Chapter 2
The light turned green.
He scooped up the kid and started to cross.
“David! Stop right there!”
く
I couldn’t help myself.
I screamed.
David froze.
A semi–truck ran the red light, barely missing
him.
My heart squeezed.
I couldn’t breathe.
Once I knew it was clear, David ran over with
the kid.
“That was close!” He set the girl down,
patting his chest.
Then, he handed me a pink ice cream cone.
“Here, Sarah, your favorite strawberry.”
He smiled.
“David… Lily…”
It was so familiar, yet so strange.
David put the ice cream in my hand.
He ruffled my hair.
“What’s wrong? I just went to get ice cream.
Why do you look like you’re gonna cry?”
“Mommy, what’s wrong?”
Lily reached for me.
“Lily want a hug!”
My heart was racing.
I picked up Lily and kissed her cheek.
“Mommy’s okay, honey.
Mommy just missed you.‘
“Your face is kinda swollen.
What happened?”
David noticed the mark on my cheek.
I shook my head.
<
“Nothing.
Just got bit by some stray dogs.”
“Who are you calling dogs?”
Mark glared at David and Lily.
“If the shoe fits,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“Dad… that guy… looks like you…”
Ryan tugged on Mark’s shirt.
Mark exploded.
“Sarah, who are these people?”
I looked at the mole near Mark’s eye.
David had one in the same spot.
“This is my husband and my daughter.
I told you, you have the wrong person.
I don’t know you,” I said slowly, licking my ice
cream.
David stood in front of me.
く
He frowned.
“Who are you?
Leave my wife and daughter alone.”
“Wife? Daughter?
Ha! Sarah, I didn’t know you were cheating on
- me.
You’re really something!”
Mark felt betrayed.
I said I didn’t know him, but he felt powerless.
“Mark…” Amy said.
“Don’t get mad.
Didn’t you say you two weren’t together?”
“Yeah, of course not.”
Mark scoffed.
“Sarah, you’ll regret coming here to stalk us!”
<
“Whatever,” I said.
“Dad, Amy, let’s go to the park!”
Ryan didn’t want to deal with us.
Mark bit his lip.
“Fine.
You’ll be sorry,” he said.
Then he and Ryan left.
I didn’t look back.
“Let’s go home.”
David took my hand.
His warm fingers intertwined with mine.
I’d waited ten years to hear “home.”
“David…”
I dropped the ice cream.
I wrapped my arms around him and Lily.
The tears came
“I missed you so much, David…”
I cried into his shirt.
“What’s wrong with you?”
David looked worried.
He pulled out a tissue and wiped my tears.
He patted my back.
“Sarah, did that guy hurt you?
What happened while I got ice cream?
Don’t cry, I’ll teach him a lesson!”
David went to find Mark, but I stopped him.
“No, David.
Don’t leave me.
Not for a second.”
Ten years ago, David and Lily went to get ice
cream.
<
A truck hit them when they crossed the
street.
I saw it happen.
I gave them a funeral and was going to end it
all.
Then I ran into Mark.
I found his research on time travel.
He looked like David.
His file said, “Quantum Physics Researcher.”
I thought: What if David and Lily can come
back?
I married Mark, helped him with Ryan.
I poured all my love for David and Lily into
them.
I was right.
I held Lily and David’s hands
I was dreaming.
For years, I dreamed of this.
Now, I was holding their hands.
We walked to the house.
I was scared.
What if it was just a dream?
“Sarah, what’s wrong?”
David squeezed my hand.
“Is it that jerk?
I’ll make you something good to eat.”
He unlocked the door and pulled me in.
I saw our wedding photo on the wall.
I burned it after they died.
David gave Lily a book and poured me milk.
“Rest. Dinner’s almost ready.”
He kissed my head and went to the kitchen.
I sat on the couch, watching Lily read.
I smelled food.
My heart calmed.
Those things didn’t happen.
I needed to cherish this moment.
I fell asleep on the couch.
David woke me up.
“Honey, dinner’s ready.”
I saw him and Lily.
The tears came again.
“What’s wrong?
You’re acting strange.”
David felt my forehead.
“Are you sick?”
I sniffled.
“No…I just… wanted to eat with you…”
<
David stared.
He laughed.
“Come on.
I made your favorite ribs.”
Lily sat at the table.
She smiled at me and put ribs on my plate.
“Mommy, I got you ribs!”
“Thanks, sweetie.”
I pinched her cheek.
“You’re so cute.”
