All Chapters of This Time, I Chose My Life: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

My classmates were shouting along to the karaoke, beer bottles clinking around the room.Audrey and Caleb weren't there.The memory of Caleb dying in that alley flashed before me again.With shaking hands, I took out my phone and messaged him."Caleb, I'm getting sleepy. I'm heading home. Don't stay out too late."Then I picked up my jacket, told the person beside me I was leaving, and slipped out.In the elevator, I leaned against the wall and cried.I couldn't let it happen again.The Whitmores' house was silent when I got home. Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore were already asleep.I crept upstairs. Caleb's door stood ajar.On his desk was a photo of the three of us in elementary school.Fresh tears caught me off guard.In my first life, I'd said yes when Audrey asked me to be with her.I'd never noticed the effort behind Caleb's smile. Never seen how badly we'd broken his heart.Later, he'd secretly put Northbridge University, a thousand miles away, on his application.The night

Chapter 2

Regret. Guilt. Something else I couldn't quite name.It was all there in her eyes.I stared at her, and suddenly everything fell into place.Audrey had come back, too.* * *After that, Audrey watched me like a hawk.If I got within ten feet of Caleb, she appeared between us.When I passed the living room on my way to the kitchen, her whole body tensed.If I took three steps toward him, she stood up.Once, Caleb climbed onto a chair to reach a photo album on top of a cabinet. I reached out to help.Before I could reach the album, Audrey rushed over and shoved me aside."I've got it."I stumbled back two steps.Caleb glared at her."What was that for? Why are you being so nasty to Julian?"She didn't explain. She just took down the album and handed it to him.He turned to me with a smile."Ignore her. She's been ready to bite someone's head off lately."He pulled a pack of gum from his pocket and pressed it into my hand."Audrey bought it. Half for you. That's what br

Chapter 3

I stayed there, watching them go, until the cold had crept through my whole body.When it was time to submit our college choices, I selected Ashford University in front of them, just as they did.Caleb cheered.Audrey studied me with an unreadable expression, but said nothing.What they didn't know was that I opened my laptop that night.I applied to several universities overseas.Then I looked up the early symptoms of ALS.* * *That weekend, Diane cooked a special dinner and insisted Audrey stay.At the table, she urged more food onto Audrey's plate, smiling warmly."Eat up. I'm so glad you've been spending time with Caleb. The boy hasn't stopped grinning."Then she looked fondly at me."Caleb and Julian both mean the world to me."Caleb laughed. "Mom, you're embarrassing us."Richard chuckled."Audrey's sensible. We know you're in good hands with her around."The dinner table was full of warmth.Caleb chattered excitedly about his plans for college. Audrey answered

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

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

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

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

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

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

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