Rhiana attended St. Ronald's High School, a private school nestled in a quiet part of town. The kind of place where everyone knew each other, where reputations stuck and secrets traveled fast.
She had a small circle of close friends—Charlie, Mary, and Angela. They'd known each other for years. Between them, high school was a routine of shared notes, whispered gossip, and group projects that turned into excuses to hang out.
Angela was loud, opinionated, and in love with Chris Taylor—the school's basketball captain. Chris had blue eyes, a quiet charm, and a kind of mysterious aura that made girls trip over their sentences. Rhiana, naturally observant, had noticed long ago that Chris liked her. But she'd never acted on it. Angela had liked him first, and Rhiana didn't want to hurt her.
Still, Chris seemed to gravitate toward her. In class. In the halls. During group work. Rhiana always felt it—his glances, the way he lingered around her. She ignored it as best she could.
One afternoon, the group gathered at Angela's house for a study session. The weather was icy, the sky gray. Inside, the warmth of the fireplace and the hum of conversation created a cozy bubble.
But Rhiana felt distant.
Her eyes grew heavy, her head aching. She leaned back on the couch and closed her eyes for just a moment.
And then she was somewhere else.
Snow surrounded her, falling gently on her shoulders. She looked down and realized she wasn't in her own body. Her hands were smaller, her dress older. A voice called out behind her—"Monica!"
She turned.
A man stood there, smiling. He looked like he belonged in another time. His name echoed in her mind. Martin.
Then everything shifted.
The snow dissolved, the voice faded, and she snapped awake with a gasp.
Everyone stared at her. She had screamed.
Charlie dropped his pencil. Angela's mouth hung open. Chris had already moved closer to her, his expression full of worry.
Rhiana looked around, breath shallow, heart racing. She couldn't explain what had just happened. How could she?
She wasn't even sure it was a dream.
She only knew one thing.
That wasn't the last time she would hear someone call her Monica.
YOU ARE READING
Fossils of Memory
FantasySome memories are not your own-until they begin to haunt you. Rhiana Fosters has everything-a loving family, close friends, and a talent for painting. But when a recurring dream pulls her into a world she doesn't recognize, her perfect life begins t...
