Chapter 1
The day my SAT results were released, I was on my way to give my childhood friend a gift when I got caught in a multi-car accident.
My hands were stained with blood as I called Spencer Thompson.
When the call went through, all I could hear was a baby crying and the sound of people celebrating in the background.
A woman's gentle voice said, "Honey, come hold our daughter."
Daughter? Honey?
Just half an hour ago, Spencer had messaged me, saying he had something to tell me once I got my scores.
The next second, Spencer's voice came through, cold as ice. "Tanya, you've been avoiding me for seven years. Now that you know I have a family and a kid, you finally can't stand it, huh?"
I coughed up blood, my voice trembling. "Spencer, I'm in a car accident."
But he laughed. "You're the kind of person who has to ruin my happiest moment, even when you're on your last breath."
Later, I watched as fuel slowly crept into the car.
Only then did I realize that the future Spencer would rather I be dead.
*****
The day my SAT results came out, Spencer messaged me. [Tanya, once you check your scores, I have something to tell you.]
He even sent a bashful emoji, which was so unlike him.
I knew what he meant.
Just last night, he walked with me halfway across the town to buy my favorite chocolate croissant.
He asked me, "Tanya, do you want to go to Windrip with me?"
Today, I went out of my way to pick up a watch I'd been saving up for six months to buy.
Inside the watch box, I tucked a note that said, "Spencer, let's go to college together."
But as soon as I got on the highway, disaster struck.
My hands were covered in blood, and the first person I thought of was Spencer.
The phone rang for a long while before someone finally picked up.
As I was about to call out to him, the sound of a baby crying and a room full of laughter came through the receiver.
"Congratulations, it's a girl."
"Come hold your baby, Mr. Thompson!"
Next, a gentle woman's voice chimed in, "Honey, come hold our little girl."
I stopped breathing.
Daughter? Honey?
I gripped my phone, my hands shaking uncontrollably.
The next second, Spencer's voice came through. "Tanya, you've been avoiding me for seven years. Now that you know I have a wife and child, you can't stand it anymore, can you?
"Weren't you pretty decisive to walk away with the cash seven years ago?"
My head was spinning even harder. Seven years?
"What are you talking about?" I stammered, my voice trembling. "You texted me just thirty minutes ago."
He laughed, icy and distant. "Still pretending, huh? Tanya, this is literally the happiest day of my life, and you had to call and ruin it? That's sickening."
I bit down hard on my tongue, forcing myself to stay conscious.
I said, "Spencer, I'm in a car accident. The fuel's leaking in. Please, you have to help me."
He let out a soft laugh. "You'd better die out there and never come back."
The call ended.
It turned out that after seven years, Spencer really hated me.
He hated me so much that he'd rather see me dead.
I coughed up blood, my hands shaking as I opened my contacts.
I sent a message to Vincent Weston, the class president.
Me: [Vincent, help me. I'm in a car accident on the highway.]
Less than ten seconds later, he replied: [Tanya, you still have the nerve to contact me?]
Vincent quickly sent more messages. [After everything you did to Spencer, now you want to come back and act all pitiful?]
Vincent: [Seven years ago, you made off with his grandma's surgery money and ran off with some guy in a BMW. Spencer nearly lost his mind looking for you, and you disappeared like a ghost.]
Vincent: [Today's the day Spencer's daughter was born. Don't ruin their moment.]
When did I ever run off with Spencer's grandmother's surgery money?
A week before the SAT exams, Leia Thompson got sick, and Spencer was busy studying while trying to scrape together the cash. Back then, I gave him all the money I'd saved up from scholarships and working part-time.
How could I possibly make off with that money? None of it made any sense to me.
The car was getting hotter and hotter.
My phone screen was still open on my chat with Spencer.
The last message at the top was still there.
Spencer: [Once you check your scores, I have something to tell you.]
At last, the tears came.
I wanted to text him back: [I've got something to tell you too.]
But my fingers wouldn't move.
The next second, there was a loud bang, and flames shot up all around me.
When I opened my eyes again, I was standing outside a hospital room.
The sign on the door read, "Obstetrics VIP."
I pushed the door open and walked in. No one stopped me.
No one even looked at me.