Chapter 7

GRACE'S POV 

I was determined to prove that I was really under anesthesia and I was only imagining things, so I immediately packed the bag I recognised as an old bag of mine and left my work station. 

I was waiting for the elevator when someone came and stood beside me. I didn't bother turning to look since I was only being delusional. 

“Grace? Are you going home?” A male voice asked. 

I immediately turned to look at the person and I had to hold in my gasp, because standing beside me was Ethan Adams. Yes, the same Ethan who died in my timeline. 

I stared longer than necessary because he said, “Is there something on my face, Grace?” 

I tried to speak, but stuttered, because how do you act when someone who'd died suddenly shows up in your delusional world? He looked like he did in the year 2013, younger. I must've looked like I had seen a ghost, but wasn't he one?

“No, sorry. I was just thinking about something. What did you say?” I managed to squeak out.

“I asked if you were going home, you have your bag with you.” He pointed at the bag hanging on my shoulder. 

I'd have given him a stupid excuse, just so I could leave, seeing as he wasn't real, but if I was being honest, a part of me knew I couldn't be more wrong. Still, I chose to believe what I wanted. 

“Yes, I have to leave. My neighbour just called me, my… cat escaped from the building and hasn't come back yet. And I have this…thing with an important person. Yes, that's why I'm leaving so early.” I gave him a weary smile.

In 2013, Ethan wasn't the manager yet, but he was definitely on his way there. I had joined the company as an intern while I was in university. I loved it so much I decided to work there after I graduated. 

He smiled back. “Oh, no problem. I hope you find your cat. Elevator?” 

Only then did I realise that the elevator had come and was almost shutting. Without thinking twice, I followed Ethan into the elevator.

In movies, elevators have earned a reputation for being a center for a good horror scene. Which is why when the doors shut and Ethan pressed the ground floor button, I froze and started panicking internally. What if this turned into some sick nightmares where Ethan turned to something without a name and killed me? I should've thought about that before hopping into the elevator. 

However, it was my dream, so I could do whatever I wanted. I took a deep breath and decided to play cool.

“So, where are you going?” I asked Ethan. 

He looked at me and replied, “I just want to grab something to eat from a place a few streets away. I didn't go out for lunch and I don't plan on leaving here early.” He shrugged softly.

“Why would you not leave here early?” I questioned him.

“I have a couple of projects to run through and I don't have anything to do at home. So, why not just be productive, you know?” 

I nodded my head in understanding. 

The elevator doors slid open and I stepped out, Ethan behind me. 

“So…your cat stays at home alone?” He asked as we stepped outside of the building.

I winced slightly. “Yes…she's an independent cat.” My tendency to lie was hiked at this point. But he really didn't need to know about business in the real world.

I imagined that when I woke up and got healed, I'd pack up and leave. And if this wasn't some delusion, I'd better start figuring how to not die. But first, I would sleep, whatever happened after I woke up, that I would take. 

“What's her name? Your cat?” 

Why was he really pressing for information? He should've just said okay and be gone.

“Her name's…Bet. Yeah, Bet, my lovely independent girl.” The name slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it. In reality, Bet was the name of a fish I had when I was little. Don't ask how the name originated. 

When we got to his car, he insisted I went with him. 

“That's not necessary, I can take the bus.” I refused. In 2013, I hadn't gotten a car yet because I was still busy trying to live life. 

“Oh, come on. Free transportation? You're going to turn that down to get on the bus with different people?” He raised an eyebrow at me, a smile splitting his lips. 

I thought about it. Then, I chose free transportation, because…well, it was free. 

“Fine. Free transportation.” I replied. 

He jogged over to the other side of the car and opened the passenger door for me. “Ladies first.” 

I giggled, shaking my head, before getting into the car. 

In that moment, I felt very light, as if nothing I'd been through actually happened. I couldn't stop myself from feeling like I really did 10 years before. 

Ethan got into the driver's seat and turned on the ignition. 

I looked at him, head tilted. “Aren't you going to ask for my address?” 

He gave me a look of confusion. “I've dropped you off before now, Grace? Did your cat give you amnesia?”

Oh, yeah. He did give me rides then. The hope that this was just a delusion was slipping away. If it really was, it was detailed to the dot. But I was beginning to doubt. 

I whispered a sorry, a weary smile on my face before, I turned to look out the window, watching as the building we just left shrunk the further we went.

When we got to the building I recognised to house my apartment, I thanked Ethan. He smiled in acceptance.

“Oh, and next time, lie better.” He said just as I stepped out of the car.

“What do you mean?” I asked, confused.

“Just…lie better.”

I tilted my head to the side. “How do you know I lied?” 

He chuckled before replying. “You've told me about your allergies before, Grace.”

I smiled sheepishly and rolled my eyes, because I was allergic to cats.