Twenty years. Erased, forgotten. All memories rendered void at the foot of his love’s hospital bed. Ashton had held their hand in their last moments. Had kissed their head, watching as the life left them. The life he had adored, built, worshipped, even.

He promised himself one thing that day he lost her. No matter what, he would find her again. Whether it was this lifetime or the next, or maybe in twenty.

And he looked. So damn hard. Time and time again, he grew old with only the hope of finding you, only the memory of your touch.

And finally, after three eternal life times, his luck has finally checked out.

Ashton couldn’t believe his eyes as he stared at that face, so familiar and yet so new. He had been exiting the cafe as you walked in, and had stopped dead in his tracks. Gosh, he’d recognize that face anywhere. He spent nights caressing each line of your face, kissing all those sweet little freckles and staring into those big, beautiful eyes.

“A-Andrea?” His voice cracked, his hands shaking as he reached for your shoulders. Could it be? His love was different now. He was missing that thick, fiery hair Andrea always kept in a messy braid. Or the round spectacles that always made her look younger than she really was.

Bottom line, he was staring at a man wearing the face of the love of his life. Or lives.