"Thank you for the tea, Sophie. It's delicious. It's been too long since I drank something like this," Theo said, taking a small sip of his black tea. Steam still rose from the cup, but for some reason, the piping hot tea felt wonderful going down his throat. He had just finished washing the dishes when Sophie had invited him to sit down and have tea with her.

"No need to thank me, it's my secret recipe. I only make it for those I care about," Sophie said, winking in his direction from across the small round table.

Theo was enjoying staying with Sophie more than he thought he would. He had thought it would be strange living with an older woman, who he didn't know, but it was different, peaceful, as if that was what was missing in his life. Though, of course, he didn't even know who he was or where he came from—he still had a feeling his previous life had been very chaotic.

"The only one I've made this tea for was Mia, but unfortunately she doesn't like black tea," Sophie sighed.

Theo suddenly thinks she likes extra milk and sugar, something sweeter and not bitter like he took it.

"She likes extra milk and sugar, something sweeter," Sophie continues and the sense of deja vu hit Theo like a soft cushion to the head; he just assumed his mind was playing tricks on him. How could he know something like that? "I know what Mia likes but still, she drinks the black tea when I make it for her and it's really funny seeing her drink it with a straight face.

"Mia is such a sweetheart, we're lucky she decided to keep Amelia's bookshop open." Sophie sighed, taking a scone from a plate. "It was almost like she knew we needed her. I'm lucky to be able to call her a friend."

Theo made a non-committal sound, before saying what had been weighing on his mind for a while already.

"Sometimes, I feel Mia doesn't like me," Theo said, staring at the teacup in front of him.

It shouldn't bother him if someone didn't like him, but he always felt something when he looked at her, almost as if they had met before. Theo knew it was crazy, but it didn't stop him from getting that strange feeling.

"What are you talking about?" Sophie was looking at him as if he had lost his mind, and maybe he had.

"I don't know how to explain it," Theo shrugged, almost regretting saying anything. When she prompted him, he sighed but managed to explain, "Every time we're alone, she either avoids me or just keeps staring as if I offended her somehow. It's weird."

Sophie just looked at Theo without a smile on her face. Theo felt like he had screwed everything; Sophie was Mia's friend and he was just a stranger she felt sorry for.

Preparing himself for whatever Sophie would dish at him, he was surprised when Sophie's face relaxed a little.

"I know why you would think that about her, but Mia likes you, Theo." Sophie smiled softly. "She just has trouble connecting to people, afraid that people will dismiss her before they even get to know her."

"And she thinks I won't want to be around her?" Theo frowned, trying to understand what Sophie was implying.

Sophie stared at him before sighing. Theo wondered what that meant, but he figured he would find out soon enough.

"Mia used to come here as a kid with her parents, and they always went to Amelia's shop," Sophie said in a soft voice, lost in memories. "I don't think we ever met when she was a little girl, but Mia told me how happy she was when she was around books. It was almost like she had found long-lost friends.

"But she stopped coming here when she went to a boarding school far away in the mountains," Sophie said, tearing apart her scone. "I never asked about it, but she seemed to like it."

Suddenly, an image flashed through Theo's mind: a domineering castle in the mountains, with children running in capes and holding the same stick of wood he hadn't let go since forever.

A younger Mia laughing alongside a dark-haired boy and a redhead; a blond boy and a dark-skinned boy standing beside him, Theo himself, staring at the trio. Theo felt a surge of emotion running through him.

Scared of his thoughts, Theo stood up so quickly he almost upset his chair, startling Sophie.

"Theo? Are you alright?" she asked, concerned, but Theo couldn't handle reassuring her properly right now. He didn't know why he had imagined that scene in particular.

"Ye-yes, I'm fine, Sophie." Theo forced himself to breathe through his nose to stop the panic mounting. "Thank you again for the t-tea. I-I'll take a walk now, if you don't mind."

Sophie dismissed his concerns with a wave of her hand. "Don't worry. Please, go take a walk. You look awfully pale all of a sudden."

Theo smiled stiffly at her before exiting the house as fast as he could. He didn't know what he had seen—or even if the images in his mind were a memory or just something his brain conjured up.

It was weird to imagine a younger Mia so carefree, but Theo needed to find out whether what he had imagined was true.

Castle Combe was a small town and Theo could take a walk around the place and no one would disturb him. Theo just needed time to clear his thoughts.

No matter how muddled they seemed to be.