Chapter 38: Overlapping Memories (Part 6)

That night, Popuri tossed and turned beneath the covers, the weight of unanswered questions pressing down on her even as sleep claimed her. The moment her eyes closed, the dream took hold—swift and vivid, more lifelike than ever before. It was as if she had stepped into a memory that wasn't her own, yet felt inexplicably familiar.

She was exploring the base of a mountain, the air crisp with the fading warmth of a late Summer's day. The sky above stretched in breathtaking hues of gold and lavender, the last remnants of sunlight melting into the horizon. Rolling hills in the distance were bathed in a soft, hazy glow, and the world felt still, untouched.

A gentle breeze whispered through the trees, rustling the leaves and carrying with it the earthy scent of pine and wildflowers. The wind tugged playfully at her dress, lifting strands of her hair as she inhaled deeply, letting the fresh air fill her lungs. There was something peaceful about this place, something safe—yet beneath that tranquility, a strange, aching sense of nostalgia stirred deep within her.

She wasn't alone. She could feel it, even before she turned her head.

As she turned her head, she saw them—her alternate self and Pete, but they were younger, no more than seventeen. They walked side by side along the dirt path at the base of the mountain, their footsteps soft against the earth, blending with the distant rustling of leaves starting to fall in preparation of Fall. The setting sun cast a golden glow over them, illuminating the way the wind tousled Pete's brown hair, making it even messier than usual. His expression wavered between excitement and sorrow, as if he were holding onto something he wasn't ready to say.

The younger Popuri's pink hair danced in the breeze, strands lifting and falling as she braced herself for what was coming. Though Mineral Town Popuri couldn't remember this moment, she felt it—an undeniable weight in her chest, a sense of knowing before the words even left his lips. This wasn't just another evening walk. Something was about to change.

"I have to go back home," Pete said, his voice laced with regret, the weight of his words hanging between them.

Popuri, her dream-self, merely smiled, her tone light with familiarity. "You always go back home at the end of every Summer," she teased, as if she had heard this conversation a dozen times before. But this time was different.

Pete stopped in his tracks, turning to face her fully. The golden light of dusk cast shadows across his face, but his expression was resolute. His hands curled into fists at his sides, as if bracing himself. "I mean it, Popuri. Someday, I'm coming back for good."

She blinked up at him, the wind tugging at the hem of her dress, stirring the scent of wildflowers in the air. There was something about the way he said it—something final.

"One day," he continued, his voice steady with conviction, "I'll take over my grandfather's farm. When that happens, I'll stay in Flowerbud Village forever."

"Flowerbud Village," Mineral Town Popuri gasped, the name reverberating through her mind like a distant melody just out of reach. A shiver ran down her spine as recognition stirred within her. She had heard that name before—Her mother had mentioned it once. Her father came from there.

The realization sent her heart pounding, a whirlwind of confusion and unease tightening around her chest. What did this mean? Why was she dreaming of a place tied to her father's past—a village she had never set foot in? And more importantly, why was Pete, of all people, promising to return to a place he didn't even live in?

Her thoughts swirled like leaves caught in the wind. Flowerbud Village—where had she heard that name before? It wasn't just a passing mention from her mother; it felt deeper, as if it had been buried somewhere within her all along, waiting for this very moment to surface. And Pete… His words in the dream felt so real, so certain. But they didn't make sense. To her knowledge, Pete had grown up in the city. He moved to Mineral Town only a few years ago. Why would he have spoken about taking over his grandfather's farm in a place that, as far as she knew, had no connection to him?

The young Popuri stepped closer to Pete, the warm glow of the setting sun casting a soft light over them. Without hesitation, she reached out, placing her small hand over his chest, right where his heart beat beneath his shirt. She could feel its steady rhythm beneath her fingertips, strong and certain. Looking up into his eyes, she smiled—a quiet, knowing smile that held a promise of its own.

"I'm sure you will," she said softly. "But don't forget—you're still carrying this. Take care of it, help it grow. Someday, when we're all grown up, it will bloom."

Mineral Town Popuri, the dreamer, felt her breath hitch as she watched the scene unfold. Her eyes remained fixed on her alternative self's hand resting over Pete's heart. She had seen this gesture before in the countless dreams she had witnessed. It was always the same—her hand, his chest, a quiet exchange of something unspoken.

But why? What did it mean? It felt like a secret, something shared only between them. Something sacred. And yet, in her waking life, she has no memory of it.

As the morning sun spilled through her window, Popuri stirred, the warmth coaxing her from sleep. She blinked against the golden light, raising a hand to shield her eyes. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she whispered to herself, "Another dream."

Pushing off the blankets, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and sat there for a moment, letting the remnants of the dream linger before slipping away like mist in the morning air. Eventually, she forced herself up, heading for the washroom. The warm water did little to wash away the unease clinging to her, the sensation of the dream still fresh in her mind.

After drying off, she dressed in her usual clothes, fastening the corset snugly around her waist. As she adjusted the laces, her thoughts drifted back to that gesture—the way her dream self had pressed a hand against Pete's chest.

She had never done that before. Not with Pete. Not with Kai. Not with anyone. And yet, it felt real, like a memory buried deep within her, surfacing in her dreams as naturally as breathing.

Then there was Flowerbud Village. Her father's home before he settled in Mineral Town, before he married her mother. And Pete—his behavior had changed so suddenly, so drastically. Could there be a connection?

Popuri exhaled slowly, her fingers stilling against the fabric of her corset. Something was happening. Something she couldn't explain. But today, she was going to find out the truth.

Once Popuri had prepared herself for the day, she bid her mother farewell and stepped out into the warm morning light. A gentle breeze carried the scent of ripening crops and late-summer blooms as she made her way toward Pete's farm. Her heart pounded with uncertainty, but she knew she couldn't ignore the nagging feeling any longer. The dreams, Pete's strange behavior, the name Flowerbud Village—it was all too much to brush aside. She needed answers.

Arriving at the farm, she let her eyes wander over the neatly tilled soil and sturdy wooden fences, searching for any sign of Pete. The fields were empty, and the barn doors were shut. She was about to call out when she heard the faint sounds of movement from the chicken coop. Following the noise, she stepped inside and found Pete crouched near the egg hatcher, his eyes fixed intently on a single egg rocking gently in its nest.

"Pete?" she called softly.

He turned at the sound of her voice, his expression lighting up with an easy smile. "Popuri, come here. You're just in time." He gestured for her to join him, and she moved closer, her curiosity piqued.

As she knelt beside him, the egg cracked, a tiny beak breaking through the fragile shell. Popuri held her breath as the chick struggled, piece by piece, into the world. Her heart swelled at the sight—so small, so full of life. It was moments like these that reminded her why she loved the chicken ranch, why she loved Mineral Town.

Pete carefully scooped up the newborn chick, his touch gentle as he cradled it in his hands. Then, with a quiet chuckle, he extended it toward her. "Here. Want to hold her?"

Popuri hesitated for only a moment before taking the tiny creature into her hands. Its soft, downy feathers were warm against her skin, its small body trembling with the effort of new life. "She's adorable," Popuri murmured, a smile tugging at her lips.

"I'm thinking of naming her Popuri," Pete said, his tone lighthearted.

Popuri blinked, caught off guard. "You want to name the chick after me?" she asked, glancing up at him.

Pete nodded. "Yeah. As a gesture of friendship. I know that I wasn't an important part of Mineral Town, but I want to change that. And since you love chickens, I figure that this is a good way to make up for it."

A warmth spread through her chest, unexpected and unfamiliar. She had come here with doubts and questions, but in this quiet moment, with a tiny chick nestled in her hands and Pete's gaze steady on hers, she felt something shift. Maybe she could trust him. Trust that this is not a stranger wearing her neighbor's skin. That tgere is another explanation for his unusual behavior. But she needed to be sure.

Popuri carefully placed the tiny chick back into the incubator, ensuring it would stay warm until it was strong enough to join the rest of the flock. As she straightened up, she took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to do. This is it. If she wanted answers, she had to take a leap of faith.

She stepped closer to Pete, closing the small distance between them. Before she could hesitate, she raised her hand and gently patted his chest, right over his heart.

Pete immediately pulled back, his brows knitting together in confusion. "What was that for?" he asked, his voice laced with both surprise and wariness.

Popuri held her ground, searching his face for any flicker of recognition. She leaned in slightly, watching his reaction closely. "Does that ring any bells?"

Pete blinked, clearly taken aback. "No," he said slowly. "Why? Should it?"

For a moment, she just stared at him. Then, as the tension inside her unraveled, a small smile formed on her lips. A quiet sigh of relief escaped her.

"Of course," she thought to herself. The Pete standing before her wasn't the same one from her dreams. If he were, he would have recognized the gesture instantly. He would have known exactly what it meant. But instead, he looked at her like she had done something completely random, something with no significance at all.

Popuri took a step back, waving a hand dismissively. "Nothing! I just wanted to see what would happen if I did that," she said lightly, forcing a playful lilt into her voice.

Pete gave her a perplexed look but eventually shrugged it off. "You're weird, Popuri," he said with a chuckle before turning his attention back to the incubator.

She laughed along with him, but inside, a quiet sense of relief settled over her. "It was just a dream," she reassured herself. "That's all it ever was." And yet, as she stepped out of the coop into the warm afternoon sun, a lingering unease remained, like a puzzle with one missing piece.

But even so, she decided to put it aside. Pete had changed, yes—but maybe that wasn't a bad thing. If he truly wanted to be more involved in Mineral Town, to finally step beyond the farm and become a part of the community, then that was something to be glad about.

"As for Elli…" Popuri sighed, shaking her head. "That's none of my budiness." She figures that whatever was happening between them was their own concern, not hers. She had no place in their relationship, nor any reason to question it.

With that final thought, she pushed her uncertainties to the back of her mind and made her way home, determined to let the matter rest.

As the final day of Summer arrived, the salty breeze carried a bittersweet farewell through Mineral Town. Down by the dock, where the sea lapped gently against the worn wooden posts, Pete and Kai stood facing each other beneath the warm glow of the setting sun. Its golden light stretched across the planks in long, trembling shapes—as if even the shadows were reluctant to say goodbye.

Kai extended his hand first. Pete took it in a firm, steady grip. "Take care of yourself out there," Pete said, his voice low but sincere.

Kai offered a small, weary smile. "You too, man."

He turned then, casting one last look toward the quiet road leading into town. His eyes lingered, memorizing every contour, every color, as if he were afraid that time or distance might steal them from him. Despite how empty the road was, the silence felt merciful compared to the previous year.

Pete saw Kai's shoulders sag just slightly, the memory clearly weighing on him. Last Summer's final day had been far worse—Popuri had stood exactly where Pete was now, her face flushed with hurt and anger, her voice rising above the waves as she shouted at Kai to never come back. He remembered the tremble in Kai's hands afterward, the regret in his eyes. He hadn't been malicious—just careless, thoughtless in a way that had cost him something precious.

Yet he had returned this year anyway. Returned with the naïve hope that Popuri might hear him out. That she might set aside the anger long enough to see that his mistakes had carved scars he carried daily.

This time, the ending was not what he had dreamed of—but it was not the nightmare he'd expected either. Popuri hadn't come to the dock. She hadn't yelled, and she hadn't chased him away. And in its own quiet, fragile way… that felt like forgiveness.

Maybe not enough to open the door for a second chance. Not enough to restore what had once existed between them. But enough that, if he did return next year, he would not be met with hostility—but with a town that had finally exhaled.

Pete hesitated, uncertainty tugging at him before he finally spoke. "Are you planning on coming back next year?"

Kai let out a quiet chuckle—light, but edged with resignation. He shook his head. "No," he said, honesty settling heavily in the space between them. "The only reason I came to Mineral Town this Summer was Popuri."

His voice remained steady, though a flicker of sadness passed through his eyes like a cloud drifting over sunlight. "I finally get it now—our story's over. Holding onto hope won't change that." He exhaled softly, almost a sigh, the kind that he will carry for years, his unspoken regret lingering in the back of his head.

"I'm actually planning to open a shop in Forget-Me-Not Valley," Kai continued. "A fresh start. Somewhere I can build something real… do things right this time. And Mineral Town can have room to breathe without me showing up and stirring old wounds." A faint smile tugged at his lips. "It's close enough that I can visit if I ever feel like it, but far enough to move on."

"Sounds like a plan," Pete said gently. "I wish you all the luck out there."

Kai nodded, the gesture small but grateful. With that, he stepped onto his boat and loosened the rope tethering him to the dock. The engine rumbled alive beneath him, sending ripples across the water. As the vessel drifted slowly away, Pete stood still, watching the figure of his friend grow smaller against the shimmering horizon.

The final sunset of Summer painted the sky in fading golds and soft purples—warm, fleeting, and bittersweet. As Kai disappeared into the distance, Pete felt the shift in the air, the subtle closing of a door he hadn't realized was still open. Summer had ended. And with it, another chapter of his strange new life slipped quietly into memory.