Chapter 1

1

My mom's always been a pushover. Before my SATs, she secretly canceled my guaranteed admission to Stanford, just because our neighbor's daughter was one spot away from getting in.

I ended up taking the SATs with a raging fever, passed out during the test, and my score was only good enough for community college.

I somehow managed to pick myself up and decided to move out and work. Eventually, I had my own little apartment and a cat who loved me.

But then my mom barged into my place one day and declared, "Girls shouldn't buy apartments. This place is for your cousin, Kevin."

Kevin and his family trailed behind her, already critiquing my apartment.

"Good natural light, but it's a bit small."

"Nice neighborhood though, plenty of space for the kids to play when they come along."

I lost it. I lunged at her, trying to kick them out, but Kevin shoved me off the balcony. I died instantly.

My spirit floated above, watching my mom sign a waiver, saying, "My daughter was just so selfish. She never learned to share."

I watched them living in my apartment, spending my money, and mistreating my cat.

When my dad found out, he grabbed a knife, intending to kill them all and avenge me, but Kevin stopped him. My dad ended up in prison for life.

Then I woke up. It was the day my mom went to cancel my guaranteed admission.

...

"Ashley, I'm going out. Do the dishes, please."

I opened my eyes and saw my mom heading out the door.

Kevin was on the couch, playing video games, one foot on the coffee table, the other on the couch, cursing up a storm.

I realized I'd been given a second chance. This was the moment, in my past life, when my mom went to the school and told my counselor, Mr. Jones, that I was voluntarily giving up my spot.

Mr. Jones tried to stop her, but it was no use.

She did it because Mrs. Peterson, our neighbor, had come over a few days earlier and mentioned that her daughter, Brittany, was third in the class, just one spot away from guaranteed admission.

My mom had grabbed her hand and said, "Oh, honey, that's an easy fix. Ashley's a smart girl; she'll get into a good school even without the guaranteed admission. I'll go to the school tomorrow and give Brittany the spot."

Mrs. Peterson thanked her profusely, gushing, "Susan, you're such a good person."

My mom waited until two days before the SATs to tell me what she'd done.

I freaked out, but all she said was, "Ashley, you can't be so selfish. What about Brittany? You still have the SATs. I know you'll do great."

I had no choice but to try and get myself in the best possible shape for the test.

But then, the night before the SATs, my mom cranked the AC in my room down to 60 degrees, saying she didn't want me to get overheated.

I woke up feeling awful, and ended up passing out during the test.

My score barely scraped by for community college.

Snapping back to the present, I grabbed my shoes and followed my mom out.

Just outside Mr. Jones' office, I heard them talking.

"Mrs. Miller, you need to discuss this with Ashley first. If she doesn't agree, it's not happening."

"She knows. She sent me here." My mom's voice was steady.

"Let me call Ashley and confirm."

"No! Are you deaf? I'm her mother! I wouldn't hurt her!"

My mom's voice was shrill, almost frantic.

Mr. Jones sighed. "Alright, Mrs. Miller."

My mom calmed down and clicked out of the office in her heels.

I stayed hidden, watching her make a call, a triumphant smile on her face. "It's done! Your daughter's going to Stanford!"

She chatted excitedly with the person on the other end.

As soon as she was gone, I burst into Mr. Jones' office.

He looked surprised, then relieved. "Ashley, I was just about to call you."

I checked my phone and realized Mr. Jones' number had been blocked.

I remembered my mom borrowing my phone to "order something" yesterday. She'd had it for a while.

Anger ballooned inside me. Mr. Jones must have tried to call me in my past life, but I never got the calls.

Thankfully, he hadn't finalized the cancellation yet. My spot was still secure.