Part 2Where the Wind Carries Dreams

Happy?

Of course I was happy.

I watched message after message appear in the chat, a bitter smile on my face.

Even a gift I hated had only come to me because another man didn’t want it.

My heart felt as though an invisible hand were crushing it over and over.

I closed my eyes, afraid I would lose control.

Eighteen-year-old Claire hurried toward me, completely at a loss.

“Ethan, please don’t cry. Did I do something wrong?”

She reached for me, but her hand passed straight through my body.

“What’s happening? Did I somehow travel through time?”

My eyes flew open at those words.

I met her frightened gaze.

If she had really traveled through time, did that mean I could change the past?

The thought made my heart race.

I touched the terrible scar on my wrist.

“Claire, will you promise me something?”

Claire froze for a moment before nodding without hesitation.

“Of course, Ethan. I’d do anything for you.”

“Anything?”

Hearing those familiar words left me dazed.

Twelve years ago, Claire had said them all the time.

Back then, she’d been sincere and passionate. She’d loved me with her whole heart.

Now she could barely spare me even the simplest word of concern.

I lowered my eyes and made my first request.

“School will let out early this afternoon. Don’t take the shortcut through the alley.

“I’ll try to save you from a stray dog, and it’ll bite my wrist.

“After that, I’ll never be able to play the piano again.”

Claire stared at me.

Then her gaze dropped to the wrist I was trying to hide, and her eyes immediately reddened.

“Okay. I’ll remember.”

A flash of white light filled my vision.

Eighteen-year-old Claire disappeared, returning to her own time.

The front door opened.

It was thirty-year-old Claire.

She walked in holding our son’s hand.

When she saw the untouched food growing cold on the dining table, she frowned.

“Ethan Lawson, why haven’t you cleaned up?

“Do you have any idea how exhausting it is to work all day? You stay home and do nothing. What kind of husband acts like this?”

Our son gave me a disgusted look.

“Dad, you’re so lazy.

“You’re nothing like Uncle Jason.

“How can someone like you be my father?”

Neither of them noticed the breakfast I prepared on time every morning.

They didn’t notice the clothes neatly arranged in their closets.

They didn’t notice any of the countless things I did for them every day.

They didn’t notice how exhausted I looked or the tears that hadn’t yet dried at the corners of my eyes.

All they saw was the untouched food on the table.

I didn’t have the strength to argue.

I walked stiffly to the dining table and carried the dishes into the kitchen.

Satisfied, Claire headed toward the bedroom.

On the way, her foot struck the dog-shaped watch lying on the floor.

Without the slightest hesitation, she picked it up and tossed it into the trash.

It landed with a sharp clatter.

The sound shattered what remained of my heart.

The watch you couldn’t even be bothered to look at was the anniversary gift you gave me.

The next morning, I woke in the same cold, empty bedroom.

Yesterday had also been our son’s birthday.

But I hadn’t even been allowed to celebrate with him.

Jason’s latest post was still at the top of my social feed.

“Happy birthday to our baby!”

In the photo, Claire had one arm around our son and the other around Jason.

They truly looked like a family.

“Ethan, are you awake? Look at your hand!”

Eighteen-year-old Claire stared at me expectantly, unable to hide the excitement in her eyes.