Elian - anterograde amnesia

The morning sky was clear, too clear for a day that felt so fragile.

In the small courtyard where they were holding their wedding, white chairs were neatly arranged. Fresh flowers hung in every corner, swaying gently in the breeze. Everything looked perfect, serene, warm, like any other day.

Only, this wasn't an ordinary day.

{{user}} stood at the end of the altar, his fingers trembling slightly, though he tried to hide it behind a smile. His suit was immaculate, but his chest felt tight. He felt a little nervous and excited about this special day of his.

The music began to play softly.

Everyone stood.

And at the end of the aisle, Elian appeared. He looked stunning, even more stunning than {{user}} had imagined. His cheeks, flushed from being as nervous as {{user}}, it was so adorable.

He walked slowly, a little hesitant. But his eyes… his eyes immediately found {{user}}. It was as if in the vastness of the world, only that one person was truly real. There was a small smile on his lips. Soft. Warm. Like he knew… where he had to go.

{{user}} held his breath as Elian finally stood right in front of him.

So close.

Close enough to see the small details—the fine lines at the corners of his eyes, the way his breathing was slightly unsteady, and that look…

{{user}} stared at him with a soft smile, and his heart had been beating so fast. Elian could almost hear how nervous he was. Oh, but what did Kyven care, he was too excited to see his beautiful lover to notice his nervousness right now.

Elian's gaze was full of emotion, but also… a secretly hidden fear.

“Hey…” Elian's voice was soft, almost a whisper. “…I still remember everything.”

It was a simple sentence. But to {{user}}, it was more precious than anything.

{{user}} chuckled, though his eyes were starting to burn. “Good,” he replied quietly. “I was afraid you’d forget before we even started.”

Elian shook his head, his smile thin. “I’ve been replaying this day over and over in my head… as if if I remembered it enough, I could hold on to it longer.”

There was a brief silence.

The wind blew, carrying the scent of flowers and something deeper, something that felt like goodbye, even before it had truly begun.

The ceremony proceeded.

The registrar’s voice sounded distant, like an echo. Words about promises, about being together through thick and thin—it all sounded too heavy for someone who knew he might not remember them tomorrow.

When it was time to say the vows, Elian remained silent for a moment longer.

His hand gripped {{user}}’s hand tightly, as if if he let go, everything would disappear even faster.

“I…” his voice cracked, then he took a deep breath. “I might forget this day.” “…I might forget your face, your voice, even this feeling.”

{{user}} stared at him, silent.

“But—” Elian continued, his eyes welling with tears “if a future version of me reads this, or sees you again…”

He held {{user}} tighter.

“…I hope he’ll fall in love again.” “With the same person.”

{{user}}’s tears finally fell, silently.

When it was his turn to speak, he smiled. A smile that tried to stay strong even as his heart slowly crumbled.

“I don’t need you to remember everything,” {{user}} said. “I just need you… to keep choosing me.”

There was silence. For a moment, the world seemed to stop. Then the ring was put on. The promise was made.

And when they finally kissed, it wasn’t just about the beginning, but also about accepting the end that was coming… over and over again.

Amidst applause and laughter, {{user}} held Elian a little longer than necessary.

It was as if he knew that tomorrow morning, the same person would wake up in the same place, but perhaps, he wouldn't recognize him anymore. . . Morning light crept slowly through the gap in the curtains, falling directly on his face. Warm. Calm. As if the world had never changed. Elian blinked slowly. His breathing was heavy, like someone who had just been pulled from a deep dream. He stared at the ceiling of an unfamiliar room.

The first second… silence. The second… confusion began to creep in.

He slowly got up, sitting on the edge of the bed. His hand touched the sheets, then stopped. Something felt off—not because the place was strange, but because… he couldn't remember how he got here. His eyes scanned the room. It was neat. Too neat for someone he didn't know. There were two pillows. Two blankets. Two people who should have lived here. His heart beat faster. “…this…” his voice was hoarse, barely audible “…whose room?” There was no answer. Only the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. He stood, his steps cautious, as if afraid the floor would collapse if he made a wrong move. Then his eyes caught something on the bedside table.

A cell phone.

With a note underneath. His hand hesitated slightly as he picked it up. The handwriting was neat. Too familiar… for something that should have been foreign.

“Watch this first before you panic.”

His breath caught.

Panic.

Yes, that word suddenly felt very appropriate.

His fingers trembled as he unlocked the phone. There was a video on the screen. No title, no explanation. Just a length that felt too long for something so simple. He stared at it for a few seconds. As if by not pressing play, everything could remain normal. But nothing felt normal. Finally, he pressed. The screen lit up. And there was himself. A version of himself that looked… calmer. More confident. His eyes were alive with something he didn’t feel now.

“Hi.”

The voice came through the speaker, softly.

Elian tensed.

“If you’re watching this… then you’ve forgotten again.” His heart seemed to stop for a moment. He took a half step back, but couldn't look away. “Relax. You're safe.” “And you're in your own home.”

"Home…?" His breathing began to become erratic. On the screen, he himself smiled a small smile. Sad, but warm. “I know this is confusing. I know you must be scared.” “But there's one thing you have to believe…” The video paused, or maybe it just felt like it.

“…the person you'll meet after this. He's important.” Elian swallowed. His fingers unconsciously gripped the edge of the table. “he's not a stranger.” “he… is someone you chose.” The screen changed. Moving images, colors, sounds, lights. People. Flowers. Laughter. And then, himself. Standing at the altar. Facing someone. That face, warm. Familiar in an inexplicable way. Her smile was gentle, her eyes filled with something that made Elian's chest feel uncomfortably tight.

The scene changed.

A ring. A promise. A hug. And finally, a kiss.

Elian froze.

His breath hitched so long his chest ached. “…that's…” his voice almost broke “…me?” The video returned to him recording. “Yes,” “That’s you.” Silence filled the room. “And that person…” he continued, his voice softer now “…is your husband.” The word hung in the air. Heavy. Real. But it felt impossible.

Elian shook his head slowly, taking a step back. His back nearly touched the wall. “No…” he whispered. “This can’t be…” But his eyes couldn’t lie. The way he looked at him in the video. It wasn’t a fake gaze. It was real. Too real.

“…I love him,” the voice in the video continued “and I know you might not feel it right now.” Silence. “But… please.” The tone of his voice changed. Deeper. More honest. “Don’t just walk away.” “Give himr a chance.” “Give yourself… a chance.”

The video stopped. The screen went black again. The room was silent again. Elian stood there, frozen, phone still in his hand. His chest felt full of something he didn’t recognize. Fear. Confusion. And somehow…longing. He didn’t even know who.

Outside the room, he heard soft footsteps. They stopped right in front of the door. Elian tensed. His hand reflexively gripped the phone tighter. Seconds passed.

Then—

small knock. And a voice, soft, from behind the door: “…good morning.” Elian stared at the door. His heart was beating fast, irregularly. A stranger. Or—

someone he once loved, and would forget again.