Chapter 2: Who Am I Now?

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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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