Returning home, I gazed at the old house, my emotions a tangled mess. In a previous chapter of my life, Kolton Long and I had exchanged vows here, just a month later. After the wedding, he was reassigned to a military post down south. I wanted to accompany him, but he insisted that the conditions were too harsh and urged me to stay behind. This became my home for the next thirty years.

Unbeknownst to me at the time, less than six months after Kolton’s transfer, a woman named Bailee Diaz followed him there. From that point, they were inseparable, their lives woven together in a complex relationship.

The cruel twist was that I worried about Kolton being alone, with no one to look after him. I wanted to be by his side, yet every time, he turned down my company. His reasons were always the same—our parents and our child needed me nearby.

Thus, while he enjoyed the companionship of another, I was left confined within these four walls, my world reduced to the boundaries of this house.

Returning home, there was no sign of Kolton Long.

As soon as I got back, I headed straight to my bedroom. In the farthest corner of a drawer was my college acceptance letter. In my previous life, after getting married, Kolton was transferred to the Southern Army Division, and inexplicably, a month later, my mother-in-law fell ill. At the time, I was also pregnant, so I gave up the chance to study in the Pacific Northwest.

This had always been a deep regret from my past life.

As I gently touched the acceptance letter, my eyes were drawn to my name and the school’s emblem in bold blue ink, and I nearly burst into tears. I remembered that in my previous life, I was already on my deathbed when Bailee Diaz came to see me with my son. It seemed as if she knew my time was running out, so she visited every day.

Her true nature came out when we were alone. Her words cut deep: "So what if you held the title of his wife? Throughout his life, I was always the one by his side. You were nothing more than a baby factory and a free caregiver for the elderly. I should thank you for giving me such a wonderful son."

She continued on, and the sad truth was that I didn’t have the strength to curse her. I had to watch helplessly as my son treated her like his real mother, the two putting on a charade of a loving mother and son in front of me every day. Even when I was finally on the brink of death, my son finally breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "Aunt Bailee finally has a chance at happiness now."

I shook my head and carefully put the acceptance letter away.

The past can't be undone.

While preparing dinner, he finally returned home, completely worn out.

I noticed his clothes were soaked through and then remembered: On this day in a previous life, when I found out that Kolton Long had submitted our marriage application, I was thrilled and bought lots of groceries, hoping we could celebrate once he got back.

But I waited and waited; by the time he came home, it was quite late and he was drenched. Worried, I asked what had happened, but Kolton brushed it off, saying it was nothing.

Later, I learned that it was on this exact day that Bailee Diaz somehow ended up in the river, and Kolton was the one who saved her.

I couldn't help but let out a small, bitter laugh at the thought.

Knowing what happened in my past life, it was clear—Bailee must have been devastated after learning Kolton had submitted our marriage application. She was either in deep despair or trying to make a dramatic statement. No wonder Kolton was so cold to me on this day in the past. He must have blamed me for Bailee's rash decision.

But how was I to blame?

It was he who proposed, he who filed the application, he who vowed to be with me forever. Yet somehow, I was cast as the villain who tore them apart.

So, seeing Kolton come home soaked again, I simply looked away. Unlike my previous life, where I hurried to make him a hot cup of coffee, I calmly continued with my cooking.

Without hot water for a shower, Kolton quietly changed out of his wet clothes.

During dinner, he started sneezing, but I pretended not to notice.

After dinner, as I washed the dishes, I saw Kolton pacing restlessly in the living room. Eventually, he couldn't stand it any longer and grabbed his jacket, muttering, "I’m stepping out for a bit," before rushing out the door.

I pressed my lips together and made a mark on the yellowing old calendar hanging on the wall.

Once I complete two sets of tallies, I'll be able to leave this place.