Chapter 1
Smoke billowed from the scene of a pile-up.
When Andy Covington rushed over in his white coat, Unity Bishop, his first love, and I were both trapped in the mangled wreckage.
Unity had a scraped forehead, tears streaming down her face, looking heartbreakingly fragile.
A steel rod had pierced my abdomen, and my blood had already soaked half the seat.
In my previous life, he saved Unity first.
His excuse was, "She has a blood-clotting disorder. She can't handle any injuries."
By the time he came back for me, the car had already exploded.
After I time-traveled back to this moment, Andy didn't hesitate for a second. He went straight for Unity.
"Unity, don't be scared. I'll carry you out first," Andy said.
Even through the shattered windshield, I could clearly see the urgency in his eyes.
This time, I didn't cry out in pain or ask for help.
As Andy carried Unity in his arms past my window, I used the last bit of strength I had to press send on my phone.
It was the divorce agreement I had drafted long ago.
The smell of gasoline grew stronger, and I smiled at Andy's retreating figure.
"Dr. Covington, you don't have to look back this time," I said quietly.
*****
The blast wave surged behind me, the force tossing me like a rag doll.
But I didn't feel a thing.
Because, a split second before everything blew up, a pair of strong hands dragged me out of the wreck and covered me, shielding me from the blast.
Flames shot into the sky, devouring everything in their wake.
I lay face down on the rubble-strewn ground, the steel rod in my abdomen tugging painfully with every slight movement, so much that I nearly passed out.
But I clenched my lips and stayed silent, not letting out a single sound.
Through the thick black smoke, I spotted Andy.
He was running with Unity in his arms, rushing her to safety, and gently set her down on the ground.
Unity huddled in his arms, her fingers clutching his white coat, shaking uncontrollably as she sobbed.
"Andy, I'm so scared. The car exploded. Is Chelsea still in there?" Unity asked.
Andy's back froze for a moment.
He spun around, eyes locked on the car now engulfed in flames.
The fire raged so fiercely that he couldn't see a thing inside.
I watched as his eyes widened in shock, and he instinctively moved to rush back.
"Chelsea!" Andy shouted.
He called out, his voice laced with disbelief and panic.
"It hurts!" Unity let out a scream.
She crumpled to the ground, pressing her hand to the scrape on her forehead, her face as pale as a sheet.
"Andy, my head is spinning. Am I going to die?" Unity sobbed.
Andy had started to move, but his feet stopped dead in their tracks.
He looked at the burning car, then back at Unity, who pretended to be dying.
For me, that split-second of hesitation stabbed straight into my heart all over again.
"Damn it!" Andy swore.
He turned and picked Unity up in his arms.
"Don't worry, I'm here. You'll be okay. I'll get you to the hospital right now," Andy said.
He didn't look back at the burning car.
He never called out my name again.
He carried Unity in his arms and ran straight for the ambulance, never looking back.
I lay sprawled on the cold ground, blood from my abdomen staining the dirt beneath me.
The person who rescued me was dressed all in black. A glimpse of a tattoo showed through his torn sleeve.
That familiar hospital disinfectant smell made something about him feel oddly familiar.
He scooped me up smoothly, avoiding the direction Andy had taken, and hurried me toward another private car.
"Hold on," the man urged.
His voice was low and hoarse, barely trembling with worry.
"Chelsea, stay awake. I'm taking you out of here," he said.
As my consciousness faded, I watched the ambulance lights carrying Andy away, an ironic smile curling at my lips.
Andy thought he was saving everything that mattered to him.
But the truth was that he was burying the only fool who had ever really loved him.
There was something more.
My hand shook as I tried to reach for my blood-soaked belly, but it fell helplessly halfway. Tears mixed with blood as they slid down my face.
Andy also buried our baby, who never got the chance to be born.