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.

collective heart. Tears welled in Alyssa’s eyes as

Mandy

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,

never imagined it would

fleeting goodbye transformed

Alyssa tightened, a heavy sadness settling upon him

offer solace, yet any words seemed feeble in the shadow

gaze following Cyrus’ departure

in the portrait doesn’t only look like

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

“This is unbelievable.”

if you didn’t see his body, the chances of surviving such a plane crash

the crash, why didn’t he reach out to

just

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