Read by Smita Singh

The wind howled softly through the ruins, whispering forgotten names into the starless night. On a forgotten hill in Crete, two strangers stood before a crumbling stone arch, their hands accidentally brushing as they looked upon what once was-a house half-built, now swallowed by vines and time. Neither knew why they were drawn here. Neither knew the other had dreamed of this place long before they had ever met. She touched the edge of the locket around her neck. He reached for the same. They stared at each other, frozen-something ancient, something aching stirred within them both. A sudden gust of wind blew open a slab of earth, revealing a manuscript weathered with age and mystery. Its cover bore no title, but the first line inside read: "This is the story of the house we never and the lives we never stopped living." And so began a journey-not from one country to another, or one mind to another-but from the universe to the metaverse. From memory to destiny. From body to soul. From love to forever

Mode of access: World Wide Web