Chapter 2: The Dream That Burned Again
The sea roared outside Julia's window, soft and endless, like a heartbeat that refused to fade. The room was dim, the curtains fluttering from the salty breeze that slipped through the half-open glass. She hadn't slept much. Every time she closed her eyes, the forest came back burning, crying, calling.
She could still feel the heat on her skin, could still hear that voice Julia! rising through the flames. And then that moment she woke, trembling, her pillow damp with tears she didn't remember shedding.
Now she sat cross-legged on the bed, her notebook open across her lap. The ink from last night's poems had smudged where her hand had brushed them, but she didn't mind. She was writing again, half-awake, words tumbling out faster than she could stop them.
He burns in my dreams.
I reach, but he's made of smoke.
The sea whispers his name,
and my heart answers before my lips do.
Julia stopped. Her hand was shaking slightly. Why does it feel real? she thought. Why does it feel like I've lost him before I've even found him?
A knock came at the door.
Jules? Princess's voice was light, half-asleep.Julia sighed and slipped the notebook under her pillow. Come in.
Princess peeked in, hair messy from sleep, a pink towel wrapped around her shoulders. You're up already? It's, like, six a.m.
Couldn't sleep, Julia murmured.
Princess yawned. You and your weird poet insomnia. You better not be writing sad stuff again.Julia smiled faintly. It's… not sad. Just confusing.
Princess threw herself onto the bed dramatically. Confusing boys, confusing dreams, confusing everything. You're hopeless, Jules. She laughed, rolling over. Anyway, breakfast in an hour. Don't be late, or Miss Mbatha will chase us with her whistle again.
When she left, Julia stared at the door for a moment longer. She wasn't ready to face the crowd yet not after the dream, not after the way Junior's warning still echoed in her mind.
The beach was brighter than she expected. The morning sunlight danced across the waves, painting them gold. The air smelled of salt and sunscreen, and the sand felt warm beneath her feet as she joined the others.
Princess was already posing with a group of girls, taking selfies near the water. Julia smiled at her energy, then wandered a little farther down the beach where it was quieter. She liked the way the sea sounded when no one was talking how it seemed to whisper secrets only the heart could hear.Couldn't sleep either?The voice came from behind her. She turned.
Junior stood there, hands in his pockets, the wind tugging gently at his hair. He wasn't wearing his hoodie today; instead, a light gray shirt that made his eyes look even darker in contrast.
Julia's heart gave a small, foolish leap. You she began, then stopped herself. No, I didn't sleep much.He nodded slowly. Dreams can do that.
Something in the way he said it made her chest tighten. Did you…she hesitated, dream too?He looked at her for a long time, eyes unreadable, and then said softly, Yes. Fire. Voices. You.
Her breath caught. She didn't know what to say. Part of her wanted to laugh it off, to pretend it was coincidence but she couldn't. Not when he said it with such quiet certainty.
They stood in silence for a while, watching the waves roll in. The world felt smaller somehow, as if everything else had faded the noise, the laughter, the shouts of students playing volleyball nearby.
Julia, he said finally, his voice barely above the wind. Do you ever feel like you're searching for something, but you don't know what? Like the answer's right there, but you can't remember the question?"
She nodded slowly. All the time.He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. Maybe that's why we met.Her pulse fluttered. Maybe.
They both turned toward the horizon, where the sun was climbing higher. For a moment, it felt like the world had stopped spinning.
Later that afternoon, the group went on a boat ride. Julia sat near the edge, watching the endless blue stretch out before them. The water sparkled, but the movement of the boat made her dizzy. She closed her eyes for a second and saw flashes again: fire, smoke, the sound of his voice.
Julia!
Her eyes snapped open. Princess was holding out a bottle of water. You okay? You look pale.
Julia smiled weakly. Yeah, just tired.Girl, you need to rest. And maybe eat. You're scaring me.
Julia nodded and took a sip, trying to ignore the pounding in her chest. But when she glanced across the deck, she saw Junior standing alone at the front of the boat, staring into the water. He turned slightly, as if sensing her gaze, and their eyes met.
For a heartbeat, everything else blurred.He mouthed something. Just one word.Remember.A shiver crawled down her spine.
That evening, after dinner, everyone gathered again by the shore for another bonfire. The air was cooler now, the waves darker and more restless. Music played softly from someone's speaker, and the firelight flickered over smiling faces.
But Julia couldn't focus on the laughter. Her gaze kept drifting toward the edge of the beach, where the light met the shadows.That's where he was sitting alone on a rock, watching the sea.
She hesitated for a moment, then walked over, the sand cool beneath her bare feet.Hey, she said quietly.He looked up, his expression softening.Hey.
You always sit alone, she said.
So do you.
She smiled.Maybe we're both broken in the same way."l
He chuckled a low, warm sound that made her chest ache. Or maybe we just see things differently.
She sat beside him, pulling her knees close. The waves glittered under the moonlight, and for a long time, neither of them spoke. The silence wasn't awkward; it felt… right.
Julia tilted her head toward him. Earlier you said 'remember.' Remember what?
He glanced at her, eyes reflecting the firelight. I'm not sure. Just something that feels… lost. Like we've been here before.
Her breath caught. Here? In Durban?He shook his head. No. Somewhere else. Somewhere that doesn't exist anymore.
The wind picked up, carrying the scent of the sea. Julia looked down at her hands. I had another dream last night. It felt so real. You were there.I know, he whispered. I saw it too.She turned to him, startled. How can that be possible?
I don't know, he said softly. But when I looked into your eyes on the bus, I felt it. Like finding a song I used to love but forgot the lyrics to.
Julia's chest tightened. She didn't understand any of this, but she didn't want to. Not yet. The way he spoke, the way he looked at her it made her feel seen, known, even if she didn't know herself completely.He smiled faintly. Do you believe in fate?I believe in moments, she whispered. Like this one.
He looked at her, really looked, and the space between them seemed to vanish. For a second, Julia thought he might reach out and touch her hand. But he didn't. He only said, Sometimes moments are enough to change everything.
The fire crackled behind them, voices drifting from far away.
Julia wished the world could stay like this soft, quiet, endless. But then someone called her name from across the beach. Princess, waving.
Jules! Come take a photo!Julia turned back to Junior, her heart heavy. I should go.He nodded. You should.
She hesitated. Will I see you tomorrow?He smiled, that half-mysterious smile that made her forget how to breathe. You'll see me even if you don't.
Julia blinked. What does that mean?But he only stood, dusted the sand off his jeans, and walked away the shadows swallowing him as if he'd never been there.
That night, Julia dreamed again.
Only this time, there was no fire. There was a field endless and green, sunlight spilling across it like honey. She was standing in the middle of it, barefoot, wearing white. And he was there too, smiling, reaching for her hand.
When their fingers touched, the world shimmered the sea, the fire, everything merging into one.He whispered, We found each other again.
Julia's heart lifted, her soul warming like dawn breaking after a storm. But just as she opened her mouth to speak, the light shattered and she woke up.The room was dark. The waves murmured outside. For a moment, she thought it was just a dream.
But on her nightstand, where she'd left her notebook closed, a single line was written in new ink one she hadn't written herself.
Dreams burn, but souls remember.
Julia froze. Her pulse raced as she touched the page. The ink was still fresh.
She looked out at the sea beyond the window. Somewhere, she thought she saw a shadow walking along the shore tall, quiet, familiar.Her lips trembled as she whispered his name.
Junior.
The sea answered with a sigh.And the dream burned again.