Can’t Win Me Back

“I’m sure.” Lauren nodded firmly.

In an unusual departure from his usual composure, Cyrus fixated on the portrait, his usually steady demeanor giving way to a tense stillness, his eyes tinged with red.

Concerned, Lauren approached him, noting the uncharacteristic reaction.

“Cyrus, are you alright?”

Cyrus responded hoarsely, “I’m sorry. I need to go to the restroom. Where is it?”

Jasper raised his hand, indicating the direction. Cyrus immediately left with purposeful strides.

“Lyse, do you recognize him?” Jasper hugged Alyssa by the waist and asked with anxious urgency.

Alyssa took a deep breath, striving to quell her tumultuous emotions. “He bears a striking resemblance to my late brother, Damien, who perished in a plane crash.”

Jasper and Lauren widened their eyes in disbelief.

family’s collective heart. Tears welled in Alyssa’s eyes as she

ever since his passing, especially in the presence of Mandy and Cyrus. Not out of forgetfulness, but because his

her eyes, inundated by memories. The ache of loss resurfaced, threatening to overwhelm her. “I can still vividly recall the day of Damien’s passing. Clad in his pilot uniform and a piece of luggage in hand, he stood in the sunlit courtyard, waving goodbye with

would be our final

fleeting goodbye transformed into

settling upon him like

yet any words seemed feeble in

following Cyrus’ departure with concern etched on her

the portrait doesn’t only look like Damien;

around the paper. “But the authorities confirmed there were no survivors from Damien’s flight. It’s

“This is unbelievable.”

as he said, “Even if you didn’t see his body, the chances of surviving such a plane crash are

miraculously survived the crash, why didn’t he reach out to

it just be

faltered, his reddened eyes betraying his inner turmoil. “Could this person be Damien’s double? How else could they resemble each other