Future Life

I died the year I loved him most. He walked away from a multi-million dollar empire, just like that. He died with me in the fire. Then I opened my eyes, and it was ten years earlier. We were newlyweds, back when I hated him most. I raced to his company. The moment I saw him, I choked out, "Ethan, I’m sorry." After a brief pause, he looked at me with a desolate expression. "Go ahead, tell me. How are you going to torture me this time?"

1

I remember, when the explosion happened, I thought Ethan hadn't made it out. But then he was there, kneeling beside me, covered in soot. He said, "Sarah, don't be afraid. I'm here with you." He was 38 years old. He threw away his empire, his fortune, everything. He died with me in the flames.

…

A midsummer evening. The setting sun painted the sky blood-red. A muggy breeze drifted through the open window. I woke up in a daze, sitting on the bed, staring blankly. The alarm clock ticked in the corner. The calendar sat silently on the desk.

"Ma'am, Mr. Hayes called. He said he won't be home tonight." Mrs. Davis's voice came from the living room, calm and peaceful.

I looked down at the new wedding ring on my finger. I closed my eyes. I was back, ten years in the past. The raging inferno, the strong arms around me, it felt so real. In the last moment, Ethan was still telling me, "Don't be afraid, Sarah. I waited for you for so long in this life. In the next life, I'll find you sooner."

Was this a dream or reality?

I pinched myself. A dull pain shot up my thigh. The sound of car horns outside snapped me back to the present. Shock gave way to a deep, persistent ache in my chest. A manufactured misunderstanding had fueled my hatred for Ethan for years. During that time, his rivals had used every dirty trick to undermine him, to suffocate his business. And at home, he was met with my coldness. It's no wonder he rarely came home. Ethan's parents were dead, and he had no close family. He lived a lonely life, presiding over his business empire.

Then, finally, the misunderstanding was cleared up. We had a few precious months of happiness, and I even got pregnant. But I never got to tell him. We died before I had the chance.

…

"Ma'am, the flowers are delivered. Are you ready to go?" Mrs. Davis's voice interrupted my thoughts.

"What?" My mind was still racing.

"The flowers. Aren't you going to see Mr. Miller?"

Dylan Miller… The name jolted me. A thread appeared in the tangled mess of my memories. This was that day.

2

Dylan was my childhood friend, a talented actor. Until…an "accident" left him with severe burns, confined to a hospital bed.

On this day, in my past life, I took flowers to the hospital. After celebrating Dylan’s birthday, I came out of the hospital and saw Ethan sitting in his car. The cigarette in his hand burned down to the filter, unnoticed. I didn't want to explain anything. I didn't even want to see him.

"Sarah." Ethan noticed me, stubbed out his cigarette, and got out of the car. His voice wa...