Chapter 2
After the graduation photos were taken, Alex caught up to me. "Sophie."
I didn't stop.
He hurried a few steps and blocked my way. "Are you mad?"
I looked at his young face and couldn't help but find it a little amusing.
We'd been husband and wife for more than twenty years in my last life.
He never could tell if I was genuinely hurt or upset on purpose.
This time, I simply didn't argue with him over where to stand in the photo, and he immediately sensed something was wrong.
"No," I said.
"So why aren't you saying anything?" Alex asked.
"There's really nothing to say," I answered.
Alex stared at me for a moment, as if trying to spot any sign of me sulking.
He couldn't see anything.
His tone softened. "I know you don't like Mia.
"But she's having a rough day today.
"Your family's here, and Ms. Taylor thinks highly of you. You can have all the photos you want later.
"She's different."
I nodded. "She really is different."
Mia has always been different, so whatever she wanted, I was expected to give in, whether it was a chance to shine, choosing a college, or even Alex.
It took me twenty-eight years in my last life to finally accept this.
But now, I don't have to anymore.
I walked around Alex and kept heading toward the school building.
He called out to me again. "Wait a second.
"I'm going to the city with Mia this afternoon to drop off her application materials for the art school.
"If Grandma Foster asks, say we're at school sorting out our graduation paperwork."
I stopped walking.
It happened the same way in my previous life.
After the graduation photos, Alex headed to the city with Mia.
Grandma Foster made soup and asked me to call him home.
I lied for him.
And even in the pouring rain, I brought the soup to the station.
When I got there, they were sharing an umbrella.
Mia was standing really close to him.
When Alex saw me, he merely frowned. "Why are you here?"
The soup ended up spilling all over the bus on the way home.
But I still covered for him with Grandma Foster, telling her it was an accident.
For years after that, I kept making up stories for him, covering for him, making excuses, and helping him look like the perfect husband and dad to everyone, until the day I died when he thought it was simply my duty.
Alex pressed me for an answer. "Sophie?
"Did you hear me?"
I stared back. "Explain to Grandma Foster yourself where you're going and who you're going with."
Alex's face went rigid. "What do you mean?"
"Literally."
"You've always covered for me before."
I cut him off. "That was then.
"Don't ask me to lie for you again."
Alex's frown deepened.
Mia walked up from behind and asked softly. "Did I cause you two to argue?"
She looked at me, her eyes searching mine, careful and a bit anxious. "Should I go alone then?"
Alex immediately said, "No way. It's not easy for you to carry all those materials by yourself."
After speaking to Mia, he turned back to me. "Stop making a fuss, Sophie,
"How about I go with you tonight to buy a dress for the teacher appreciation dinner, alright?"
It felt like he was trying to placate a petulant child.
It was like he was absolutely sure that all my feelings were so I could get him to spend a little time with me.
In my last life, hearing that would've made me melt right away.
But now, I feel tired.
"I don't need it," I said and walked into the school building.
Behind me, Mia gently urged him. "Alex, you should go and comfort her."
Alex paused for a moment. "Don't worry about it.
"She's been like this since she was a kid. She blows up fast, but cools off as quickly."
I didn't stop walking.
He was right.
No matter what he did, I'd always end up letting it go.
Because I couldn't bear to stay mad at him.
But this time, it was different.
I wasn't even angry anymore, merely numb.