- 10.
The Miami air was humid and warm, a stark
contrast to the crisp air I was used to. I stood
before the University of Miami, still slightly in
disbelief.
Walking across campus, I felt a sense of
rebirth.
During the day, I sat in class, absorbing
knowledge like a sponge.
At night, I worked at a small diner, bussing
tables, washing dishes, until my back ached
and my feet throbbed.
But this exhaustion felt… grounding.
୮
A month later, I had settled into this busy but
fulfilling routine.
Then I saw Jake standing at the bottom of
the dorm building.
“Sarah! Why did you do this?”
“Why did you put Chloe’s name on the
marriage license? Why didn’t you come to
New York?!”
His voice was filled with anger and confusion.
I looked at him coldly. “I don’t want a
husband whose heart belongs to someone
else.”
“It’s disgusting. It’s agonizing.”
He stared at me in disbelief. “How can you
talk like this? You were never like this
before.”
I turned away, nausea rising in my throat.
I couldn’t bear to look at him, not even for a
second.
“Jake, I just want to focus on my studies and
start a new life.”
“Chloe is the one you’ve always wanted, isn’t
she?”
“You two should cherish each other and leave
me alone.”
He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
“What are you talking about? I’ve always
<
I scoffed. “What kind of siblings cuddle and
sneak kisses?”
I’d once walked in on him kissing a sleeping
Chloe. The tenderness in his eyes was
something I would never forget.
Shame flickered across his face, quickly
replaced by anger. “Sarah, don’t talk
nonsense! There’s nothing going on between
Chloe and me!”
“Your so–called ‘sibling affection‘ is utterly
repulsive to me.‘
وو
“Let me go, and let yourself go.”
وو
His face turned pale, but he didn’t know what
to say.
I remembered the fear of being a burden
when I first arrived at the Millers‘. I often went
hungry.
One night, I was so hungry I snuck out to the
yard and ate leaves. Jake saw me.
He shared his snacks with me, comforting
me, “Don’t worry, Sarah. I’ll protect you.
وو
That moment of warmth had trapped me.
That’s why, in my past life, even though Jake
didn’t love me at first, I still married him.
For the next few days, Jake lingered around
campus.
I avoided him, determined to have no contact
with him.
く
