We've all heard stories of people knowing their past lives, of ghosts, spirits, and unfinished businesses. And I was no different. But had I ever imagined I would stumble upon such a case for myself? Not even in my wildest dreams.

It was a few months ago when it first occurred to me. I had just finished with my mid-term exams, and naturally, I wanted to spend my time doing something fun. And what better way to relax than to watch a movie?

I had always been entranced by Britain, without a very apparent reason. But since the old era, and British culture both appealed to me, I decided to watch The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Miss Osbourne.

It was late at night, as I sat watching the movie when a thought hit me. Something about that Victorian era seemed so familiar. Almost as if I myself have witnessed it...

There was no way! I've never even been to England, and I was most definitely not alive in the Victorian Era. Could it be that...?

No, no. There was no way. I convinced myself it was nothing, it had to be a coincidence. I pinned it down as yet another instance on my brain playing tricks on me, spooking me for no reason, and decided to continue watching the movie. However, that nagging feeling of a strange sort of déjà vu still persisted.

It was only a few weeks after this when I finally decided that this feeling was a bit too strong, and I decided to ask for some expert advice.

It was a beautiful evening, my friends and I had planned a movie night, to meet up and enjoy, with a classic favourite, Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock Holmes had been a very favourite movie of mine, ever since the first time, I had watched and read it. Classic, Victorian-era Britain always appealed to me. It was marvellous to see the entire setting, and being a fan of detectives and mysteries, I had always adored Sherlock Holmes a lot.

But well, where were we? Ah, yes, we had planned a movie night. It was decided that we would meet at my friend, Sia's place. It would be just three of us, but loads of fun was promised nonetheless.

I had dropped by at her place a little early, and we were waiting for George, so we decided to stroll around, discussing everything from movies to the results of our assessments.

It was after George came, and we started watching the movie. A blanket fort with pillows, a bowl of popcorn, and an impromptu pillow fight later, we were finally ready to begin watching the movie, which I had been looking forward to the most.

Even though I had already watched Sherlock Holmes, I was as excited about it as anyone watching for the first time. George had watched the movie too, while Sia had only read the book.

The movie began, and nothing seemed out of place. Sia was super enthusiastic to watch the movie, and George and I kept explaining a few things because we couldn't control ourselves.

It was somewhere in the midst of the movie when I suddenly became quiet and blankly stared at the screen. The same feeling of nostalgia, of deja vu, washed over me again. This time, slightly stronger. I could have sworn I had seen those buildings up close, in real life.

"Wait, wait. I think I've seen these buildings before..." I muttered.

"Yeah, Neil. We've watched the movie! DUH!" replied George, not taking his eyes off the movie.

I rolled my eyes slightly at his remark and then said, "Not like, on the screen, George. I feel like I've seen them in real life."

This caused both of them to look at me, with a confused look. "Wait, what? How?" Sia asked.

George then said, "Okay, unless you had a secret trip to Britain without telling us, there is no way that's possible." with a small chuckle.

I smiled while replying, "No, I never had any secret trips, I don't know what it is either. It's just a weird feeling, you know." My tone dropping to a somewhat serious one towards the end of my sentence.

Sia looked at me, with her 'thinking' look, while George teased me on with my 'weird feeling' since that's how I explain half of the things I feel.

Sia spoke up in the middle of our discussion, which was a good thing for it was turning into the most senseless talk ever. "Is it like, a déjà vu kinda feel, Neil?" She questioned.

I clapped my hands while explaining, "Yes! Exactly that!"

Then her eyes went wide, as she exclaimed, "NO! It's Anemoia!"

"Say what now?" George muttered while raising one eyebrow.

"Sia, I don't have anaemia..." I quietly told her, while she turned to me with her signature 'seriously?' expression.

"Not anaemia, you dumb boy, ANEMOIA." She explained, annoyance lingering in every one of her words.

"And what the hell is that?!" George asked, while the movie played on in the background, none of us paying attention to it. 

"Oh god, seriously? Have none of you ever heard the term 'anemoia'?!" She sighed. It's always so funny to see how she's automatically annoyed by us, messing with her can be fun sometimes.

If George was about to say something to Sia, I beat him to it by saying, "If you haven't noticed, Sia, we aren't walking dictionaries like you!" after which, George fist-bumped me.

And needless to say, Sia was pretty annoyed with it. Scoffing and rolling her eyes, she said, "Shut up, Neil..."

Seeing Sia's antics, I knew not to mess too much and decided to turn this conversation to a mildly serious one.

"Okay okay. But seriously, what is this, ane-anemoia thingy?" I asked, almost mispronouncing the word.

"Anemoia, is the nostalgia, for a time you have never known. A  déjà vu, for something that didn't happen." She explaining, emphasising her speech how she does whenever she's telling something important.

"Um, that's not possible," George said blankly.

"Yes, it is! We have a real-life instance of just that! Neil."

"Gotta admit, George, Sia's explanation sounds logical." I pitched in before George could say another word.

"But then, what does this anemoia thingy tell us?" George further asked. And if you, dear reader, haven't noticed it yet, we love the word "thingy" a lot.

"Well...I don't know? I'd have to do a bit of research. And Neil, you have to tell us more about it."

"There isn't much to tell really, I just feel as if I have visited, no, seen those buildings myself. Like, almost as if I've walked down those paths and roads of the 19th Century Britain. It's just so unusual..."

"That sounds legit, you know..." George replied.

"I've got a theory, but...I don't know, it's kinda far-fetched" Sia said thoughtfully. I motioned for her to go on, could it be that she thought the same?

"I think it's related to your past life." She said, and the seriousness in her tone made George look at her with wide eyes.

"You're kidding, right?" He asked.

"No, George, I'm pretty serious. That's a logical explanation."

"George, Sia. That's the theory I had too." I added as they both turned towards me.

"Alright, I don't think both of us would be wrong then." Sia nodded with a smile, and I agreed to her too.

George, however, was still dumbfounded by the theory. "That's sick...seriously sick, dude."

I nervously let out a breath, not sure why I was nervous, as I replied, "I know..."

The movie was forgotten after this, all we wanted was to discuss was this new theory. I was feeling nervous for some reason ever since Sia had told us about it. The very same thought struck me the first time this feeling came but did I think it would be true? No.

A bit of research later, we felt as if we were left with more questions than what we began with.

"Sometimes, it's best to leave those questions unanswered, we may not always be ready for those answers." and Sia's words still echo in my head sometimes. Her wisdom can really be amazing.

She helped me ease out a bit, that's for sure. And George lightened up the entire mood in general. In the end, we never really finished the movie together, the mystery to solve here was far more interesting than the one in the movie.

But we never really reach any concrete conclusion either. Sia's right, some questions are better left unanswered.

And though the feeling of anemoia subsided after that, it never truly vanished. Somewhere, deep in my mind, it still lingers, to this very day.