As Charlie woke up from her sleep, tears clung to her cheeks, leaving her feeling disoriented and unsettled, as though she had just stepped out of a long and haunting dream.

With a gentle flutter, she opened her eyes, only to find herself engulfed in a fog of confusion, the remnants of her dream slipping away like wisps of smoke.

Fingertips brushing against the tears on her face, she whispered a name that seemed to reverberate within the depths of her mind.

"Serena..."

The name hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotions and unanswered questions.

Casting a glance at her phone, still displaying the last page of the manhua she had been engrossed in before sleep claimed her, Charlie let out a soft chuckle, attempting to dispel the lingering remnants of her dream.

"Must've dreamt of the heroine last night," she murmured, though the emptiness that settled in her chest told a different tale.

In the hushed confines of her room, the only sound was the gentle whir of the small fan, a stark contrast to the tumultuous thoughts swirling within her.

Today felt different, as if a part of her soul had been extinguished the moment she opened her eyes.

Charlie rose from her bed, pushing aside the hollow ache that seemed to cling to her. Despite the heaviness in her heart, she knew she had to go to school.

After a quick shower, Charlie headed to the kitchen, hoping for a comforting breakfast. However, as expected, her mother hadn't prepared anything for her.

With a sigh, Charlie rummaged through the fridge, finding only water, and then searched the drawer, relieved to discover a lone pack of instant ramen.

As she take a bit of ramen, memories flooded into Charlie's mind, unbidden.

She recalled a blonde, beautiful girl with ocean-blue eyes, cooking ramen for her. Suddenly, a tear traced its path down Charlie's cheek, and she was overcome by a surge of memories from the vivid dream she had experienced.

In that moment, Charlie realized that it wasn't just a dream—it was a memory, a reality she had left behind.

A sharp pain gripped her chest, reminiscent of the gunshot that had pierced her heart on the mountain cliff. 

"Serena..." Charlie whispered, the name heavy on her tongue as she remembered her lover from that other life.

She couldn't bear the thought of leaving Serena alone in that world.

"I have to go back... Please, let me go back..." Charlie pleaded, tears streaming down her face.

The thought of Serena enduring the pain alone caused by their separation weighed heavily on her.

"I can't leave her... Please, have mercy on us..." Charlie's cries echoed in the empty kitchen, her desperation palpable as she longed to return to the side of the one she loved.

Charlie's thoughts swirled with desperation as she pleaded with the gods, praying for a miracle to return to that world, to be reunited with Serena.

"I-I've done nothing wrong," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "I was just living this hell of a life... Then you sent me into that world. I tried my best to do everything right... But why—why, when everything is already perfectly fine... When I got used to living in that world, when I have already found the love of my life, will you take everything away?"

Her words tumbled out in a rush, her anguish palpable as she struggled to comprehend the cruel twist of fate that had torn her from Serena's side.

"Was it because I changed the plot?" Charlie questioned, her voice trembling. "But no—this is too much... this is too much of a price to pay... I-I don't think I can take it... I can't leave her... I don't want to leave her... Please..."

Tears streamed down Charlie's face as she poured out her heart, her desperate plea echoing in the empty room, pleading for a chance to rewrite their destiny and be reunited with the one she loved.

"Serena..." Charlie murmured, the name a whisper on her lips as if by speaking it aloud, she could summon her beloved back to her side.

Each syllable held a longing, a desperate yearning to bridge the gap between their worlds and bring Serena back into her arms. But the silence that followed was deafening, a stark reminder of the void that now separated them.

Still, Charlie couldn't help but cling to hope, her heart clinging to the belief that somehow, someway, she would find her way back to Serena.

Charlie's surroundings shifted as if in response to her desperate plea, transforming the familiar kitchen into a surreal, ethereal landscape of pure white. The sudden change enveloped her in a sense of disorientation, yet there was a strange familiarity to it, reminiscent of the time when she had been in a coma.

But there is no majestic lion awaiting her this time.

As the light footsteps echoed in the surreal expanse of white, Charlie's heart skipped a beat. She turned eagerly, her eyes widening with hope and longing.

"Serena?" Charlie's voice trembled with emotion as she reached out to embrace the figure before her. It was a moment she had dreamed of, prayed for, yet never truly believed would come to pass.

But as she held the girl in her arms, a wave of confusion washed over Charlie. This girl looked like Serena—her beloved Serena—with the same grace and beauty that had captured Charlie's heart. Yet, there were subtle differences: her hair was black instead of blonde, her eyes a warm brown instead of ocean blue.

"Serena, why are you—" Charlie's words caught in as she realized the truth.

This wasn't her Serena. And yet, the resemblance was uncanny, enough to stir the ache of longing in Charlie's heart once more.

The girl smiled gently at Charlie, her brown eyes filled with warmth and understanding.

"Do you want to walk with me for awhile?" she asked, extending her hand to Charlie.

Charlie nodded, feeling like a lost child as she took the girl's hand and fell into step beside her. Though this wasn't her Serena, there was a comfort in the familiarity of her presence.

"Congratulations on completing the story, Charlie," the girl greeted Charlie with a warm smile.

Charlie, her voice trembling with confusion and desperation, sought answers, "Can you please explain what's happening? My last memory is of being shot... Can't I go back? I need to return..."

However, the girl simply smiled, brushing off Charlie's questions with a serene demeanor.

"You see, I was a girl diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Confined to the hospital, all I could do was create stories. I fashioned the story of Serena as if I were the heroine of my own tale. Unfortunately, just after completing my narrative, I passed away... and then you were transported to that world. It's crazy, isn't it? The workings of the gods," the girl chuckled softly.

Charlie listened intently, her mind reeling with disbelief.

"I observed both of you, and I realized... you enhanced the story beyond measure. The love you share, pure as the driven snow,  just like the love I yearned for," the girl confessed, her eyes sparkling with gratitude towards Charlie.

A pang of guilt pierced Charlie's heart. "I'm deeply sorry, I—" Yet, she was unable to finish her sentence before being interrupted.

"The manhua I crafted... blossomed into an entirely new world. Isn't it remarkable? Initially, I created it to seek solace from the suffering I had endured on earth... to envision a life with someone who loves unconditionally. Yet, I believe your story with Serena surpasses the one I envisioned... and for that, I'm immensely grateful. Thank you for standing steadfastly by her side, for loving her despite the inevitable challenges... despite knowing what fate has in store for you..." she expressed with genuine appreciation.

Charlie lowered her gaze, grappling with a flood of emotions.

"Do you know what Serena prayed for as she held your dying body in her arms? She vowed to pay any price just to let you stay in her world, to stay by your side." the girl revealed, her smile warm and reassuring.

She chuckled softly.

"I initially wrote Serena as a strong, independent character... always prioritizing herself above all else. Yet, with you, she always chose to put your happiness before her own... You transformed her into someone more remarkable. She's no longer a character confined to the pages of my story... She's a living, breathing person, just like you and me," the girl concluded, her gaze filled with admiration for both Charlie and Serena.

The girl paused, turning to face Charlie with a gentle smile. Taking Charlie's hands in hers, she held them tenderly, her eyes reflecting a profound sense of gratitude.

"I'm truly glad that it was you who stumbled upon my story, Charlie... Thank you for giving it life," she expressed sincerely.

"No, thank you for creating Serena, for giving me the chance to love her... a chance to experience love and adventure in the world you created," Charlie expressed sincerely, her voice tinged with gratitude.

The girl smiled warmly at Charlie's words.

"B-but…. Is there a way for me to come back? Y-you see…. I really want to go back… maybe there is a way for me to go back… please.." Charlie pleaded, her voice filled with desperation.

The girl sighed, her expression softening with empathy for Charlie's plight.

"I'm sorry, Charlie... Truly... but that's not up for me to decide... As for me, I'm afraid this is my ending... I just really wanted to meet you before finally moving on to another world..." she explained gently, her smile tinged with melancholy.

With one final embrace, the girl hugged Charlie tightly before slowly vanishing into the pure white world.

Charlie was left alone again, in the pure white world.

Until a familiar presence, walked up to her. 

It's the majestic lion she had encountered before, when she was in a coma.

"My Child... it's good to see you again.." the majestic lion spoke with a voice that resonated through Charlie's soul.

"Mr. Lion, sir... please let me go back to that world...." Charlie pleaded, her voice trembling with emotion.

The lion roared, causing a shimmering mirror to materialize before them. In it, Serena was seen crying beside a hospital bed.

Charlie's heart clenched at the sight of Serena's tears, her own eyes welling up with fresh tears.

"Serena..." Charlie whispered, her voice choked with emotion.

The lion looked at Charlie with a wise gaze, his eyes filled with understanding.

"My child, Serena has already paid the price for your love..." the lion's voice echoed with a solemn tone, adding weight to his words.

Charlie's heart clenched at the mention of Serena's sacrifice. Confusion clouded her mind as she tried to comprehend the meaning behind the lion's words. What sacrifice could Serena have made? And how had it allowed Charlie to return to her?

The lion seemed to sense Charlie's uncertainty and continued, "Serena has made a choice, a sacrifice that few understand. She has surrendered three precious years, lost in the shadows of time, awaiting your return from a slumbering realm."

Charlie's mind raced with questions, but before she could voice them, the lion urged her forward.

"Go now, my child. Your journey awaits, and Serena awaits your return. Trust in the