And me? I didn't even have the chance to grieve. The next day, I was dragged into an alley and beaten to death by thugs hired by the wives of those eight men. They never questioned whether it was real. They just wanted blood.
Even in death, I couldn't figure it out. I had been alone that night. Nothing had happened. So why had I woken up to that nightmare?
When I opened my eyes again, it was the day I was supposed to check in at the hotel.
——
"Honey, please don't be mad. I've explained it to you so many times before. I don't know who sent those messages. I thought it was you testing me the first time and after that, I never replied again."
Sean's voice pulled me back. He was standing beside me, looking as exasperated and tired as he had that day.
I had been reborn.
In my previous life, I found an unmarked number constantly texting Sean things like "I miss you," and "Are you free tonight." I confronted him and we had a huge fight.
He claimed he didn't reply. That he'd blocked the sender. That the sender kept changing numbers.
I didn't believe him. I thought he was lying, covering for an affair. That argument marked the first real crack in our three-year marriage.