By: Youheng Zhong

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow upon the balcony. Sophia stood there, her delicate frame trembling, tears glistening like fallen stars in her eyes. She tried to hold them back, but they spilled over, betraying her resolve.

“Alex,” she whispered, her voice barely audible above the night breeze.

“I had a dream.”

Alex, leaning against the balcony railing, turned to her with furrowed brows. “A dream? About what?”

Sophia’s breath hitched. “You were with her,” she said, her voice quivering. “Kissing. Laughing. Betraying me. You were…”

Alex reached out, putting his hand on her arm comfortingly. “Sophia, dreams aren’t real,” he said gently.

“You know I love you.”

“But it felt real, Alex,” Sophia insisted, pulling away from his touch. “And it’s not the first time I dreamed about it. You know our family’s belief about strange occurrences happening three times—it’s a warning from our ancestors. And today, I saw you—”

“Sophia, please.”

He sighed, his soothing tone failing to calm her racing heart. “I know you’re panicking right now, but I promise you I with anyone else! You were with me the whole day, sweetie.”

Sophia’s gaze bore into his. “Last week,” she said quietly, “I saw you for the third time in bed with your ex.”

Her words hung heavy in the moonlit air.

In bed with your ex.

The memory flooded back—the two of them entwined, lips pressed together, just like in her dream. And afterward, they’d laughed, sharing secrets whispered in the quiet of the night.

Sophia paused, simmering with anger. Alex’s face disappeared into his hands; he knew what was coming.

“I can’t stay,” she said, her voice firm. “Not after what I saw. Not when my dreams echo reality.”

Alex’s voice cracked. “Sophia, I—”

But she cut him off. “Goodbye, Alex. We’re done.”

Sophia turned on her heel and marched away from the moonlit balcony. Alex remained frozen, unable to think, as the darkness swallowed her silhouette. All that remained was the empty space where they once stood together.