A distant memory.

Somewhere, the rich sounds of violins being softly strung flowed through the space. While the delicate tones of the piano followed suit and blended into an ethereal symphony.

The flutters of dresses brushing against the floor, the coordinated steps of dance echoed off the walls, amongst this symphony were two people lost in each other, following the flow of music while allowing their bodies to move with each other. Eyes locked, trying to commit the other to memory, no words, just two people completely entranced.

“odette…odette…odette.”

The sound of a muffled voice had slowly woven its way into the music and further into the open as if to disrupt the moment. They danced and danced, unable to break away from each other. They each spoke, but no words followed, rather obscured mumblings.

“odette…odette…odette.”

Slowly, the room grew dark, and sounds were becoming inaudible. The room suddenly felt empty, but only the two people remained as if stuck in a loop. Suddenly, time slowed, and that muffled voice returned, but louder, forceful.

“ — Odette!”

She jolted in her seat, suddenly remembering where she was. Her university building, more specifically, her fine arts lecture class. Odette looked around, almost in a daze, but confused as to how she got here. “ Earth to Odette… still with us?” Odette turned to see Lia, her long-time friend. Her light brown hair, curled, sat on her shoulders as it always did. Her usual chic style shines through with a white fitted top, baggy dark navy jeans, and red kitten heels. Odette blinked and inhaled deeply, trying to collect herself, and finally exhaled. “Uh- yeah im …fine. “ She didn’t sound as convincing as she thought she did. Lia could tell; she always could. “Sure about that, you, yourself don’t sound entirely sure. “ Odette didn’t know what to say; she felt weird. She seemed to have found herself somewhere else in some distant place, lost in her memories, yet she found herself in her lecture hall- how she got there didnt know.

“ yeah yeah, just a little discombobulated,” she sighed. Lia was confused, but let it slide for now.” okay well, we gotta go, class ended like 5 minutes ago.” Odette then noticed the empty classroom, not a soul in sight besides them. She crused under her breath and began to collect her things, Lia watching ever closley still wondering whether Odette was okay. She seemed so spacey, as if she was struggling to put her feet on the ground because she was too high up in the clouds. The two exited the lecture hall, walking side by side in silence. The muddled thoughts going through Odette’s mind were so loud that the air felt almost suffocating, and Lia felt she was about to be swallowed by it. She didn’t know what to do or say- what do you even ask?

However, Odette was stuck in her own thoughts, unaware of what was going on around her, and kept her head down and her mind on alert. Trying to decipher what she was feeling, this foggy memory of sorts that felt real - oh so real, but was sure that didn’t happen. The symphony echoed in her ears; she swore she could still feel the weight of a garment tethering her to the ground, the silk keeping her hands steady and warmth, that soft and welcoming warmth as they held her close. Odette couldn’t remember their features, just the feeling of their presence. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted as her name was called out and her body collided with another, one of a taller stature.

“—Odette!” She felt her bag hit the floor with a heavy thud and multiple light objects fall one after the other. She looked down to see her bag and notebooks, loose papers and pens scattered around - she quickly bent down and began to collect everything. “ I’m sorry! i - i don’t know what’s going on with me today. “She looked up and stopped, she stared into honey brown eyes, ones she swore she'd seen before, a distant feeling welling up inside her - calling to her. The stranger looked into her hazel eyes with faint recognition. He merely smiled the sweetest and softest of smiles and shook his head; his soft blonde hair bounced as he did so. "No harm done, besides, we've all had those days," he helped her pick up his belongings along with her bag, " where our minds are foggy, and yet we don't seem to know why." he stood tall, grey long-sleeved shirt and black slacks partnered with white sneakers and his blond hair messy. He looked down at her. He wanted to say more or ask if he had met her before, but the question died in his throat. " I'm Arthur, by the way," he shyly stated, and she felt a jolt in her system; that name rang with a memory, the warmth, and that echo of a symphony meant for two people. Odette fixed her dazed face and smiled sofly and nodded, "A pleasure to bump into you, Arthur." He smiled and looked at her, really looked at her, the way she said his name- a distant feeling ran up his spine, his heart rate picked up oh so slightly, and merley laughed. " Well, I'd better go, my class is starting, so farewell for now...," he waited for her name, and she simply said," Odette." He felt this sense of Deja Vu wash over him, a memory playing in his head, a familiar symphony echoing in his mind. Arthur simply smiled, nodded, and left. Odette watched him go, and a sudden ache formed in her chest. Lia, now a spectator, was left confused and intrigued," Um, am I missing something here?" She softly laughed and watched an almost love-struck Odette, eyes still on Arthur's now missing form. " Lia, have you ever gotten that feeling of deja vu?" she said in an almost dreamy tone, lost in her thoughts once more. Falling back into a memory, so far away it almost didn't seem real. A Distant memory of a symphony that brought two souls together and unknowingly led right back to each other.