Thread by @spectacularlost

#WujuBakery AU | "waking up"

Waking up feels like coming out from under the water.

Wuju is soaked in a yearning, a name on the tip of his tongue. He looks down at his hands each time he has that dream. He knows it's recurring because he never grieves like this from sleep.

Always hazy, foggy. He tries to scour clear waters for a memory, a face, a voice. His hands come up empty and then he has to get out of bed to open the bakery.

One year has passed since these recurring dreams started. He always feels like his searching for something.

His pastry has changed. It was subtle. It was almost muscle memory and he was surprised by how deftly he kneaded the dough now--how slightly off the amount of sugar he adds. It's less sweet, more savory, almost like he was thinking of someone.

Impossible. Wuju loves sweets.

He wades through the grief, the only word he has for it. The last year feels unreal but he has clear memories of working in the bakery. A cop he met and his... friend? He can't remember.

But every time the door chimes, announcing a customer, Wuju gets his hopes up.

And it's never the one he's waiting for, whoever that is.

But today though.

There's an odd customer. And suddenly all the dreams he's forgotten make sense.

He's sad. He's relieved. He's a little angry. Where have you been all those mornings I woke up alone?

But that would be weird. He doesn't know this man. Does he?

"Hello," Wuju greets.

"Hello." Low voice. The man is a little surprised and Wuju feels his throat ache from the tears he didn't know he had.

"I'm sorry. Um, this is going to sound weird." Impossible, but Wuju asks anyway.

"Have we met before?"

"No. Never."

See? Impossible.