Miles woke up in his small apartment above the bookstore in Beacon, New York. The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow on the wooden floors. Chloe was already in the kitchen, humming a soft tune while flipping pancakes on the stove.
The smell of fresh coffee filled the air, a familiar comfort in their quiet life. They had no kids yet, even after three years of marriage, but it didn’t bother them much — or at least they didn’t talk about it. He walked over, wrapped his arms around her from behind, and kissed her cheek. “Good morning,” he murmured. She smiled and leaned back into him. “Morning. Eat before you go.” He grabbed his jacket, gave her one more quick kiss, and headed downstairs to open the shop.
When he reached the shop, he noticed a stray dog sitting outside the door, wagging its tail lazily. “Go on, boy,” Miles said, shooing it away gently. The dog trotted off, and he unlocked the door. Inside, the place was as it always was — shelves lined with books, a faint scent of paper and dust. He started his daily routine: sweeping the floor with the old broom, dusting the shelves to remove the overnight grime, and wiping down the counter until it shone. It was therapeutic, this ritual, a way to start the day fresh.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out — it was David, his best friend.
Miles answered with a grin. “Hey, man. What’s up?”
David’s voice was full of energy.
“How are you, bro? You at the shop or still at home?”
Miles: “Just got here, doing the cleaning. You sound way too happy for this early. What’s the deal?”
David laughed. “I applied for that software engineer job at the AI company. They shortlisted me — interview today at 11 AM.”
Miles: “No way! That’s awesome. Have you left yet? It’s already 10.”
David: “Heading out now. Thought I’d tell you first. You were always on my case about getting a job.”
Miles: “Yeah, because your whisky habits are bankrupting me, man!”
David: “We’ll see. If I get it, party tonight — my treat.”
Miles: “Deal. Let’s hit our usual bar. Good luck, bro. Call me after.”
David: “Will do. Bye.”
Miles hung up, shaking his head with a smile. David was always the dreamer, but this time it sounded serious. Just then, a young girl walked into the shop, looking around nervously. “Hi, do you have (the stranger) sci-fi novels?” she asked. Miles went to the counter and led her to the sci-fi section. He scanned the shelves — the book she wanted wasn’t there. “Sorry, out of stock. I can order it if you want.” She shook her head and left.
Miles went back to the shelf. It was covered in dust. He took all the books out, cleaned the section thoroughly, then started arranging them again. As he did, a book slipped into his hands. The cover and some pages were burnt, charred at the edges. The title was The Unwritten Page. He frowned — he didn’t remember buying it. He put it in the drawer near the counter, thinking he’d ask the wholesaler later when new books arrived.
Then Chloe called: “Are you coming home for lunch, or should I bring your tiffin?”
Miles: “Yeah, bring it if you can.”
A little later she arrived with the food. “I’m going to the market for groceries,” she said, giving him a quick peck. Miles gave her some change from the register. She left with a wave.
Miles got busy with customers. At 7 PM, David called — sounding very happy and excited.
Before David could say anything, Miles said: “Come to the shop. Let’s go to the bar tonight.”
David: “How did you know?”
Miles: “Your happiness is out of control — I can hear you smiling.”
David: “I’m on my way, in a taxi.”
David arrived, grinning ear to ear. They booked a taxi and went to the bar. Miles called Chloe: “I’ll be late — going out with David. when they reached the bar. ”
They ordered vodka. After a few drinks, David invited Miles to dance.
Miles: “You go. I’m good here.”
Miles watched David dance with a girl. He smiled a little and took a selfie and sent to chloe.
A few minutes later, the girl slapped David. Miles laughed hard. David came back: “You’re laughing too much.”
Miles joked: “Bro, control yourself. Tomorrow’s your first day at work — don’t mess it up.”
They stayed until 11 PM, then left the bar.
Miles went home.
Chloe opened the door looking a little sad.
Miles asked: “What happened?”
Chloe: “My wallet fell in the market today. Some money was inside.”
Miles: “No problem. No ID card was in it, right?”
Chloe: “No.” then after dinner
They went to sleep, Miles holding her a little tighter that night.
Next morning Miles woke up late — hangover from the drinks. His head throbbed as he freshened up quickly, said bye to Chloe, and left for the shop.
He opened the shop, did the cleaning, then sat at the counter.
While doing something, he opened the drawer — the book was there. He took it out and read a page.
It said:
22 January 2026, Sunday
While having breakfast with my wife this morning, the phone on the table slipped from my hand and fell. The screen got damaged.
My wife started laughing and said: “This is your luck, everything breaks in your hands.”
I said: “Don’t laugh, repair will cost money.”
She controlled her laugh, said sorry sorry, and went to the bedroom still smiling.
then
A customer came. Miles put the book aside and got busy.
At night he went home. Chloe wasn’t there — she had gone to the neighbor’s house, as she often did to chat and pass time. The apartment felt quieter without her laughter.
Miles went to the washroom to freshen up. When he came to the dining room, Chloe was back and setting food.
They ate together, talked about small things — the weather, David’s new job, plans for the weekend. The conversation felt normal, but Miles’s mind kept drifting to the book. They went to sleep, his arm around her as always.
Next morning Miles sat for breakfast. He asked Chloe to make coffee. She brought it, smiling as she placed the cup in front of him.
While drinking and reading the newspaper, the phone slipped from his hand and fell. The screen cracked with a sharp snap.
Chloe laughed and said: “This is your luck, everything breaks in your hands.”
Miles suddenly remembered — he had read this exact moment in the book. His stomach twisted.
He looked at Chloe in surprise and said: “Don’t laugh, repair will cost money.”
Chloe said sorry sorry and went to the bedroom smiling.
Miles felt strange. Déjà vu, he thought. But it was more than that. He took the shop keys and left for the store, his mind racing with questions.
Miles reached the shop, still shaken from the morning.
The phone screen damage had happened exactly as the book described — word for word.
Even Chloe’s laugh and her line: “This is your luck, everything breaks in your hands.”
He tried to convince himself it was just coincidence. Nothing more.
But deep down, he knew it wasn’t.
He calmed his mind and did the usual cleaning, then sat at the counter.
Not sure why, he opened the drawer and stared at the book. He wanted to read more, but a part of him was scared.
Suddenly he opened it. The first page was the same as the morning event.
He turned to the next page:
Today, Monday, at 12:37 PM a boy will come to buy a book. He won’t have enough money, but seeing his innocence, I give it to him cheap. He leaves happily saying thank you.
Miles read it. He looked at the clock — 12:34 PM.
He put the book aside and stood quietly, like he was waiting for something.
Exactly at 12:37 PM a boy came and asked for a book. Miles was shocked. He asked: “You have full money, right?”
The boy said: “A little less. Please give it. I’ll pay later.”
Miles gave him the book for less money. The boy said thank you and left.
Miles was stunned. How did this happen?
Is this book magic? Does it show the future?
He opened it again and read further.
When my wife brought lunch and we were talking, she told me: “We won half a million dollar in the lottery today.”
I went crazy with happiness. I closed the shop, went to the lottery company, got the money, then asked my wife: “What do you want to buy first?”
She said: “Let’s buy a car. Taxi drivers charge too much and do whatever they want.”
So I took her and we bought a blue Kia. We came home.
Just then Miles saw Chloe coming. He quickly closed the book and put it back in the drawer.
Chloe came and said: “Here’s your tiffin. Guess what happened today — you’ll go crazy when you hear.”
Miles, surprised, asked: “one million?”
Chloe was shocked: “How did you know?”
Miles became very happy. Forgetting the book, he hugged Chloe and said: “It was written all over your face, hahaha.”
Chloe said: “Come on, let’s go get the lottery money.”
Miles closed the shop, took her to the lottery company. After getting the money, he asked: “What do you want to buy? Let me guess — a car?”
Chloe was surprised again. They went to a car dealer. Chloe liked the blue Kia. Miles didn’t think much and bought it. They drove home.
He was so happy. He told Chloe: “Wait, I’ll be right back.”
He went back to the shop and opened the book again.
Then I brought my wife home. At 10:12 PM at night I got a call from the hospital — my wife is pregnant.
I became very happy and thanked God. In one day, two big things that changed my life.
Miles closed the book happily and went home. Chloe was warming food in the kitchen.
He hugged her from behind and asked: “What time is it? Tell me.”
Chloe: “Why are you asking?”
He said: “Just tell.”
She checked her phone — 10:07 PM.
Miles said: “Leave the food. Come with me.”
He sat her at the table and said: “I have a big surprise for you — the kind of happiness you’ve never felt before.”
Chloe, a little confused, said: “Tell me, what is it?”
Miles: “Did you go to the doctor three days ago?”
Chloe looked a little sad: “Yes, but no use. Nothing happened.”
Miles: “That’s not true. Come, give me a kiss on the cheek first, then I’ll give you the surprise.”
She kissed him. Then her phone rang. She picked up — it was the doctor.
Doctor: “Congratulations, your reports are here. You are going to be a mother.”
Chloe heard it, looked at Miles. He was smiling. She hugged him and started crying.
Miles said: “Thank God — He heard our prayers.”
After a while Chloe asked: “How did you know?”
Miles laughed: “Just think I saw the future.”
Chloe lightly hit him with her elbow and went back to the kitchen to set food.
They ate together, sharing happiness.
Next day Miles went to the shop. He looked different — like he had found a book that shows the future.
He didn’t shoo the dog outside the shop. Instead he bought biscuits from a nearby shop, fed the dog, then opened the shop happily.
He finished work quickly and sat at the counter.
Full of joy, he took out the book again and read further.
Today my best friend will betray me and leave.
Miles read it and thought: My only best friend is David. Why would he betray me? He’s a good person.
But in today’s world anything can happen. Maybe he’ll try to take my lottery money? Or he hiding something from me?
Just then David came. Miles quickly hid the book.
Miles said: “Are you hiding something from me?”
David laughed: “Come on man, you are the one whois hiding, you didn’t even tell me! You bought a car? Someone told me about your lottery win.”
Miles, a little angry: “I’m not joking. Tell me the truth.”
David: “Okay okay, I get it. You don’t want to give a party so you’re making excuses, right? No problem — I’ll ask Chloe for a party.”
Miles got angry: “Wait.”
He grabbed David’s collar: “If you meet my wife, you’re dead. Traitor. You came to betray me, right? Get out of my shop right now. Don’t show your face again.”
Miles shouted so loud that nearby shopkeepers and people on the street started looking.
David felt embarrassed. He got angry too: “Stay in your limits. Got some money and forgot your place? What’s your problem? You insulted me in front of everyone today. After today, I don’t know you. Deleting your number now. Never try to talk to me again.”
David left.
Miles’s anger cooled a little. Some customers came. He got busy.
In the evening he left for home. Before going, he opened the book once more and read:
Today I fought with my wife. For the first time I raised my hand on her becouse of my bestfriend.
Miles quickly closed the book, threw it angrily into a corner, and went home.
He asked Chloe: “Did you do something to hurt me?”
Chloe: “No. But why are you behaving so strangely?”
Miles: “Then why didn’t you bring food to the shop today? I didn’t eat anything.”
Chloe: “Sorry, I forgot. I was talking to friends, showing them my new earrings.”
Miles got angry: “How can you forget to bring food? ”
Chloe looked sad.
Then he controlled his anger and said softly: “It’s okay, forget it. Come on, set the food. I’m very hungry.”
Chloe: “I didn’t cook today. Order online please.”
Miles: “Okay. Your mind is disturbed today.”
Miles ordered food online. Chloe was going outside. He stopped her.
Suddenly her phone rang. Miles saw — it was David calling.
In full anger he said: “So you were going to meet him?”
He slapped Chloe hard on the cheek.
Chloe, angry, replied: “I’m going to the neighbor’s to get the car keys. She took them this morning for her husband’s airport pickup. Here, talk to your friend.”
She gave him the phone crying and went to the bedroom.
Miles picked up. David: “Chloe, is something wrong with Miles? He’s acting really strange.”
Miles: “I told you to stay away from Chloe. Looks like you won’t learn, traitor.”
David: “I don’t want to talk to you or your wife either. I called as a friend to check if everything is okay. But you’re just showing anger at me. I don’t need a friend like you. Go to hell.”
David hung up.
Miles’s anger calmed a little. The delivery boy brought food. Miles sat at the dining table. He called Chloe, but she didn’t answer. He knew she was angry. He thought: I’ll apologize tomorrow. Let it be for now.
He ate alone and went to sleep. Chloe slept on one side of the bed. He slept on the other.
Next morning Chloe was still sleeping. Miles freshened up, gave her a goodbye kiss, and left for the shop.
He opened the shop. The book was lying where he had thrown it.
He picked it up. He didn’t have courage to read further, but he wanted to know.
He opened it.
It said:
Today is the black day when I lost everything — my wife, my coming child, everything.
Today my destruction begins. I cannot change it even if I want to.
Today my wife will die in a car accident — the woman I love more than my life.
Living one day without her is like living in hell. Go Miles, save Chloe. Maybe this time you can save her.
Miles read this and became furious. He tore the pages, poured all his anger on the book, and threw it in the dustbin.
He sat at the counter. His hands were shaking, heart beating fast, sweat on his forehead, many questions in his mind.
Will all this really happen? How does this book know my name? Is it about me? Is it magic? Does it show the future? Or is it just a joke? Am I dreaming?
Just then he saw his wife going to her car. He shouted, ran to her, hugged her tight, apologized while crying, and said:
“I love you so much. Please don’t go anywhere. We have to think of our coming child’s name, see his future, play with him, scold him for mistakes, get him married.”
Chloe got a little worried: “Are you okay? What’s wrong? Why are you so scared? Were you sleeping at the shop? Bad dream? Or did David say something?”
Miles: “Nothing. Where are you going?”
Chloe: “Hospital for routine check-up.”
Miles: “Can you go tomorrow? Don’t go today. I’ll close the shop. We’ll stay home together, watch a movie, spend time.”
Chloe explained: “Why are you so scared? I’m not going anywhere. Nothing will happen to me. Mini Miles is with me. You’re just overthinking.”
Miles: “Please don’t go. Okay, then I’ll come with you. We won’t take the car — we’ll walk, talk on the way.”
Chloe agreed. Miles said: “Wait, I’ll close the shop.”
He went to the shop, glanced at the dustbin, closed the shop, turned back smiling. She came to him.
They walked to the hospital together. On the way, his mind was full of the book’s words.
They reached the hospital. Miles waited at reception. Chloe went inside for check-up, came out.
Miles felt a little happy — nothing happened like the book said. He smiled at himself, thinking maybe someone was playing a joke.
On the way back, they saw an ice cream van. Chloe insisted on ice cream.
Miles didn’t refuse — why would he? Chloe was his life, his peace, his first love. She never left him, always stood by him at every turn.
He ordered one ice cream. Chloe said: “You won’t eat?”
Miles: “No, I just want to watch you eat.”
Chloe smiled and started walking while eating.
They had only taken a few steps when the ice cream seller called from behind: “Hello sir, you didn’t pay!”
Miles said sorry, a little embarrassed, told Chloe: “Wait, I’ll be right back.”
He went back, paid the seller, and turned to come to Chloe.
Chloe was eating happily when suddenly a car lost control and hit her hard.
Chloe flew in the air and fell far away on the road.
Blood started flowing from her body. She lay there struggling. People around ran to help.
Miles froze on the spot, like his feet were stuck to the ground. His mind went into shock.
He tried to process everything. Tears fell from his eyes. The book flashed in his mind.
Suddenly he ran to Chloe, as if waking from sleep. He held her head in his lap, tried to stop the blood from her head, and said:
“You’ll be fine. I’m here with you. Just stay strong.”
People around called an ambulance. Chloe took her last breath in Miles’s lap without saying a word and left this world.
Miles cried loudly, calling her name, hugging her.
Then he saw — the same boy who came to the shop for a cheap book got out of the car. He looked 17 or 18 years old.
Miles got up in anger, caught the boy, and started slapping him. The boy tried to save himself: “I was just learning. This is my dad’s car. The brakes failed suddenly and I hit by mistake.”
But Miles was full of rage. He didn’t know when slaps turned into punches. Blood came from the boy’s mouth and nose. His eyes swelled. He went unconscious.
People around separated Miles from the boy. Ambulance and police arrived.
They took Chloe’s lifeless body into the ambulance. Miles sat inside crying.
At the hospital, doctors said: “She had deep injuries. Too much blood loss. We couldn’t save her or your unborn child.”
Miles sat in a corner in shock, thinking what just happened. He stayed there all night without moving.
Next day after postmortem, he took the body to the cemetery with some neighbors and buried her.
He became a walking corpse — no soul, no expression on his face.
In the evening he came home. No one to warm food in the kitchen. No one to hug him. No one to bring tiffin to the shop. No one to laugh and walk around with him.
He went to the kitchen, took out alcohol Chloe had bought. She had said: “When our child comes, we won’t sleep that night — we’ll party hard.”
Miles remembered and drank until he fell asleep sitting at the table.
Next morning at 11 AM his doorbell rang. He opened the door half-asleep, holding his head.
Police were standing outside.
They arrested Miles and took him to the station.
There he learned: the boy who hit Chloe went into coma from deep head injuries — because Miles had beaten him so badly.
Miles didn’t care anymore — not about the boy, not about the world. not even about himself. like someone stole his purpose of life,
They put him in a cell.
A few days later his trial started. In court the judge asked: “Did you do this on purpose or was it unintentional? Were you just angry and lost control? What do you want to say?”
Miles said: “I would have killed him if people hadn’t stopped me. If I meet him again, I’ll take his life.”
The judge heard this and gave the verdict:
Miles was found guilty and sentenced to 9 years in prison.
In jail he sat alone in a corner ,not talking to anyone crying all day, dreaming about his wife whole night, He can’t even sleep properly at night. by time he gets more and more depressed, he is having hallucinations about his wife, it was very difficult for him but somehow he managed to complete his sentence,
9 years later he came out. He went straight home. Old memories came in front of his eyes. where he used to eat with chloe, where he used to joke and laugh with her, Tears filled his eyes.
He entered the room crying. and Started drinking again. Whenever he was sober, Chloe’s memories haunted him. So he drank day and night.
Not just alcohol — drugs, cocaine, everything. While alive, he became a living corpse.
Money ran out. He sold his bookstore. Spent all the money on drugs.
One morning his doorbell rang. He opened half-asleep.
It was the buyer who bought the shop, coming for the keys.
Miles took the keys, went with him, opened the shop.
The whole place was full of dust, cobwebs on the walls.
With wet eyes he looked at the shop one last time. His eyes fell on the dustbin where he had thrown the torn book.
He went to the dustbin, took out the dusty torn pages.
In the pieces he read — all the events that had happened so far, written a little here and there.
But the last page of the book was completely safe.
He took it out and read:
Today, 22 January 2036, is the day of my death. I am going to free myself from this pain.
Miles asked the buyer the date.
Buyer: “22 December 2035.”
That meant one month left until his death.
He lit the book with a lighter and watched the paper turn to ash.
He gave the keys to the buyer and went home.
He sold the house too.
With all the money he bought a rope, cigarettes, and alcohol.
He locked the house from inside, took his laptop to the bedroom.
From then on he just did drugs all the time. He knew no one could stop his death. He had no reason to live anymore.
One month later the day came. 22 January 2036 — the day of my death.
Today I am going to hang myself and meet Chloe and our child in heaven.
He opened his laptop, logged into Gmail, typed David’s email address.
Miles started writing his message.
First in the subject he wrote: THE UNWRITTEN PAGE.
The End.
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