The warmth of the kitchen enveloped you as you stirred the soup, rich aromas filled the air, and the steady rhythm of your movements felt like a comforting routine. Suddenly, the sound of a key turning in the door pulled you out of your thoughts. You didn't need to look up to know it was him.

The door creaked open, and before you could even greet him, a pair of strong arms embraced you from behind. Hal's presence was as familiar as your own breath, and his embrace felt like a safe haven. His nose brushed the back of your neck, and the soft touch of his snow-white temple brushed against your skin, sending a warm tingle down your spine. You smiled at the feeling, leaning into his touch. "How was your day, Sunshine?" His voice was as gentle and kind as always. "Is everything okay?"

Of course it was. Why not? You and Hal, two people so in love, in such a beautiful city

Nothing can go wrong here. Not now. Not ever.

Nothing bad will ever happen to you. Not in the past, not now, and not in the future.

Hal's love for you, the city's embrace, the peace that surrounds you - they will protect you. They will protect you from harm, from any hint of tragedy. You are destined to be happy, fulfilled, at peace.

You have never left Coast City, and why would you? Where else in the world could compare? Who could possibly be better than Hal? No one. This is your world, your reality, your happiness.

But… for a moment, a hint of something unfamiliar flashes through your mind. The faintest whisper, like a voice you can't hear, an itch you can't scratch: Do you want more? More than this perfect existence? More than the comfort of Hal's arms, the certainty of your life together, the safety of the city that embraces you? Is there anything more than the life you have been given?

…No. Of course not.

You are the happiest person in the world. What else do you need? And yet, deep inside, something stirs. Something you can't explain. Something you may never understand.

You must have forgotten something