- 12.
I didn’t go to Ethan’s farewell party.
I had the class president deliver his gift.
<
Sweet and sour pork.
39
It was a way of fulfilling the dream of the Mia from my past life.
That Ethan never said thank you. This Ethan
knew gratitude.
That evening, Ashton came over for our tutoring session.
“You really didn’t go?”
“Nope.”
Ashton often said things I didn’t understand.
“Mia, if you were given a second chance, would
you look around and see the people who are
actually there for you? Besides Ethan.”
I looked at him, puzzled.
He was standing by the window, his back to
- me.
Moonlight filtered through the curtains,
illuminating his hair.
I’d seen that silhouette somewhere before.
“Were you… there that day?”
€9
Someone had tried to save me from the fire.
But by the time he found me, I’d already given
- up.
How can someone who has lost the will to live,
survive?
I’d always thought it was a hallucination. People
see things when they’re dying, things they long
for.
I thought I’d died in a stranger’s arms.
<
They were warm. So warm.
13
Ashton turned to face me. His features merged
with the face of the man in the firelight.
“Mia, you’re heartless.”
“Do I know you?”
“You do now.”
- 13.
After Ashton left, I still couldn’t understand why
he’d been at the fire. There was no Ashton
Hughes in my past life.
My mom told me Ethan had been standing
outside for a long time. It was raining.
She’d asked him to come in, but he refused.
I ran downstairs. He was wearing the sneakers
<
App Store
They must have been too small for him now.
When he saw me, he ran towards me.
See? III–fitting shoes, even if you force them
on, make you walk strangely.
Just like with the wrong person. No matter how hard you try, you’ll eventually go your separate
ways.
I’d tried. Not all love can blossom after being
crushed and buried.
Some love just rots, like a flower with decaying
roots.
“Why didn’t you come?” His hair was plastered
to his forehead, his clothes soaked. He looked
miserable.
His red–rimmed eyes made him look like a lost
puppy.
<
App Store
“There was no point.”
“Couldn’t you even say goodbye?”
His voice trembled.
I felt nothing.
“Ethan, this isn’t love. You’ll understand
someday.” I turned and walked away.
I heard him whisper, “The sweet and sour pork
was delicious. Thank you, Mia.”
I smiled faintly.
Epilogue – Ashton’s POV
The fire was the closest I’d ever been to Mia.
It was a shame she didn’t know me in that life.
She died without ever knowing the name Ashton
Hughes.
<
We went to the same middle school.
I first saw her in the nurse’s office.
She was waiting in line, clearly feeling unwell,
but she kept letting other people go ahead of
her.
Silly girl.
The second time, I saw her on the playing field.
She was playing a game with her friends, and
she was the only person I could see.
I don’t know why, but whenever she was
around, my eyes were drawn to her.
The third time was the worst day of my life.
It was my parents‘ funeral. They’d died in a car
accident.
<
༢
€9
After the mid–term exams, I rushed home.
But it was pouring rain, and the bus never came. I crouched at the bus stop, lost.
The rain seeped through my uniform, chilling me to the bone.
I was afraid of missing their funeral.
I was about to run home through the downpour when a slender hand tugged on my sleeve.
The rain seemed to stop in that instant.
I looked up. A pink umbrella shielded me from
the cold rain.
“Your hair is all wet.”
Mia’s voice was soft and gentle.
It was the warmest sound I’d heard that day.
<
App Store
But I still needed to get home.
Mia held onto my sleeve, telling me to wait.
A black car pulled up to the bus stop. Mia
smiled. “I’ll give you a ride.”
Thanks to her, I made it to my parents‘ funeral.
After that, I started seeing her everywhere. I
couldn’t tell if it was coincidence or if I was
subconsciously orchestrating these encounters.
I studied hard, topping the school rankings
again and again, just so Mia would notice the
name Ashton Hughes.
But her eyes were only for Ethan.
As I got to know her, I became afraid to
approach her.
◄ App Store
<
Mia came from a loving family. She was a
flower grown in a greenhouse.
And I had nothing.
Not even a decent gift to offer her.
€9
3
I grew accustomed to watching her from afar.
Observing her life, secretly learning her likes.
and dislikes.
But she was a silly girl. Her only “like” was
Ethan Carter.
I guess I was just as silly. Just like her, I spent
my life loving someone who didn’t love me
back.
I went to Northwood High, hoping she would
‘too.
She was smart enough.
<
But she chose Southwood, for Ethan.
So, halfway through sophomore year, I
transferred to Southwood.
To silently watch over her.
While she watched over Ethan.
- ))
I became Mia’s shadow, silently accompanying
her until her final moments.
In the fire, I held her close.
I knew how much Mia cared about her
appearance, but I couldn’t give her a dignified death.
So I shielded her with my own body until the
very end.
At least the flames would touch me first.
€9
く
((.
39
In my arms, she called out his name, over and over.
The pain in my heart was far greater than the
burning of my skin.
In Mia’s final moments, I finally found the
courage to whisper in her ear, “Hello, Mia. My name is Ashton Hughes.”
When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn.
Learning from my past life, I discarded my
insecurities.
If I’d been braver then, would the ending have
been different?
So, when I heard Mia’s parents were looking for
a tutor, I transferred back to Northwood.
The principal had always wanted me back.
Mia, this time, I won’t let you go.
Will you look at me now?
My name is Ashton Hughes.
