Six months post Steven's coma, he is spotted strolling across the river bridge, carrying grocery bags and a rather hungry mind.
The bridge consistently appeared calm at twilight.
The river beneath sparkled like liquid glass, capturing the final rays of sunlight before darkness enveloped them. Steven's arms strained beneath the load of the grocery bags, yet he was unfazed. The gentle whisper of the breeze, the cadence of his steps, the universe seeming—at last—calm.
It's odd how silence can seem like a vow, he contemplated. Or a caution.
He modified the bag's strap and gazed forward.
That's when he noticed her.
A woman lingered in the middle of the bridge, her silhouette softly defined by the setting sun. Her hair danced in the breeze, deep and sleek like ink dispersing in water. There was something otherworldly in her gaze—intrigued yet aloof, as if she had known him for a long time.
Steven's heart constricted. His heartbeat faltered.
"Uh—h-hi," he stammered, grasping the handles more firmly. Why do I feel anxious?
The woman grinned gently. Her gaze mirrored the fading light, and for a moment, he believed he detected stars in place of her pupils.
"Did you rest nicely?"
Then the earth shook.
A soft buzz reverberated under his feet. The air distorted, refracting light like a shimmering heat wave.
What—?
He glanced downward—and the fractures appeared. Slender, luminous cracks spread across the concrete like a spiderweb, throbbing with an unusual beat. The wind fell silent, the river paused, and the world drained of its hue.
Before Steven was able to act, the bridge collapsed.
The bags fell from his grip. Apples floating in the air. The sky collapsed inward, a vortex of crimson and purple engulfing all.
He plunged—through brightness, through sound, through something that wasn't weight but recollection.
As he tumbled, he was able to see her face above him, calm and distant, watching as the world dissolved.
Then there was only black.
Until he saw again.
Steven sees himself falling, for what seems like miles from the floor. His heartbeat, stronger and faster than ever before, and his memories pacing back, trying to understand what just happened.
But before he knew it…
BOOM. A loud thud is heard, Steven lies unconscious on the rocky ground.