Chapter 2

2 I guess I was somewhat prepared.

When I went to his office, there was a pair of women's shoes in his break room.

Even a woman's hair tie in the break room bathroom.

But for so long, I'd been numbing myself, telling myself he must have gotten them for me.

But hearing it for myself completely broke me, and I stood in the hallway, sobbing uncontrollably.

I lost the baby.

Right before they gave me the anesthesia, I sent him a weary text.

"Let's get a divorce."

He wasn't "unavailable" then, was he?

He called me back instantly, panting.

"Is this really what you want?"

"Yeah. It's long overdue."

That's when 20-year-old Jake showed up.

As I dragged myself home, exhausted.

Young Jake, full of youthful innocence and burning love, appeared in that cold, empty house.

I opened the door to find him staring at our wedding photo.

I didn't have time to be shocked.

He noticed me and rushed to hug me, his embrace as warm and familiar as I remembered.

"Annie! So we really did get married! I kept my promise! I didn't let you suffer, and I moved you into a big house!"

Seeing my confused expression, he explained that he'd come from ten years in the past.

It was all so unbelievable, but his gaze was so full of love, unlike the mature but cold Jake I knew now.

It was a feeling I'd missed for so long, so wonderful that I was afraid of losing it.

Especially after secretly undergoing a medical procedure, I needed that comfort more than ever.

So I didn't tell him that I just had an abortion, or that we were facing a broken, messy marriage.

Twenty-year-old Jake only had eyes for me.

He cupped my face, gently wiping away my tears with genuine concern.

"Baby, why are you crying? And your face is so pale! Are you not feeling well?"

His eyes were full of concern, self-blame, and regret.

"How could future me be so useless, taking such poor care of my precious Annie!"

I couldn't help but laugh.

Laugh so hard that the tears wouldn't stop.

I buried myself in his chest, telling him to stop talking.

If he said any more, I really wouldn't be able to hold it together.

Even though they were both Jake, why were they so different?