A sharp pain pierced through Riya’s skull as her eyes fluttered open. The ceiling above her was unfamiliar — smooth, pale blue, and slightly cracked in the corner. She blinked rapidly, her breath shaky.

“Where... am I?” she muttered.

Her body felt strange — almost lighter. She pushed herself upright, wincing as her head throbbed. Her fingers trembled as she lifted her hand to her face — her nails were neatly trimmed and painted a soft pink. Her fingers felt slimmer, delicate even.

“What the…?”

Throwing off the blanket, she stumbled out of bed, her legs wobbling beneath her. Her eyes landed on a nearby mirror. For a moment, she couldn’t breathe.

The reflection staring back wasn’t hers.

A girl — with long, dark hair cascading over her shoulders — stared back at her. Her face was soft, her eyes wide with confusion. Her skin was fair, and her features delicate. The oversized t-shirt clung to her unfamiliar body, showing curves that shouldn’t have been there.

“No... no, no, no,” she whispered.

Her heart pounded violently as she stumbled closer to the mirror, gripping the edges of the table for support.

“This isn’t real,” she muttered. “It’s a dream... it’s just a dream.”

But the cold wood beneath her fingers and the sharp ache in her head told her otherwise.

Suddenly, flashes of her past life flooded her mind — memories of her as Rayan. His voice, his face, his struggles — everything came back in sharp bursts. The argument with Aarav. The hurried footsteps. The blinding headlights. The deafening crash.

“I… died,” Riya murmured, her fingers pressing hard against her temples. “I was Rayan... and now I’m...”

The sound of footsteps startled her. The door creaked open, and a woman peeked inside — a warm smile spreading across her face.

“Riya, you’re finally awake!” the woman said with relief. “You scared me... sleeping for so long.”

Riya stared at her, confused.

Riya?

“Uhh... yeah. Sorry, I... I just feel a little off,” she stammered, her voice softer than she expected.

The woman walked closer and pressed a hand to her forehead. “You’ve been exhausted lately. No fever, though. Maybe you should rest some more.”

“Yeah... I think I’ll do that.”

The woman — her mother — gave her a concerned smile before heading out, quietly shutting the door behind her.

Riya sank to the floor, her back pressed against the cold wall.

“This... isn’t happening,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “I’m not Riya. I’m... I’m Rayan.”

She buried her face in her hands, panic surging through her. Memories of her past life — her friends, her family, her regrets — swirled inside her head.

“What am I supposed to do now?” she whispered.

But deep down, she knew the answer.

She wasn’t Rayan anymore.

She was Riya now... and there was no going back.

---

End of Chapter 1

Should I make chapter 2 ?? it's so hard to make this type of novel because I had lot of mistakes and I had to make sure I don't have mistake in final 😭 it's pain full

Riya barely moved for hours. Her mind kept circling back to one impossible truth — she wasn’t Rayan anymore. She was... someone else.

Her fingers trembled as she stared at her reflection once again. The girl in the mirror — with soft brown eyes, long dark hair, and a face too unfamiliar to be her own — stared back like a stranger.

“I can’t… I can’t live like this,” Riya whispered.

Her thoughts were a tangled mess. Memories of Rayan’s life clashed violently with Riya’s unfamiliar surroundings. He remembered skipping class with Aarav, late-night gaming marathons, and teasing Mira whenever she was upset. But those moments felt distant now — like a dream that faded the longer she tried to hold onto it.

“I’m still me… right?” she muttered.

But when she placed her hand over her heart, the rapid thumping didn’t feel like hers.

---

Morning Routine — But Different

Riya forced herself out of bed. Maybe if she kept moving, things would feel normal again.

She shuffled to the bathroom and froze at the sight of the toothbrush — pink with a glittery handle. The old Rayan would’ve scoffed at something like that. With a sigh, she brushed her teeth, trying to ignore how soft her face felt when she wiped it with a towel.

Getting dressed wasn’t any easier. Opening the closet, she stared at rows of colorful skirts, dresses, and blouses.

“Nope,” she muttered.

Instead, she grabbed a simple hoodie and jeans. They felt too tight in places Rayan had never struggled with before, but they were better than the floral options staring back at her.

---

Breakfast with “Her” Family

“Morning, sleepyhead!” her mother chirped as Riya walked into the kitchen.

“Morning…” Riya mumbled.

“Don’t forget you have school today,” her mom reminded her. “And Mira’s supposed to meet you at the gate.”

Mira?

“Wait... Mira?” Riya’s head shot up.

“Yes, Mira,” her mother said, raising an eyebrow. “Your best friend since third grade?”

Riya’s mind spun. Mira had been Rayan’s best friend, too — but how could she also be connected to Riya’s life? Was Mira just a coincidence… or was there something more?

“Yeah... right. I remember,” Riya muttered, forcing a smile.

Her mother chuckled. “You’re acting like you forgot your own life.”

Riya froze. If only you knew.

---

First Day Back at School

Riya stood at the school gates, heart pounding. Everything felt both familiar and foreign — like stepping into a movie set of her old life.

“Riya!”

She turned to see Mira jogging toward her, a wide grin on her face.

“There you are! Thought you were gonna ghost me.” Mira’s playful tone felt so familiar that it stung.

“I wouldn’t do that,” Riya said, trying to sound casual.

As they walked inside, Mira kept chatting — about assignments, teachers, and some fight that happened last week. But Riya barely heard a word. All she could think about was how natural Mira looked by her side.

Does she know? Riya wondered. Does she remember me as Rayan too?

“Yo, Riya!”

A voice called from across the hall. Riya’s heart dropped.

Aarav.

He leaned against the lockers, watching her with sharp, curious eyes.

“You look... different,” Aarav muttered when she approached.

Riya swallowed hard. He knows. He has to know.

“I mean… new haircut?” Aarav added, smirking. “Looks good.”

Riya forced out a laugh, but her mind was racing.

He doesn’t know… does he?

---

Confused Feelings

Throughout the day, Riya felt trapped in a constant tug-of-war — her mind stuck between her old life as Rayan and this new life she was forced to live.

In class, her fingers twitched as she instinctively wrote her old signature — Rayan. She quickly scratched it out.

During lunch, Mira teased her for “spacing out” — something Rayan often did.

And whenever Aarav glanced her way... Riya’s stomach tightened with anxiety.

---

The Final Realization

That evening, Riya sat alone in her room, staring at her hands.

“I can’t live like this,” she whispered. “I’m not… I’m not her.”

But as her gaze drifted to a framed photo on her desk — one showing Riya, Mira, and Aarav all smiling together — she felt a painful truth sink in.

This wasn’t some temporary dream.

This wasn’t a mistake.

This was her life now.

---

End of Chapter 2

The air felt colder than usual as Riya sat in the library, her head resting on her hand. The quiet hum of whispers and flipping pages surrounded her, yet she felt like she was somewhere else — lost in her own thoughts.

Why does everything feel so… heavy?

Ever since her strange encounter with Aarav that morning, Riya couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. He had barely said a word, yet his eyes had lingered on her like he knew something.

---

The Confrontation

“Riya.”

She flinched, startled by the voice. Aarav stood beside her, one hand resting on the table.

“We need to talk,” he said quietly.

Riya’s heart jumped. “About what?”

“Not here.” His tone was low, serious. Without waiting for her answer, he turned and walked toward the empty hallway.

Don’t follow him, her mind warned.

But her feet ignored her thoughts, and before she knew it, she was standing face-to-face with Aarav in the dimly lit corridor.

---

The Tension Breaks

“You’ve been... different,” Aarav said, crossing his arms. “Ever since you fainted that day. Like... you’re not even the same person anymore.”

Riya swallowed hard. He knows...

“I’ve just been tired,” she lied. “That’s all.”

Aarav narrowed his eyes. “Don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not!”

“Yes, you are!” Aarav snapped, his voice sharp. “You avoid everyone, you barely talk to Mira anymore, and you — you don’t even look at me like you used to.”

“Maybe that’s because I’ve changed!” Riya shot back. Her voice cracked, but the words came out louder than she expected.

For a second, Aarav just stared at her. “...Then tell me why.”

“I…” Riya’s breath caught in her throat. How do I explain this?

“You know what?” Aarav scoffed bitterly. “Forget it. If you don’t trust me enough to be honest, then I won’t waste my time.”

He turned to leave.

“I DIED!” Riya’s voice broke the silence.

Aarav froze.

“I died…” she whispered again, her voice shaking. “And now I’m... I’m someone else. I don’t know who I am anymore.”

Her legs buckled, and she sank to the floor. The weight of everything — the pain, the confusion, the loss — came crashing down.

“I’m not the person you knew,” Riya murmured. “I’m not even sure I know myself.”

---

Breaking Down

For a long moment, Aarav said nothing.

Then, without a word, he knelt beside her.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying,” he admitted quietly. “But... I know you’re hurting.”

Riya wiped her face with her sleeve, embarrassed. “I shouldn’t have said anything…”

“You should’ve,” Aarav interrupted. His voice softened. “I don’t know what happened to you, but... I know you’re still you. Even if you’re different... you’re still Riya.”

His words hit her harder than she expected.

“I’m scared,” Riya whispered. “I keep pretending I’ve got this under control, but I don’t.” Her voice cracked again. “I just... I feel like I’m losing myself.”

“You’re not alone,” Aarav said firmly. “Whatever you’re going through... you’ve got me. And Mira. We’re not going anywhere.”

Riya blinked back fresh tears. “I don’t deserve that…”

“You deserve more than you think,” Aarav muttered.

For the first time in days, Riya felt like she could breathe again.

---

End of Chapter 3