Part 3Left Behind for Ten Years, I Disappear

Heather's POV

After dinner, my family and I went back to their home in the city.

Hazel pushed open the door to her bedroom and said goodnight without even looking back. Mom pulled a thin blanket from the closet and handed it to me.

"Sorry, but you'll have to take the couch tonight."

The couch was too short, so I curled up, tossing and turning. I just couldn't fall asleep.

They hadn't drawn the living room curtains. Moonlight spilled through the window and cast a perfect spotlight on the wall across from me, where a row of framed photos hung.

From left to right, they showed Hazel in kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, and high school.

I didn't know how much time had passed when I heard Mom sigh from the master bedroom. "Seeing her today… I don't know. I felt kind of bad for her."

Dad's voice drifted over from the bedroom. "What's wrong?"

"It's just… that sweatshirt she was wearing. It was the one I sent her two years ago. The sleeves are so short already," she said, then paused. "Do you think she's not doing well back in the countryside?"

Dad seemed to turn over, making the bed frame creak. "Whether she's doing well or not, that's her fate. We agreed on it back then. The two kids would draw lots, and whoever drew the short straw would stay in the countryside. She just had bad luck. What can we do about it?"

Mom fell silent briefly. "I guess you're right."

Her voice grew quieter. "Forget it. Let's not talk about it anymore. We'll take her to the bus station tomorrow. We still need to take Hazel shopping for everything she needs for the new school year."

Dad grunted lightly.

The master bedroom fell silent. I lay there in the darkness, my eyes wide open.

Memories of what happened when I was eight came rushing back, blurry and fragmented.

That day, Grandma had cheerfully taken two straws and held them tightly in her fist. "Come on, girls. Let's play a game. Pick one, any one."

I had no idea what it meant, so I reached out and pulled one at random. The moment Grandma saw which one I had picked, her face lit up.

"Oh, look at our Heather. You're so lucky. You get to stay with me."

That night, when Mom came to take Hazel away, I even ran outside to wave goodbye. I thought I was the one who had been "chosen to stay". I thought staying behind meant I had won.

It turned out that I had lost my life that very night ten years ago.

After dawn, Mom came out of the bedroom and saw that I was already dressed in my jacket. "Oh, you're up early."

"Yeah. Don't want to miss the bus."

Dad poked his head out of the kitchen, a cup in his hand. "Why don't you have breakfast before you go?"

"No, thanks. I'll grab some buns at the bus station."

Mom rummaged through her bag and pulled out a few 50-dollar bills. "Here, take this. Buy some things you'll need for college."

I didn't take them. She looked like she wanted to say more, but then Hazel came out of her bedroom, rubbing her eyes.

"Mom, which store are we going to for my laptop today? I want the latest model."

Mom's attention immediately shifted to her. "Have breakfast first. We'll go after."

I changed into my shoes by the door and quietly closed it behind me. Once I was out, I didn't head to the bus station. Instead, I hailed a cab by the roadside.

"Airport, please."