When I opened my eyes again, I soon realized that something was off about my body.I was floating in mid-air as if I were some sort of spirit.I found myself in some sort of house, but I couldn't recognize any part of it.Did I… die?Where was Andrew? If I died, then he…"That's amazing, darling! You really got pregnant!" A slightly familiar male voice interrupted my thoughts.The front door opened. A man was carefully shielding a woman in his arms.The man seemed to be the owner of this house.Also, his voice was quite similar to Andrew's."Oh, look at you. You don't look ready to be a dad at all," the woman said.The man raised his head. As it turned out, he wasn't just similar to Andrew. He was Andrew himself!But he didn't look quite like Andrew, either.He looked much more mature than Andrew was, and perhaps calmer and more collected as well.He said, "I was just overjoyed. Here, have a seat, darling. I'll get you some water."I descended through the air and hovered
During the one year I had dated Andrew, I had only met Ellen once.But that single meeting was enough to give me a terrible impression of this domineering woman who always wanted to have the final say.I had a fierce argument with Ellen on our first meeting.It was exactly because of this that Andrew had never suggested for me to meet Ellen again.As soon as Ellen walked in through the door, she began complaining about the cleanliness of the house. By the looks of it, even after ten years, she hadn't changed much except for her slightly graying hair."I heard that you're pregnant. Andrew has asked me to stay here and take care of you from today onward." Ellen crossed her arms while looking all high and mighty.It was exactly her "everyone is a loser except for me" attitude that I had a problem with. I knew that she couldn't feel it, but I still delivered two punches to her face.What a joke! Did she think I would agree to that?"Thank you so much, Mom."I whipped my head aroun
No one could answer my question.I could only watch as Dawn's belly grew bigger by the day. Her body was also getting bulkier as the days went by.Stretch marks became visible on the surface of her belly, and she had more difficulty in moving as well.However, she still did everything she could to help with the chores. Ellen kept feeding Dawn traditional medicine. She claimed that these concoctions could ensure that Dawn would give birth to a healthy baby boy.Dawn only rejected Ellen the first time. After that, she was completely silenced by Ellen's claim that she had raised an outstanding son.Dawn drank all the concoctions given to her.Her hair turned dry and spare, and her reactions grew slower. The light in her eyes was fading by the day, too."I have a dinner meeting tonight, darling. I won't be home for dinner."This was already Andrew's third phone call this week.It was also his third dinner meeting this week.Dawn put down her phone. Her legs were becoming slightly
Ever since Dawn received the CD, she had been sitting alone on the bed for several hours.She didn't eat dinner, nor did she talk to anyone. She just stared blankly into space as Ellen cursed and shouted outside.I didn't know what she was thinking even though she was my future self.I kept feeling like she and I were completely separate individuals.Then, someone opened the door. Andrew walked in, and he was still reeking of alcohol.I was in disbelief. Ten years ago, Andrew had never touched liquor, and I had been the one who always smelled like alcohol.Andrew sat down next to Dawn. Then, he noticed the CD in her hands.The CD had probably roused memories of his youth ten years ago. For the first time since I came here, Andrew put on an expression I recognized."We sent this package together," Andrew said."Yes," Dawn replied.Andrew continued, "You wrote the address of your rented place back then, but even then, I had already made up my mind to marry you. That's why I cha
There was no turning back in life. I was well aware of that, and Dawn knew that, too.So, she set the CD aside. She didn't even dare to listen to it again.As always, Andrew kissed her forehead before heading out every day. The love in his eyes never once faded.But Dawn was zoning out for longer periods now. She was always staring at the wilted branch outside the window. She always seemed absorbed in her private thoughts.As I watched her, I had a bad feeling in my gut.During the first snow in winter, Dawn began to feel pain in her belly.When she was sent to the hospital, I finally realized that I wasn't bound to the house, after all. Instead, I was bound to her.I followed her into the ward.I watched as she screamed in pain on the sick bed. She reminded me of a beast in its last moments.To be honest, because of my childhood experiences, I wasn't exactly the meek type.On the contrary, I rarely let my face contort in pain.But now, as I looked at her, I felt like I coul
On the day the baby turned a month old, Andrew invited his friends to our home for a meal.I didn't know any of those people. Judging by their conversations, they were probably Andrew's friends at work.I used to know all of Andrew's friends back then. They had envied us a lot.As the others chatted jovially, Andrew would put an arm over my shoulders. He would smile as he announced that everyone would be invited to our wedding in the future.I wasn't the type who would look forward to having a family, but because of him, I had fantasized about the future as well.The future…I turned around to see my future self bustling about in the kitchen.I never knew that the hardships of life could force me, someone who couldn't cook at all, to improve so much that I could actually watch the stove while preparing the ingredients.Andrew and his friends sat on the couch as they discussed the philosophies of marriage.A man said, "I envy you for marrying such an understanding wife."Anoth
The first argument I witnessed between Dawn and Andrew took place in the middle of the night."Andrew, now that the baby is born, I'd like to go back to work." Dawn was folding the clothes as she voiced her suggestion in a small voice.But Andrew frowned right away. "Go back to work? But he's still so young.""But… your mom can help, right?" Dawn said.I had never spoken to Andrew in such a gentle tone before.He had always said that I was an explosive woman.But future Andrew didn't seem like he would be happy with that gentle tone. He would only take it for granted.Putting down his phone, he looked at Dawn. "Dawn, I'm not stopping you, but you've said before that work is tough, right? I'm also earning enough money to provide for our family, so you don't really have to suffer so much and leave such a young child at home. Isn't it nice to just stay home and enjoy life?"Dawn was still folding the clothes, but I was extremely pissed."Enjoy life? You call that enjoying? She's
In the end, Dawn gave in. She didn't return to work.However, the conflict between her and Andrew only got worse.Sometimes, it was because she forgot to make breakfast, or she forgot to salt the food for dinner, or she forgot to dry the washed clothes.Arguments could arise from any trivial mistake at all.Andrew was coming home later each passing day, and the couple didn't talk to each other as much anymore.One day, Dawn found some photos in her inbox.They were photos of Andrew and another woman.He seemed to be drunk, and he was leaning against the woman. His face was flushed.In the photos, they entered a car and then went into a hotel together. After that, there were photos of them exiting the hotel the following day.I never thought that Andrew would be with someone else.But now, evidence of the unimaginable was right before my eyes.I looked at Dawn. She was staring at the screen with a stunned expression. I couldn't figure out her emotions at the moment.It was e
Dawn was stunned for a moment. Then, she smiled. "Ten years ago, huh? That's such a long time ago."I had no one to talk to all this while, so the lack of communication was driving me crazy. Now that she could finally hear my voice, I could barely stop talking."How did you and Andrew come to this point? Why didn't you file for divorce? Why did you give up on your dreams? It's music you gave up on, Dawn! You love music!"She couldn't see me, so she could only stare ahead with a vacant gaze as she replied to my questions."How did we come to this point? I have no idea, either. Where can I go after divorce? I'm no longer the same person I was ten years ago. I'm tired."As for dreams… Andrew proposed to me seven years ago, and he said that he would always support my decisions. Five years ago, he started a business, but because he needed funds, I put away my guitar and started working for his sake."After his business took off, I wanted to get back to my dreams, but he asked for my h
In the end, Andrew and Dawn didn't get divorced.I knew that Andrew's words that night rang true, but sometimes, the world didn't need that many truths.Sometimes, people just needed a little bit of impulse and emotion.But these were the thoughts of 25-year-old Dawn, not 35-year-old Dawn.Perhaps because his deepest secret was exposed, Andrew was getting even more reckless now.I almost couldn't recognize him anymore.He kept whispering sweet nothings to Dawn, but I could tell that the love had vanished from his eyes.I never believed that romance would transform into familial love.The things he had lost would definitely be replaced by someone else.He no longer loved me, so he must have fallen for someone else.However, 35-year-old Dawn didn't care about that anymore. She simply lived life on mechanical repeat.One day, she chanced upon a chatroom on Andrew's computer, which he hadn't logged out of.The identity of the woman he was chatting to didn't matter at all. Andre
Andrew raised his head. His eyes were terrifyingly red as he asked, "Are you really divorcing me without even giving me a chance?"It was a serious conversation, but for some reason, I found it hilarious.Fortunately, no one could hear my voice, so I burst out in unrestrained laughter.Andrew had always been a popular guy, and that hadn't changed even after he started going out with me.I had bumped into other women confessing to him before.However, Andrew had never hesitated. He had always rejected them matter-of-factly.After moments of intimacy, he would nestle his head against my neck and tell me that he would never love anyone but me.He had said that he already possessed the most precious treasure in the whole world.But now, he would probably fall for many, many people.Andrew said, "No offense, Dawn, but even if we file for divorce right now, you won't benefit from it. You don't have a job, nor do you have any decent academic qualifications. What can you possibly get
In the end, Dawn gave in. She didn't return to work.However, the conflict between her and Andrew only got worse.Sometimes, it was because she forgot to make breakfast, or she forgot to salt the food for dinner, or she forgot to dry the washed clothes.Arguments could arise from any trivial mistake at all.Andrew was coming home later each passing day, and the couple didn't talk to each other as much anymore.One day, Dawn found some photos in her inbox.They were photos of Andrew and another woman.He seemed to be drunk, and he was leaning against the woman. His face was flushed.In the photos, they entered a car and then went into a hotel together. After that, there were photos of them exiting the hotel the following day.I never thought that Andrew would be with someone else.But now, evidence of the unimaginable was right before my eyes.I looked at Dawn. She was staring at the screen with a stunned expression. I couldn't figure out her emotions at the moment.It was e
The first argument I witnessed between Dawn and Andrew took place in the middle of the night."Andrew, now that the baby is born, I'd like to go back to work." Dawn was folding the clothes as she voiced her suggestion in a small voice.But Andrew frowned right away. "Go back to work? But he's still so young.""But… your mom can help, right?" Dawn said.I had never spoken to Andrew in such a gentle tone before.He had always said that I was an explosive woman.But future Andrew didn't seem like he would be happy with that gentle tone. He would only take it for granted.Putting down his phone, he looked at Dawn. "Dawn, I'm not stopping you, but you've said before that work is tough, right? I'm also earning enough money to provide for our family, so you don't really have to suffer so much and leave such a young child at home. Isn't it nice to just stay home and enjoy life?"Dawn was still folding the clothes, but I was extremely pissed."Enjoy life? You call that enjoying? She's
On the day the baby turned a month old, Andrew invited his friends to our home for a meal.I didn't know any of those people. Judging by their conversations, they were probably Andrew's friends at work.I used to know all of Andrew's friends back then. They had envied us a lot.As the others chatted jovially, Andrew would put an arm over my shoulders. He would smile as he announced that everyone would be invited to our wedding in the future.I wasn't the type who would look forward to having a family, but because of him, I had fantasized about the future as well.The future…I turned around to see my future self bustling about in the kitchen.I never knew that the hardships of life could force me, someone who couldn't cook at all, to improve so much that I could actually watch the stove while preparing the ingredients.Andrew and his friends sat on the couch as they discussed the philosophies of marriage.A man said, "I envy you for marrying such an understanding wife."Anoth
There was no turning back in life. I was well aware of that, and Dawn knew that, too.So, she set the CD aside. She didn't even dare to listen to it again.As always, Andrew kissed her forehead before heading out every day. The love in his eyes never once faded.But Dawn was zoning out for longer periods now. She was always staring at the wilted branch outside the window. She always seemed absorbed in her private thoughts.As I watched her, I had a bad feeling in my gut.During the first snow in winter, Dawn began to feel pain in her belly.When she was sent to the hospital, I finally realized that I wasn't bound to the house, after all. Instead, I was bound to her.I followed her into the ward.I watched as she screamed in pain on the sick bed. She reminded me of a beast in its last moments.To be honest, because of my childhood experiences, I wasn't exactly the meek type.On the contrary, I rarely let my face contort in pain.But now, as I looked at her, I felt like I coul
Ever since Dawn received the CD, she had been sitting alone on the bed for several hours.She didn't eat dinner, nor did she talk to anyone. She just stared blankly into space as Ellen cursed and shouted outside.I didn't know what she was thinking even though she was my future self.I kept feeling like she and I were completely separate individuals.Then, someone opened the door. Andrew walked in, and he was still reeking of alcohol.I was in disbelief. Ten years ago, Andrew had never touched liquor, and I had been the one who always smelled like alcohol.Andrew sat down next to Dawn. Then, he noticed the CD in her hands.The CD had probably roused memories of his youth ten years ago. For the first time since I came here, Andrew put on an expression I recognized."We sent this package together," Andrew said."Yes," Dawn replied.Andrew continued, "You wrote the address of your rented place back then, but even then, I had already made up my mind to marry you. That's why I cha
No one could answer my question.I could only watch as Dawn's belly grew bigger by the day. Her body was also getting bulkier as the days went by.Stretch marks became visible on the surface of her belly, and she had more difficulty in moving as well.However, she still did everything she could to help with the chores. Ellen kept feeding Dawn traditional medicine. She claimed that these concoctions could ensure that Dawn would give birth to a healthy baby boy.Dawn only rejected Ellen the first time. After that, she was completely silenced by Ellen's claim that she had raised an outstanding son.Dawn drank all the concoctions given to her.Her hair turned dry and spare, and her reactions grew slower. The light in her eyes was fading by the day, too."I have a dinner meeting tonight, darling. I won't be home for dinner."This was already Andrew's third phone call this week.It was also his third dinner meeting this week.Dawn put down her phone. Her legs were becoming slightly