Novel & Cerita Seared Into My Brain

The following morning, I woke with the image of the strange burned into my mind, as vivid as if I’d just seen him. That intense, almost otherworldly look in his eyes kept replaying, refusing to let go. I tried to shake it off, but every time I closed my eyes, he was there—like a phantom in the corners of my thoughts.

“Remember where you’ve been to see how far you’ve come,” I mumbled to myself, pushing the psych paper aside. “Yeah alright, Gramps. Fuckin’ helps if you’ve actually got somewhere, though, doesn’t it?” I pushed the heels of my hands into my eyes, rubbing harshly. Hear something enough and it’ll be burned into your body, scarring your skin and tattooing itself in your mind. It didn’t matter how long ago the words were said. It just mattered that they were.

The phrase echoed in my brain, and it made my stomach tighten with realization. That small piece of information suddenly made everything clear. That was a big deal, and part of me didn’t want to believe it. It changed how I saw everything. I’d always known she kept secrets, but this kind of secret was different. It felt dangerous, like opening a door I wasn’t ready to walk through.

When I screamed, they injected me. And all the while, they spoke about me like I wasn’t even there. No. I don’t want to remember. I shut my eyes tightly, willing myself to go to sleep and forget about the painful memories. But they remained frozen in my brain. When I finally drifted off, I woke again minutes—maybe hours—later, drenched in sweat, the echoes of those memories still clawing at the back of my mind. I sat up, chest tight. My throat felt like sandpaper.

Because the taste of him stuck on my tongue, the heat of him still clung to my skin, and yet Tristan’s name was carved into my bones like a brand. And Tate knew it. Fuck.

Every sound he made, every movement, every goddamn thing—it was burned into me, seared into my brain like a brand. I didn't know how long I stayed there, lost in the torturous pull of him. But when I finally blinked, my body shuddering as release hit, all I could do was curse under my breath. I ran a trembling hand through my hair, shaking my head as disgust and frustration sank in. It was all his fault. I took a step back, my jaw locked tight as I wiped my hand against the rough wall of the house. My fingers trembled as I dragged my jeans up, forcing composure into my shaky breaths.

The vivid image haunted me, lingering in my thoughts at all hours. I couldn't believe it was on my mind so much since it occurred that I was even dreaming about it now. The incident had been unexpectedly shocking, leaving a deep impression on me. I was having a hard time wrapping my mind around it, trying to understand how such a situation could impact me like this.

The cool water washed down my dry throat and cleared my head a little. But the companionable sadness that taking root in my mind could never be shaken. Each time I woke up, my mind was instantly plagued by the years of undying trauma accumulated in my brain. Sometimes I looked at a corner of my bedroom and flinched as if a glass vase would be randomly flying at me. The scar under my hair throbbed sometimes, even though it was an old scar.

How could someone so beautiful be so fucked up. But wasn't I also fucked up since I couldn't get him out of my head? Riven was dangerous. I should be running for the hills, so why was I here, watching him. Why did I feel like if I left, I would be making a mistake? Every time he came near me, it was like my brain circuited. Sometimes, I couldn't even remember my own name. Sure, he was hot, but I've seen a lot of hot guys, so why was it with Riven, my brain absolutely stopped working.

he replies, his tone casual, as if the word holds no significance. But for me, it's as if the world has tilted on its axis. My eyes widen in terror, and my mind goes blank, the word "Rome" echoing in my head like a haunting refrain. Memories I've tried so hard to suppress come rushing back, threatening to drown me in a sea of pain and despair.