Chapter 1

"Hunter, I'm done."

Allison Mann sounded pleased with herself as she turned her computer screen toward me.

An email from Briarwood Technical College confirmed they had received her application. Just seeing the school's name made my stomach turn.

The terror of those last moments of my previous life came rushing back. I could still remember struggling for air.

"Uh-huh," I said, turning back to my screen.

Allison went still. She clearly hadn't expected that.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" she asked.

"It's your future. Do what you want."

I clicked the confirmation button and submitted my application.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Her face darkened. She jumped to her feet and planted both hands on my desk.

"Hunter, are you jealous? Is that it? Because I'm willing to give up everything to be with Edward? You wouldn't understand. You've never loved anyone enough to take a chance!"

She raised her chin and looked down her nose at me.

I stared at her youthful face, unable to feel anything but resentment.

In my previous life, we were married for five years. I was one of the country's leading ardiac surgeons, but at home, I spent my days waiting on her.

I took care of everything she needed, and she barely spoke to me. Yet she always had plenty to write in her diary, filling page after page with memories of Edward Barker, her first love.

In the end, she killed me over a troublemaker who wasn't worth any of it. And a 15-year-old patient with a whole life ahead of them was left waiting for the doctor who was supposed to save them.

I pushed the memories aside and kept my voice steady.

"Good luck."

Allison stared at me in disbelief. She probably expected the usual lecture, or a threat to tell our parents so they would make her change her mind.

Instead, she stood there with nothing to say. Whatever arguments and insults she came prepared with were suddenly useless.

"You..." She faltered, then snapped, "You'd better mean that!"

I got up and left the computer lab without answering.

When I reached my front door, I ran into Allison's mother on her way home with a bag of groceries.

"Oh, hey, Hunter. Did you finish your applications? Where's Allison? Didn't she come home with you?"

Naomi Mann smiled warmly at me.

"You applied to the same university, right? You two have been inseparable since you were little, and you've both always done so well in school. It'll be nice to have each other around at college."

I managed a polite smile, surprised by how calmly I could face her.

"Sorry, Mrs. Mann. I didn't see where she applied."

I unlocked the door and went inside, leaving her staring after me.

My parents were waiting in the living room and came right over when they saw me.

"Well? How'd it go? What did you decide?"

"Fairmont. They have a program that lets you earn your bachelor's degree and then go straight into medical school. That's the one I applied to."

Their faces lit up with pride and relief.

"That's great! That's my boy!"

Mom patted my shoulder, beaming.

Suddenly, I said, "I want us to move."

They both stared at me.

"Westmere's too far away for me to come home much once school starts. Why don't you move there with me? We could buy a house."

My family was comfortable enough that a down payment on a house in Westmere wouldn't be a problem.

"Well..." My parents exchanged an uncertain glance.

"I want a fresh start, and I don't wanna be so far away from you."

More than anything, I wanted to get away from the family next door and never have to deal with them again.

My parents considered it for a moment before Mom nodded.

"Alright. Your dad's retiring soon anyway. We'll move with you."

Dad nodded, too. "Whatever you want, son."