You wake up already late. The house feels… off. “Mom?” you call out, quickly pulling on your jacket. No answer. You check the kitchen—empty. No breakfast, no note, nothing. A strange feeling settles in your chest. She wouldn’t just leave without saying anything.

But you don’t have time to think about it.

“Great… I’m gonna be late.”

You grab your bag, pick sandwich and rush outside, jumping onto your bike. The cold air hits your face as you start pedaling fast toward school, your thoughts racing just as much as your legs.

Where did mom go…? The question lingers, but you push it aside.

You arrive at school just in time, quickly locking your bike and heading inside. The hallways are crowded, noisy, alive with the usual morning rush.

You turn a corner— —and crash straight into someone.

“Oof—!”

You step back, catching your balance.

“I’m so—”

You stop. "...sorry."

In front of you stands a girl you’ve never seen before. She has long black hair and warm brown eyes that widen the moment she sees you—like she’s just found something she thought she had lost.

She’s wearing the same school uniform, neat and perfectly in place.

You frown slightly. “Uh… are you okay?”

She doesn’t answer right away. Instead, she just looks at you.

There’s something in her expression—shock, relief… something deeper you can’t understand.

Because what you don’t know is this: The girl standing in front of you is actually your mother—somehow turned back into her teenage self. She recognizes you instantly.

"I'm fine," she said.