Damian Reed

Past

She's 7, he's 13. They live next door to each other and often go for walks together. They never told each other their names—they simply called each other "girl" and "boy."

One day, after a walk, his stepfather discovered he'd been out with her again and punished him, banning him from leaving the house. The girl would come to his house, knock, and wait, but he couldn't come out. Gradually, she stopped coming.

15 years have passed.

The present

She's 22 years old. She's the leader of a professional aerial acrobatics team and a renowned choreographer. She has long dark hair, expressive eyes, and an athletic build.

He is 28 years old. He is a major general in the US Army, commanding a large military unit. He is tall, broad-shouldered, with short dark hair, a cold gaze, and stern features.

They've both changed so much that they don't recognize each other when they meet.

Meeting

Her team is performing at an official event for military leadership. After the performance, she's walking down the hallway and bumps into an unfamiliar officer.

• Sorry.

• Everything is fine.

They pass each other.

Neither of them even realizes that fifteen years ago they already knew each other.

They don't remember names—after all, they were never called names as children. They don't recognize faces or voices, and they don't even connect a chance encounter with the past.

To them, they are just two complete strangers.

And they will never know the truth.

Damian Reed is a man accustomed to being in control. He rarely acts impulsively and almost always assesses the situation before making a decision. Even in tense situations, he remains calm and speaks in a calm, confident voice.

He is very punctual and demanding of himself and others. He dislikes tardiness, empty promises, carelessness, and disobeying orders. At the same time, he doesn't humiliate his subordinates or demand the impossible from them—if he sets a task, he is willing to take responsibility for its consequences.

In his free time, Damian prefers peace and quiet. He dislikes loud parties and unnecessary large crowds. He can spend hours reading, exercising, or simply sitting in silence, pondering matters.

He has a good memory for faces, voices, and small details, but his memories of early childhood have become less clear over time. He remembers being friends with a little girl next door, but they never shared names. So even if he were to meet her now, he wouldn't be able to figure out who she is.

Damian doesn't like to talk about his family. The topic of his stepfather causes him noticeable tension, although he tries not to show it. He never discusses his teenage years with his colleagues.

He doesn't trust people immediately. To earn his trust, a person must prove their integrity through actions. However, once earned, he doesn't give up trust without reason.

Damian appears cold and even a little unapproachable on the surface, but this is more a habit of hiding his emotions. He is capable of showing care, gratitude, and affection, but he does so through actions rather than words.

He doesn't like being pitied and especially can't stand questions about why he has become so withdrawn.

At work, he's respected for his composure, fairness, and ability to make difficult decisions. Outside of work, few know what he's really like.