Ethan jolted awake, his heart pounding as the d�j� vu sensation washed over him once more. Blinking rapidly, he took in the familiar surroundings of his childhood bedroom, the faint smell of coffee drifting in from the kitchen. Rubbing his temples, he tried to shake off the unsettling feeling that had gripped him since the moment he opened his eyes.

"Not again," he muttered, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. The same sequence of events, the same arguments, the same unresolved tensions - it was all happening once more, and Ethan was powerless to stop it.

As he made his way downstairs, he caught a glimpse of his father, Thomas, sitting at the kitchen table, engrossed in the morning newspaper. Ethan took a deep breath, steeling himself for the inevitable confrontation.

"Morning, Dad," he said, trying to keep his voice level.

Thomas looked up, his brow furrowing slightly. "Ethan. I wasn't expecting you this early."

Ethan nodded, pulling out a chair and sitting across from his father. "I, uh, couldn't sleep. Too much on my mind, I guess."

Thomas folded the newspaper and fixed Ethan with a stern gaze. "Is this about that meeting you have today? I thought we discussed your responsibilities."

Ethan felt the familiar pang of frustration as his father's disapproval washed over him. "It's not just about the meeting, Dad. There's... there's more to it than that."

"Well, then enlighten me, Ethan." Thomas leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest. "What's troubling you?"

Ethan hesitated, unsure of how to articulate the strange sense of d�j� vu that had been haunting him. "I... I can't explain it. It's like I've been through this all before, but I know I haven't. Does that make any sense?"

Thomas scoffed. "That sounds like some sort of existential crisis, son. You need to focus on the here and now, not get lost in your head."

Ethan felt the frustration building, but he forced himself to remain calm. "I know, I know. But there's something... off about all of this. I can't shake the feeling that something's wrong."

Before Thomas could respond, the sound of the doorbell echoed through the house. Ethan's heart skipped a beat as he remembered the mysterious woman, Lila, and her unexpected arrival the day before.

"I'll get it," he said, pushing himself up from the table and hurrying to the front door.

When he pulled it open, there she stood, her dark eyes burning into him with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine.

"Lila," he breathed, unsure of what to say.

"Ethan," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've been expecting you."

Ethan glanced back over his shoulder, half-expecting to see his father hovering nearby, but the hallway was empty. Turning his attention back to Lila, he asked, "What do you mean you've been expecting me? How do you even know my name?"

Lila's lips curled into a faint smile. "All in good time, Ethan. For now, I need you to come with me."

"Come with you?" Ethan shook his head, bewildered. "I can't just leave, I have - "

"It's important," Lila interrupted, her eyes narrowing. "Trust me, Ethan. This is something you need to see."

Ethan hesitated, his mind racing. Something about Lila's presence and the way she spoke was deeply unsettling, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that he should follow her. Glancing back towards the kitchen, he made a split-second decision.

"Alright," he said, stepping out onto the porch and closing the door behind him. "Lead the way."

Lila's smile widened, and she turned, walking briskly down the path towards the edge of town. Ethan hurried to keep up, his mind swirling with questions and a growing sense of unease.

As they walked, Ethan couldn't help but notice the subtle changes in his surroundings. The trees seemed a little taller, the shadows a little longer. The air had a chill to it that he couldn't quite place. Glancing over his shoulder, he caught a glimpse of a dark figure in the distance, but when he blinked, it was gone.

"Lila," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "What's happening? Why do I feel like I've been through all of this before?"

Lila glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "All in good time, Ethan. You'll understand soon enough."

Ethan opened his mouth to press her further, but the words died on his lips as they approached a familiar sight - the small, rural cemetery where his grandparents were buried. Lila slowed her pace, her footsteps crunching on the gravel path.

"We're here," she said, turning to face Ethan. "This is where it all began."

Ethan's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean? What began here?"

Lila's gaze was unwavering, her eyes reflecting a depth of emotion that Ethan couldn't quite decipher. "Your journey, Ethan. The one that led you to this moment."

Ethan felt a chill run down his spine as Lila's words sank in. "My journey? What are you talking about?"

But Lila had already turned and was walking deeper into the cemetery, her footsteps fading into the distance. Ethan hesitated for a moment, torn between following her and returning to the safety of his father's house. The memory of the dark figure in the distance lingered in his mind, and with a resigned sigh, he set off after Lila, determined to unravel the mystery that had enveloped him.

As he walked, the shadows seemed to grow longer, and the air grew colder. Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched, and the weight of his mortality seemed to press down on him with each step. He knew, deep down, that there was more to this day than he could understand and that the answers he sought might come at a terrible price.