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Chapter 3

Author: Mimi Winterrest
"Ethan."

The older version of me tightened his grip on my hand until his fingernails nearly pierced my skin.

"Have you cried enough?"

His voice trembled with urgency.

"I risked everything to come back here and find you.

"When we get back, Nicole is going to propose. You have to reject her. Reject her in front of everyone. Then leave her immediately.

"Disappear. Never let her find you again. Do you hear me?"

His cloudy eyes burned with desperate, almost manic hope.

I looked at the weathered face before me.

At the scars covering his body.

Slowly...

The trembling in my body stopped.

The unbearable pain tearing through my chest slowly settled into something colder.

Deeper.

A lifeless abyss.

I lowered my hands from my face and wiped away the tears.

"We're close to the hotel now.

"You should hide.

"Don't let anyone see you."

My own voice sounded strangely unfamiliar in the rain. It was rather hoarse and calm.

The older me blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting me to recover so quickly.

Then relief washed over his face.

A spark of wild joy lit up his tired eyes.

"G-good!" You've finally come to your senses! As long as you reject her… Our fate can still change."

I didn't answer.

Instead, I got to my feet and brushed the dirt from my clothes, smoothing over the places where branches had torn the fabric.

I ran my fingers through my hair until it looked presentable again.

Then I slapped my cheeks a few times, forcing some color back into my pale face.

"Ethan!"

"Ethan!"

Nicole's desperate voice echoed through the storm.

Several flashlight beams swept frantically through the rain.

I took a deep breath, forced my eyes to redden, then answered in a trembling voice, "Nicole, I'm over here!"

A figure burst through the curtain of rain.

The next instant, Nicole threw herself into my arms, holding me so tightly I could barely breathe.

"Ethan! Where did you go?

"I've been looking everywhere for you!"

Her voice cracked with emotion. Her arms locked around me like steel bands, and I could feel her entire body shaking.

An hour ago, I would've been moved to tears by the depth of her concern.

Now, being held by her felt like having a cold, slimy snake wrapped around my neck. It made me sick.

Back at the hotel, I took a hot shower.

Nicole thoughtfully made me a cup of hot ginger tea.

I didn't touch it.

The thought alone made my stomach turn.

That evening, during dinner, she suddenly stood up.

"I have something I want to say."

Every classmate at the table looked at her in surprise.

Then—

She dropped to one knee.

From inside her jacket, she carefully took out a small red velvet box, still warm from being tucked close to her body.

She opened it.

A diamond ring sparkled brilliantly beneath the restaurant lights.

"Ethan, the hours when I couldn't find you today were the most terrifying hours of my life."

Her eyes were red from crying as she looked up at me.

"I swear I'll never let you disappear from my sight again."

Her voice was low, tender, and filled with emotion.

"You pulled me out of the darkness. You gave me a second chance at life. I told you once that you're my whole world.

"So, will you marry me?

"Let me spend the rest of my life loving you, and repaying everything you've done for me."

The room erupted.

"Say yes!"

"Come on, Ethan!"

"You have to!"

Some of our classmates were so touched they were wiping away tears.

Outside...

The rain continued to hammer against the windows.

I looked down at Nicole as she knelt before me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a lone figure standing beyond the private dining room, hidden near the edge of the woods.

I knew who it was.

The future me.

Watching.

Waiting.

Hoping with everything he had that I would say:

"No."

I took a slow, deep breath and looked into Nicole's loving eyes.

Under the eager gaze of everyone in the room, and beneath the watchful eyes of the man waiting in the darkness, I slowly curved my lips into the brightest, gentlest, warmest smile I'd ever given her.

I extended my right hand toward her. My voice was clear and steady, without the slightest hesitation.

"I do."

Over Nicole's shoulder, I saw the older me.

His eyes were filled with hatred.

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