I Came Back Five Years After My Death のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 11 - チャプター 20

The wind off the river felt like tiny shards of ice against my face.When I reached the river, the search-and-rescue operation was already underway.Suddenly, a muffled shout came from the bank.Two members of the team carefully lifted a stretcher covered with a white sheet.I stopped dead.For a moment, I couldn't make myself take another step.I'd rather she were hiding somewhere, refusing to see me. She could hate me, blame me, and never smile at me again. I wouldn't care.As long as she was alive. That was all that mattered."It appears to be a young woman..."The officer in charge turned to me and spoke in a low voice."You should prepare yourself."I couldn't make out anything he said after that.All I knew was that I was walking toward the stretcher, one step at a time.Only a few dozen feet of gravel separated us, but every step felt like treading on red-hot blades.My hands were shaking so hard I could barely lift the sheet.But when the pale face came into view, I knew her ri

My eyes flew open.I was in a shabby bedroom. A ceiling fan creaked overhead, and paint was peeling off the walls in large patches. Sunlight slipped through a gap in the curtains onto the dusty wooden floor.I pushed myself upright. My head felt foggy.Where am I?I clearly remembered throwing myself into the river in 2021.So how am I still alive?I stumbled over to the mirror. The face staring back at me looked strange yet familiar, pale and worn, the eyes wide with fear.I heard two women talking outside."That old house on the east side of town that's been empty for years? I think some woman just moved in.""She doesn't look like she's from around here. Who knows where she came from."I didn't stay to hear more. I pushed the door open and went outside.Two women stood on the porch next door, sipping coffee. They looked surprised to see me, then gave me a curious once-over.I took a deep breath and tried to calm down."Sorry, can I ask what today's date is?"One of them looked surpr

On my third night there, Marge sat down across from me with two bowls of noodles."Every day after work, you run off to the financial district. Going to see your boyfriend?"I paused with my fork halfway to my mouth. "No.""A relative, then?""...My husband, sort of." I looked down and twirled some noodles around my fork. "We got separated. I want to find him.""Huh," Marge said."Lots of rich people in the financial district. This guy you're looking for, is he rich?"I was quiet for a moment. "...Pretty rich now, I think.""Then that's tough." Marge stacked the bowls and shrugged like someone who'd seen it all."Rich people have layers of people keeping strangers away. Security, secretaries, assistants. You can't even get in the front door, so how are you going to see him?"I knew she was right. But I couldn't just give up.On the evening of the fourth day, I got off my shift early, changed into clean clothes, and went back to the financial district.This time I didn't go to the front

Tony.I'd heard of Tony. He was a real estate mogul, and rumor had it that he often sent young women to cozy up to potential business partners.Ethan thought Tony had sent me.I looked up at him. My eyes stung, but I refused to blink."Nobody sent me, Ethan. Believe me, just this once. Look at me again."He turned and walked to the door."You look too much like her."The door closed in front of me.I stood there, braced against the low table, and the tears finally fell.He'd wavered. Even if it was just for a second, he'd wavered.After that night at the club, I tried a different approach.I stopped trying to catch him in the financial district. No more notes, no more waiting by the garage.On the third evening, I wrote a letter, tracked down John, and asked him to give it to Ethan.It was short."You have a burn scar on the inside of your right middle finger. You got it when you were learning to cook during our first winter together. You told me you'd cut yourself while chopping veget

The clock above the liquor cabinet chimed eleven. Outside, the sound of crickets faded into the night.Ethan pushed himself upright against the arm of the couch, the corners of his eyes still red from drinking.He reached out, and this time he finally touched my face.His fingertips brushed my cheekbone and came to rest at the edge of my ear."It feels so real," he murmured, almost to himself. "This dream feels so real."His hand slid along my jaw to my neck, and his fingertips came to rest over the pulse at the side of my throat.My pulse beat beneath his fingers, warm and steady."...Alive," he repeated, his breathing suddenly quickening.He leaned in abruptly and pressed his forehead to mine, his breath hot on my face."You put sleeping pills in the milk you gave me before you left, didn't you? You were afraid I'd wake up and stop you.""...Yes.""Lena." He sounded as if he were crying and laughing at the same time. "How could you be so cruel?"I slipped my arms around his shoulders