Chapter 1
Hearing was the last sense to go after a person died.
At the exact moment the heart monitor went flat, Tina Hersey finally understood one line from Grayson Hersey's wedding vows. "In sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer—"
He had paused for three full seconds when he said it.
Back then, she thought he was holding back tears.
Later, she found out the truth. During those three seconds, he had been thinking about someone else.
*****
When Tina Hersey woke up, she heard a nurse out in the hallway complaining that the patient in bed three had pressed the call button again.
She stared at the ceiling for a long time. Only when the numbers on the monitor flickered did she finally accept it. She was alive.
In her last life, she had died from respiratory failure caused by ALS. And now, she was back to the afternoon she had been diagnosed.
Her phone buzzed on the bedside table. The caller ID showed Wanda Hersey, her mother-in-law.
Tina looked at the name for a long moment. She remembered how, in her last life, Wanda had held her hand and said, "Honey, you're the only daughter-in-law I'll ever accept." Her eyes had been red back then. It had looked so real.
Only later did Tina understand. Those tears had never been for her. They had been for Grayson Hersey.
She picked up the call.
Wanda's voice was as gentle as ever. "Tina, Grayson said he's not coming home for dinner tonight. Something came up at work. Are you feeling okay? Do you want me to come over and stay with you?"
Tina tightened her grip on the phone. "No, it's okay. I'm fine."
After she hung up, she opened Instagram.
Alma Turner had posted three minutes ago. [Keeping him company while he works late. He said he'd make me pasta, but he ended up blowing up the kitchen.]
The photo showed a bowl of overcooked, mushy pasta. Next to it was a hand with clean, sharp knuckles.
On the ring finger was a wedding band. It was exactly the same as Tina's.
Tina stared at the picture for a long time. Then she turned her phone face down on the pillow.
In her last life, when she saw this post, she had stupidly texted Grayson. She had told him to stop working so hard and to come home early.
He had only replied with a single word. [Okay.]
Later, she found his old phone. She saw the chat from that same day.
Alma had asked: [She didn't suspect anything, right?]
He had replied: [No.]
This time, Tina did not send that message.
She opened her contacts and scrolled down to her brother, Andy Berry.
In her last life, she had been afraid of worrying him. From the day she was diagnosed to the day she died, she never told him anything.
By the time Andy rushed back from overseas, she had already been buried.
The call connected. Her voice sounded steady. "Andy, about that permanent residency you mentioned, is it still possible?"
There was silence on the other end for three seconds. "What happened?"
"Nothing," Tina said. She looked out the window. The weather was beautiful. Sunlight poured in and lit up the potted plant on the windowsill.
"I just want to find a new place," she said. "Somewhere I can rest and get better."
Andy did not press her. "Okay. I'll take care of it."
Before hanging up, he added quietly, "Tina, I shouldn't have left you all alone back then."
Tina stayed silent.
In her last life, she had thought the same thing.
Later, she found out that Grayson had been more than happy that Andy never came back.
*****
Grayson came home three days later.
Tina was packing her things. The moment she heard the lock click, she instinctively kicked her suitcase under the bed.
Grayson walked in smelling like alcohol. His tie hung loose around his neck, and his suit jacket was draped over his arm.
When he saw her standing by the bedroom door, he paused. "Why are you still up?"
"I couldn't sleep." Tina looked at him. "Did you eat?"
"I did," he said, already walking past her toward the bathroom.
As he brushed by, Tina caught the scent of perfume.
It was not hers.
In her last life, she would have stood outside the bathroom door. She would have asked questions.
She would have waited for him to finish his shower, handed him a glass of honey water, and chosen to believe him when he casually said it had just been a work dinner.
This time, she went back to bed. She lay on her side, her back facing him.
The sound of the shower ran for a long time.
When Grayson came out, Tina kept her eyes closed. She felt the mattress sink slightly as he got into bed. Then she heard the faint rustle as he turned his back to her.
In the dark, his phone screen lit up.
He did not pick it up. But Tina knew who it was.
In her last life, during the time before she died, she had learned how to read him. Even the smallest changes in his expression.
Whenever that message came, the corner of his mouth would lift just a little. It was almost too subtle to notice.
This time, she did not want to understand anymore.
*****
The next morning, Tina was woken by a phone call.
Wanda's voice was urgent. "Tina, you need to come to the hospital. Grayson was in a car accident."
Tina froze for two seconds. "Is it serious?"
"Not serious," Wanda said quickly. "Just some scrapes. The doctor said he can be discharged after two days of observation. But he refuses to stay in the room. He insists on leaving. We can't stop him."