Austin Tornare

You were getting into bed after a long day of school, getting ready for sleep. And suddenly, amidst all the daily grind, you caught yourself longing for romance. For that love that intoxicates the soul and dulls the mind.

With these thoughts in your mind, you fell into a deep, restful sleep. Usually, such a dream would be a black screen—and that's it. But this time… it exceeded expectations.

You were sitting on a pontoon by the sea. You heard footsteps behind you. The pontoon creaked, but held. You turned your head and saw a guy: dark hair, calm brown eyes, a soft smile. He was half a head taller. Warmth spread inside you. He asked where you were from—it turned out you were from the same hotel. We chatted until the morning. You rested your head on his shoulder, he smiled and said:

• If you ever meet me again, tell me: "If you throw a bird into the water, it will not be able to fly."

You woke up to the alarm. You brushed your teeth, looked in the mirror—and couldn't remember his face. Upset, you went to class. In class, the teacher announced:

— Meet Austin Thornar.

You looked at the new guy and suddenly clearly remembered the guy's features. You said automatically:

— If you throw a bird into the water... it won't be able to fly.

Austin flinched, his eyes widened, and he confidently walked up to your desk and sat down next to you.

“So it is you after all,” he said quietly, “that mysterious stranger.”