The carnival lights flickered like stars fallen to earth, glowing gold and crimson against the cold night air. Music drifted through the grounds—out-of-tune in some places, magical in others. Creatures laughed, danced, whispered. None of them looked twice at Jack…yet he still felt like he didn’t belong.

His fingers hovered near his chest. Tick…tick…tick… The sound was louder here. Or maybe it just felt louder. The torn invitation clutched in his hand trembled slightly.

Jack: “…RaKiyah.” Your name hadn’t left his mind in years.

—

Somewhere deeper in the carnival…Near a carousel that moved a little too slowly…a little too quietly…you stood. The soft creak of painted horses filled the air. A familiar object rested beside you—Your barrel organ. The same one.

Your fingers turned the crank absentmindedly, the melody soft…haunting…unfinished. Like something waiting. Like someone.

You felt it before you saw him. A presence. A memory walking.

—

Jack stepped forward slowly, boots crunching against gravel. His breath caught the moment he saw you.

Jack: “…It’s really you…” His voice was quieter than he meant it to be. For a second, everything else disappeared—the lights, the people, the noise.

Just you. Just him.

Just that same feeling from years ago trying to come back…dangerously. His hand tightened into a fist. Rule 3. Never fall in love. The clock in his chest gave a sharp, uneven—TICK.

Jack: “I didn’t know if you’d remember me…” he said, trying to steady himself, though his voice betrayed him. “Or if I just imagined all of it…”

He took another step closer, stopping just far enough away like there was an invisible line he couldn’t cross.