LOGINShare
Chapter 9
Latest chapter
This Time, I Chose My Life Chapter 9
"Okay. I'll come home for New Year's."Caleb answered instantly."Really?!""Really."Julian closed the group chat.There was a private message from Audrey."Congratulations."He looked at it for a long time before replying."Thank you."Then he switched off his phone and went to bed.He had an early start tomorrow.There was still so much life ahead of him.* * *On New Year's Eve, Julian finally came home.Caleb reached him first at arrivals and threw his arms around him."You heartless bastard. Five years! You waited five years to come home!"Julian laughed and patted his back."But I'm here now."Diane wiped her eyes. Richard stood beside her, too choked up to speak.Julian went over and hugged them."Mom. Dad. I'm home."That evening, the house was louder and livelier than ever.Diane cooked a feast.Caleb talked without stopping. About how adorably goofy Nina was. How busy work had been.Julian listened and smiled, adding a few words now and then.Audrey
This Time, I Chose My Life Chapter 8
Caleb always had a thousand questions."What are you eating? Is it good? Have you lost weight? Is anyone giving you trouble?"Julian answered them all.Slowly, sometimes. But every one.Audrey never said anything. She just saved every photo.A year passed.Julian's illness was fully under control, and the research project had made a breakthrough.The day the paper was published, he messaged Caleb."I'm listed as second author. Pretty impressive, right?"The reply came instantly."Amazing! I'm showing Mom and Dad!"Five minutes later, Diane was video-calling."Julian! I saw your name! I'm so proud of you. I've always said my boy was brilliant."He listened with a smile, his eyes growing warm."I'm doing well, Mom.""Good. That's what matters." She wiped away tears. "When will you come visit? I'll make all your favorites."He paused."Once things settle down here. I promise."After they hung up, he stood by the window and looked at the sky.His phone rang again.Audre
This Time, I Chose My Life Chapter 7
Julian watched her for a moment."What about Caleb? Aren't you two together?"She hesitated."We broke up."He waited."Neither of us was happy. He couldn't stop thinking about you. And I..."She trailed off."You couldn't stop thinking about me either?"She lifted her eyes to his.He smiled, a little bitterly."You don't have to do this, Audrey. You've done more than enough for me."You stayed beside me for years in our first life. Held me and cried while I was dying. This time, you were so determined to protect Caleb that you were too afraid to follow your own heart."You don't owe me anything."She shook her head, her eyes filling."It's not about what I owe you. Everything I've done in this life has been wrong."I thought keeping Caleb safe would make up for what happened. I forgot to ask what you wanted."I told myself pushing you away was for the best. But when you left the country to face this illness alone, where the hell was I?"Her voice shook."Come home wi
This Time, I Chose My Life Chapter 6
Neither of them asked the other to stay or demanded an explanation.They both knew this relationship had been wrong from the start.* * *Three days after the breakup, Audrey stood in the yard with a cigarette.She didn't know how to smoke. She coughed until her eyes watered.Diane came outside, saw her, and sighed."Come in, Audrey. We need to talk."Audrey stubbed out the cigarette and followed her.Diane sat on the sofa and handed over her phone.An email was open on the screen. Julian's university acceptance."He told us before he left. Asked us to keep it from you and Caleb."Audrey gripped the phone until her knuckles whitened.There was something conflicted in Diane's eyes."He's always been so considerate. Even as a little boy. He keeps everything bottled up inside and carries it alone."He said Caleb would stop him. That he didn't want you two to worry. But who's looking after him over there?"A buzzing filled Audrey's head.Then a thought struck her.ALS.In
This Time, I Chose My Life Chapter 5
The sunlight was dazzling when I landed.I wheeled my suitcase out of the terminal and turned on my phone. Messages flooded in.Messages from Caleb filled the screen."Julian? Where are you?""Mom said you were at a summer camp? What summer school?""Are you hiding something from me?""Please answer..."The last message had come at three in the morning."I miss you."I stared at it, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. For a long time, I couldn't type a word.Finally, I sent one line."Landed safely. Don't worry."Then I switched off the phone, found a taxi, and headed for the apartment I'd rented in advance.The streets were unfamiliar. So was the language. Even the air felt different.Good.The less I recognized, the less there was to remind me.In the days that followed, I buried myself in my studies and the research project.Classes during the day. The lab at night. Hospital appointments on weekends.The tests still showed early indicators of ALS, but my doctor
This Time, I Chose My Life Chapter 4
Before I'd finished reading, he sent a string of blushing emojis.I typed back, "She definitely likes you.""Really?!""Really."That evening, Caleb came to my room, sprawled across my bed, and refused to leave."I used to think she liked you. It hurt more than I wanted to admit."I turned to look at him."But I hate how she treats you now. I've told her to stop, and she won't listen."I smiled faintly."It's okay. It doesn't matter how she treats me. As long as she's good to you.""Of course it matters! You're my brother. She doesn't get to treat you like that."I couldn't answer.I just hugged him.You don't understand, Caleb. She's doing it because she's trying to protect you.The Whitmores held a small party for his birthday. Audrey came with her parents, Marcus and Karen.Diane took both their hands. Her eyes shone, but her smile was full of relief."As long as you two are happy and well, that's all we could ask for."I stood at the edge of the gathering and watch
You May Also Like
Too Late for Regrets
Fortune Abundant32.9K viewsHe Fell in Love with Me Too Late
Sour Grapes52.7K viewsA Joint Divorce: Like Mother, Like Daughter
Tanya Ginger26.1K viewsBack to the Past: Setting Him Free
Wendy Gill43.4K viewsHusband or Ex: I'm Always the Outsider
Raine Morrow8 viewsAfter I Walked Away
12 Cents8 viewsThe Ripe Time for Parting
Amber Fleck7 viewsOnly I Remember
Ann Chase16 views
