The day after I had the dream,
I sat across from Annie.
At the same restaurant I had seen in the dream.
“Luke, did you think about it yesterday?
About our marriage?”
“Yeah, Annie.
I thought about it carefully yesterday.
I don’t think we should rush into marriage like this.”
“Luke, what do you mean?
I’ll treat you well!
Is saying yes to marriage really that difficult?”
“No, it’s not that marriage itself is difficult.
I’m saying I’m still not ready.”
“Then should we take more time and keep dating?”
“No.
Let’s end it here.
The sooner we break up, the sooner you’ll meet someone better.
Thank you for loving me all this time.
I’ll get going first.”
I left the restaurant, leaving Annie frozen in place.
Everything happened exactly as it had in the dream.
As I walked out of the restaurant…
I counted my steps.
101, 102.
At that moment…
A woman in a blue two-piece suit walking ahead of me slipped.
In the dream…
I had caught her when she fell.
It was Hannah.
This was the moment that led to our first meeting.
Thud.
I glanced at Hannah’s face— the face that still lingered in my heart with longing— and walked past her.
I passed by.
As if we were complete strangers.
A sharp pain tightened in my chest.
But if I come to like her…
she dies.
I shoved my hands into my pockets and clenched my fists tightly.
Then I walked past Hannah.