Chapter 2
But Mom obviously wasn't having it, she had no interest in talking to him anymore.
Back in our previous life, they'd talked and fought more times than I could count.
Mom gently brushed her hand across my forehead.
Then she turned around and looked straight at Dad.
"Annie's got a bit of a fever. I'll take her upstairs to rest. Let's talk tomorrow."
I coughed twice, helping Mom out.
But Dad wasn't ready to give up. He hesitated, then started to say something.
"Nina was..."
Joseph came upstairs and cut him off.
"Claire agreed to let Nina stay for now," he said.
Dad finally let out a sigh of relief.
But then he realized it might not be appropriate, so he explained awkwardly.
"Nina is new here and doesn't know her way around."
"But she'll find somewhere else to move out in a week at most."
But Mom wasn't listening anymore. She just took my hand and led me into the room.
The door closed behind us.
It was not until that moment did she let her guard down, bracing herself against the wall as she slid to the floor.
Her tears broke free, streaming down her face.
She clenched her hands so tightly, her whole body trembling.
She must have been remembering how we both died in despair in our previous life.
I scooted closer to her and gently wiped the tears from her eyes.
Even though I'd been reborn, I was still just a so-called fool, suffering from my mental illness, only holding onto a few scattered memories from my previous life.
But I still did my best to comfort her.
"Don't cry, Mom. I'll always be here with you," I whispered.
Mom's eyes were swollen and red as she looked at me, then she hugged me so tight, like she never wanted to let go.
Her arms squeezed me so hard, it felt like she wanted to fuse me into her bones.
I heard her voice shake with regret and guilt.
"I couldn't protect you, Annie."
"But I'd do my best this time."
"I promise, Annie, I'll make sure you're safe and healthy, and you'll have everything you ever wanted."
Her embrace was so warm.
When I was dying in my previous life, she held me tight, just like now.
Back then, it felt like all the warmth was draining out of me, like sand slipping through an hourglass, and the cold was burrowing right into my bones.
But when I leaned into Mom's arms, all I felt was warmth.
But as I took my last breath, the warmth I felt from her faded away too.
Now, that warmth was back, something I hadn't felt in ages.
It took some effort, but I managed to answer Mom.
"I'll try my best too, Mom! I'll make sure you're safe and healthy, and get everything you want!"
Mom pressed her soft cheek gently against mine.
She wiped away her tears and smiled, reaching up to gently mess up my hair.
"Starting tomorrow, I'll take you to see the doctor, okay?" she said softly.
I was happy when Mom was too.
I nodded with all my might.
"Okay!"
That night, we snuggled up together in bed.
Mom's embrace was so warm, and the bed was soft as a cloud.
There was no broken window, not even chilly wind sneaking in.
When morning came, the nanny had all our meals ready, the whole house smelled amazing.
I ate well, slept soundly, and felt happier than ever.
Even when Mom took me to the hospital and we switched to a new doctor, getting jabbed with needles all the time barely hurt at all.
The new doctor was someone Mark Linley from the Military Compound introduced to Mom.
Mark was a lieutenant in the army and Mom's childhood friend.
If Mom hadn't fallen for James when she was young, maybe she and Mark would've ended up together.
Back in my previous life, it was the doctor Mark found for us who fixed my mental illness.
After I got my shots, Mom took me to the bus stop to head back to the Military Compound.
Just then, Mark came out of the hospital.
He was driving a military car, looking like he'd just finished some business.
Mom and I hitched a ride with Mark back to the Military Compound.
Mark always liked me.
On the way back, we passed through an alley and spotted a vendor selling candied hawthorns. He bought me two sticks.
By the time we got back to the Military Compound, I was all sticky with sugar.
Mom was carrying my medicine in one hand and my coat in the other, so she didn't have a free hand to help me.
Mark smiled, grabbed a handkerchief from the car, and crouched down to clean up my sticky mouth.
Just as Mark reached out, Dad's voice, sharp and sarcastic, cut through the air from the gate.
"No wonder you were so set on getting Annie a new doctor, turns out he's related to Mark!"