Before You Knew My Name Novels & Stories

My online boyfriend had been my sister's nemesis. He and my sister had been desk mates in high school, always competing for the top spot in their grade. He ranked first, while she ranked second. They could barely stand each other, yet they both ended up attending the same university in our city. Every time my sister came home for a break, she spent days complaining to me about him. This time, she came home with her suitcase and an unusually bright smile on her face. Mom teased her. "How come you did not mention your favorite nemesis this time? You seem to be in such a good mood. Do you have something going on?" My sister laughed and handed Mom a gold necklace. "Here. Your future son‑

But her hands trembled slightly as she handed mine over. “Everything okay?” I asked. She nodded, then changed her mind mid-gesture and shrugged instead. “I saw your name today.” My throat tightened. “Where?” “In the book.” She didn’t need to explain which one. I waited. “I never knew your last name,” she added quietly. “I never thought it mattered.” “It does,” she said, and took a slow sip. “You wrote about me before you knew I existed. How is that possible?” “I didn’t know it was you,” I admitted. “But I knew someone like you would come. One day. Maybe. And if they did… I wanted them to find something waiting.”

June I call his name before I even realize I’m doing it. “Hermes.” My voice comes out thin, shaking, nothing like me. My fingers are trembling against the edge of the table, my chest tight, my lungs barely working. I don’t know why I look at him first—but I do. And that’s all it takes. Hermes moves. Ted reacts instantly, grabbing his arm. “Hermes—don’t. Calm down. Think—”

I typed with shaking hands: Me: Who is this? The reply was instant. Unknown: You really forgot about our little scene in the club? My pulse spiked. Unknown: You ran before I could give them back. Or give you more. I bit my lip, heart hammering. Every rational cell screamed block him. Pretend it never happened. But the ache between my legs had other plans. Me: You talk big for someone who never told me his name. Unknown: You talk big for someone who ran before I was finished.

If only I'd had known you had a storm to weather So, before you go Was there something I could've said to make it all stop hurting It kills me how your mind can make you feel so worthless So, before you go.

"You've been counting since this morning." She had not known he had catalogued that. She had known about the tell — had known about it in the abstract way of knowing something your father had pointed out when you were nine and that you'd stopped thinking about because it was simply what you did when you were thinking hard. She had not known it was legible to someone watching her. She had not known someone was watching her that closely.

Before the water reached me, my body gave out and I collapsed. But just before darkness pulled me under… I heard it. My name. "Aina." His voice.

Something tells me it is my name, but how? I shake my head, “Yours. Roman Domino” I blink at her. “You heard my name fifteen years ago, the day your parents were killed?” “Yes” “That means you knew who I was before we met” “I did. I live my life knowing who you were and how to have my revenge on you” I did not see that Coming. It hurts that she knew who I was all along and was just pretending to get her revenge. “I see. How was my name called?”

"What was your name before the name change?" Here it comes, the moment before I will be rejected once more. I'm not ready for it, but I can't live in a fairy tale forever. Logan deserves to know because if I kept dancing around without him knowing I'm his best friend from the past, it wouldn't be real love. He needs to know even if it will break us apart, even if it will shatter my glued together heart. Goosebumps prickle over my skin, and I shiver in my seat, afraid of the outcome. "My name was—"I bite my lower lip, hesitating before pushing my old name out through my lips. "My name was Ethan."

And the last thing I heard before the world dropped out beneath me was Dream’s voice calling… my name. But I couldn’t remember which one was mine.