Forbidden Cravings-Chapter 271: My Light in the Darkness

The world around me was pitch black, an endless void where nothing existed but the faint sense of my own presence. I couldn’t see my hands, couldn’t feel the ground beneath me, but I knew I was here, somehow suspended in this empty realm.

My heart thudded in my chest, a dull ache spreading through me. "Where am I?" I muttered to myself, my voice swallowed by the darkness. "I can’t see anything."

A soft giggle broke the silence, light and teasing, unmistakably a girl’s. It came from nowhere and everywhere, making the hairs on my neck stand up. I whipped my head around, squinting into the void, but saw nothing.

"Who’s there?" I called, my voice sharper now, tinged with unease.

"Ezra..." the voice said, soft and familiar, like a memory tugging at my heart. "You don’t recognize me?"

My chest tightened, a rush of emotions flooding through me—longing, pain, something warm and aching. That voice... I knew it, deep in my bones. My breath caught, and I whispered,

"Aeri..."

"Yes, Ezra. It’s me," she said, her voice clearer now, wrapping around me like a warm blanket. It is Aeri—my stepmom, the woman who’d found me abandoned on the side of the road when I was just a kid, who’d raised me, cared for me, loved me like her own.

"Where are you?" I asked, my voice trembling. I turned in the darkness, desperate to see her, but the void refused to give way. "Why can’t I see you?"

"I’m right here," she said, her voice coming from behind me now, close enough to make my skin prickle.

I spun around, my heart pounding, and my eyes blinked against a sudden shift.

The blackness shattered, replaced by a vibrant, living scene. I stood in a garden by a quiet lake, the evening sky painted in soft pinks and purples, the last rays of sunlight glinting off the water. Street lamps flickered on, casting warm pools of light across the grass, their glow mingling with the gentle lapping of waves against the shore. Crickets chirped in the distance, a soft, rhythmic hum that filled the air. The scent of damp earth and blooming flowers hit me, grounding me in this new reality.

And there, standing just a few feet away, was Aeri. My stepmom. The woman who’d been my everything growing up. She wore a sleeveless white dress, long and flowing, hugging her curves in a way that made my breath catch. The neckline dipped low, revealing a hint of cleavage, sexy but elegant, and her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, catching the lamplight. Her deep, dark eyes locked onto mine, warm and knowing, a soft smile playing on her lips.

My heart flushed, a mix of love, longing, and something heavier—guilt, maybe, from the rejection that still stung.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice tinged with confusion as I glanced around. The garden felt familiar, but something was off—like I’d been dropped into a memory I couldn’t quite place.

Aeri raised an eyebrow, tilting her head slightly. "What do you mean?" she said, her tone light but puzzled. "We came here together for a little walk. Did you forget already?" She crossed her arms, her lips curling into a teasing smile, but her eyes studied me, searching for something.

I swallowed hard, forcing a quick nod. "Y-yeah... right..." I said, my voice unsteady as I tried to play it off.

My heart thudded in my chest, a strange mix of nostalgia and disorientation swirling in my head. I didn’t want to stand out, didn’t want her to think I was losing it.

Aeri’s smile softened, and she pointed toward the far end of the garden, where a faint glow hinted at activity.

"Let’s go over there," she said, her voice brightening. "There’s a nice ice cream truck by the path."

"Okay, let’s go," I said, managing a small smile as I nodded. Her enthusiasm was infectious, pulling me along despite the fog in my mind.

*Tap-tap.* Our footsteps echoed softly on the gravel path as we walked, the sound steady and rhythmic. The garden was beautiful, calming, with its neat rows of flowers and the quiet shimmer of the lake.

But something felt... wrong. I glanced around, my eyes scanning the empty path, the silent benches, the still air. There was no one else—no kids running, no couples strolling, not even the distant hum of voices. Just us. I frowned, my stomach twisting. Where was everyone?

Aeri walked two or three steps ahead, her figure swaying slightly with each step. The open back of her dress revealed the smooth curve of her spine, her waistline accentuated by the way the fabric clung to her. She looked... breathtaking, her dark hair catching the lamplight, her movements graceful but effortless. My chest tightened, a flush of warmth hitting me, but it was quickly overshadowed by confusion.

Where was I? My mind scrambled for answers. I couldn’t remember how I’d gotten here, couldn’t piece together the moments leading up to this. *This is the first time I’ve been here,* I thought, but the thought felt wrong, like a lie.

No—this place was familiar. The garden, the lake, the winding path—it was the park near our old house, the one Aeri used to take me to when I was a kid. We’d play on the swings, eat ice cream, chase fireflies until the stars came out. How could I forget that? My head spun, a dull ache forming behind my eyes. *What the hell is going on?*

"Everything okay?" Aeri’s voice cut through my thoughts, and I realized she’d turned to face me, her brow furrowed with concern.

She’d stopped walking, her hands resting on her hips, the soft light catching the curve of her cheek. "You seem really disturbed by something."

I opened my mouth to respond, my heart pounding.

"I—" The words caught in my throat, heavy with the weight of everything I wanted to say. The rejection from this morning, the ache of missing her, the confusion of this moment—it all pressed against my chest, begging to spill out.