Chapter 2

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back in my third year of grad school, the year I was about to graduate.

I looked around again and again in disbelief until I finally had to accept the truth—I had gone back in time.

What about Andrew? Had he come back too?

I quickly grabbed my phone and made a video call.

The call connected right away. Andrew's young, familiar face filled the screen. He smiled and asked, "Just woke up?"

I nodded, still in a daze. He went on, "Then hurry up, wash up and grab breakfast, or there won't be any food left in the cafeteria.

"I've got an experiment to run later, so I'll call you at lunch," he added.

I mumbled an "okay" before hanging up and just sat there, lost in my own thoughts.

Andrew didn't seem to have come back with me.

At this point, he must have already been in touch with Emily. I just didn't know how far things had gone between them.

I remembered the question I'd once asked Andrew—do you think if we could really start over, we'd still make the same choices?

I brushed my fingers over the photo of us on my phone screen.

He had been in my life for so long. I had loved him for so long. I had always believed he was the one I would spend my life with.

How could I give him up so easily?

Andrew, maybe we should give each other one last chance.

I checked my class schedule. That Friday I had no classes, and with the weekend, I could have three free days.

I gritted my teeth and bought a plane ticket to the city where Andrew was studying.

But when I rushed to his school, ready to surprise him, he hung up on me.

For a moment, I just froze.

Andrew had never once hung up on me before.

Even when he was busy, he'd always pick up for a second and explain quickly before saying goodbye.

And now, just one call cut short by him was enough to make a wave of hurt rush through me.

I waited outside the campus for what felt like forever, but he never called me back.

Emily Carter suddenly came to my mind.

But I didn't have her contact info, nor did I know which school she was attending.

Just as I was reaching out to a high school friend who knew Emily, I ran into Andrew's roommate on campus.

He recognized me right away and looked genuinely surprised. "Hey, what are you doing here? Andrew left yesterday—took time off and bought a ticket home. He didn't tell you?"

Andrew would never go home without telling me.

Right then, my high school friend replied. Emily wasn't in grad school—she was already working. She added, "I heard from my parents that Emily's mom died of a sudden heart attack yesterday. She should've gone back for the funeral."

Andrew, Emily, and I all came from the same city.

So Andrew hadn't gone home to his own family. He had gone with Emily to hers.

I hadn't known any of this in my previous life.

Just guessing it made my heart feel like it was tied to a stone, dragging me under with every heartbeat.

No way could I just wait around for him to come back and explain. With the address my friend gave me, I snagged the fastest train ticket I could find and took off.

*****

At the entrance of the funeral home, I saw Andrew in a black suit. Inside the small hall, he was standing beside Emily with her red-rimmed eyes, steadying her arm and thanking each person who came to pay respects.

They looked like a family.

My hands trembled at my sides. A wave of nausea rose in my stomach, and I was sure my face had gone pale.

Andrew spotted me almost at once. A flicker of panic flashed across his eyes.

He started to step toward me, but stopped after barely moving, torn by Emily's grief.

I stayed silent, just mouthing out to him, "Come with me."

Andrew shook his head helplessly, his eyes filled with pleading.

He was begging me to understand why he couldn't leave Emily just then.

He just wanted me to give him a little time, so he could sort everything out and then explain it all to me.

My eyes welled up with tears in an instant.

People always said I was strong and independent, cool as a cucumber—but honestly, that wasn't true.

Whenever I was with Andrew, I let my guard down. I showed my weakness.

But right now, he just stood there, rooted to the spot.

So Emily already meant that much to him.

Out of respect for the deceased, I couldn't bring myself to argue with him in a place like this.

I closed my eyes for a moment, forcing myself to stay upright even though my legs felt like jelly. I didn't say another word—just gave him one last look.

I would rather turn and leave with the last bit of pride I had left than lose my dignity.