly opened her eyes.
Elena sat up slowly in her bed.
Her breathing was not balanced.
She looked toward the window where the moonlight shines across the floor.
Then she whispered softly to herself,
"He found me…"