"No..."I jolted awake, heart racing in unfamiliar yet somehow known surroundings. Panic seized me. I threw off the covers and rushed to the door, pounding it desperately. "Let me out! I need to see Clara! I remember everything—I have to tell her something important!"My fists hammered the door without response. Exhausted, I slid to the floor, defeated. My eyes caught the hospital bracelet reading "Caleb Carter." Gripping my head, I huddled in the corner, trembling.Time passed until footsteps approached. I jumped up as a nurse walked by, banging the door again."Let me out! I need to see Clara! Please!"The nurse frowned, placing a medication tray outside. She opened the small slot in the iron door. "Caleb, time for your meds.""I don't need medication! I'm not sick! I remember everything—just let me see her!"She paused, confusion crossing her face. "You want to see Clara Garnett?""Yes! Please! She's my girlfriend," I begged, clutching the slot's edge.The nurse raised an e
Clara's dead?No. It can't be true.I pushed past the woman at the door, shaking my head violently. She must be lying. Clara's playing a prank. She's hiding somewhere inside, waiting for me to find her.I searched the small two-bedroom apartment room by room. Every familiar corner, every possible hiding place. But Clara wasn't there.Desperate, I rushed back to the woman, gripping her arms. "Please, call Clara. I'm Caleb—I just need to see her. Tell her to come meet me."She shoved my hands away, her face cold. "Now you remember who you are, Caleb Carter?""She loved you so much. She ruined her medical career killing someone to get you a heart.""She could have been an incredible doctor. You made her throw it all away.""She sacrificed everything for you, but you couldn't let her go. You drowned her at the beach with your own hands."I drowned her?Impossible."No!" I stared at her, shaking my head. "I'd never hurt Clara. I love her. I couldn't do that."Her face twisted wi
I didn’t even know how I left.But the moment I heard the door slam behind me, I regretted it. I didn’t want to leave the home Clara and I shared. That was our home. How could I just walk away?As I raised my hand to knock on the door again, a voice suddenly echoed in my head."Caleb, it was me. I killed Clara."The wind was strong that night, the rain was heavy, and I lured her to the beach to make a wish. Then I pushed her head into the water."She only had eyes for you."She took my heart, but she loved only you."She deserved it. I had to tear you two apart. Clara belonged to me."I shook my head violently, trying to get the voice out of my mind. “Who are you? I don’t know you! I didn’t kill Clara. I didn’t!”The voice just laughed. A loud, mocking laugh.“I’m Leon Marshall. I’m the other personality that emerged after you got my heart.“I loved Clara so much, but she kept telling me to leave, telling me to go away. She only loved you.“If I couldn’t have her love, I ha
**Caleb’s Perspective**During the physical exam in my senior year of high school, I was diagnosed with heart failure.At the time, my parents were going through a divorce. My father had gotten involved with another woman, and she was already pregnant. He planned to keep it a secret until after my college entrance exams, but the woman couldn’t wait. She went to my mom, knelt in front of her, and begged for a divorce, saying her child was about to be born.My dad didn’t have any reason to ask for a divorce at first, but my illness became his perfect excuse to abandon us. He said he didn’t have the money to save me. He needed a healthy child, not me—a worthless son on the verge of death.The day he left, it poured outside, and my mom held me, crying for what felt like forever. She begged me to take the college entrance exams, to fight for my future.I was determined to get into a good school, even if just for my mom. I had to survive.But then, my mom left too. The day my exams end
**Clara's Cousin's Perspective**When Clara died, my aunt's devastating sobs over the phone left me paralyzed.Clara was our family's pride - the youngest department head, a brilliant doctor with a promising future.My dad constantly used her as an example, telling me to be more like her instead of wasting time.Honestly, I resented her a bit. I thought she was love's fool. She risked everything to get him a heart. Yet he never seemed interested in marriage.Still, she followed him without hesitation.At Clara's funeral, my aunt and uncle collapsed several times from grief. The whole family was there, but Clara’s boyfriend was nowhere to be seen.I asked my dad about him, and he frowned, lowering his voice as he told me that Clara's boyfriend was in a psychiatric hospital. And it was he who drowned Clara with his own hands. But since he was mentally ill, there was no real justice to be had.I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. Clara, what were you thinking?My aunt and uncle’s
In the dead of night, my legs throbbed with unbearable pain, making sleep impossible. I reached for my painkillers in the bedside drawer, only to find the bottle empty.Frustrated, I struggled to sit up, my useless legs dragging across the sheets. Gripping the armrest of my wheelchair, I heaved myself over. The landing was rough - my ankle caught the edge, tearing off a chunk of skin.Looking at my bleeding ankle, I let out a bitter laugh. What cruel irony that legs that can't walk can still feel such pain.A dull ache spread through my body, making me wince. Since the accident, painkillers had become my constant companion. Sometimes I wondered if complete numbness would be a blessing - for both me and Clara.I wheeled myself out carefully, trying not to disturb Clara's studying. Her medical boards were tomorrow, and she'd promised we'd marry once she passed.I'd watched her work tirelessly all year, and I truly believed she would succeed. I also wanted to believe that life wouldn
The day Clara's exam results came out, she vanished.My calls went unanswered. I wheeled anxiously around our apartment until dusk, unable to sit still any longer. Finally, I decided to go look for her.Our apartment was in a run-down complex with poor maintenance. The hallways were narrow and dim, with burnt-out bulbs no one ever replaced. Just maneuvering my wheelchair past the cluttered corridor was a challenge. The tight space and my useless legs made it nearly impossible - after an hour, I'd barely made it halfway out.In frustration, I slammed my fists against my legs. "Why?" I shouted. "Why did both my legs have to be ruined?"Tears slipped between my fingers as I covered my face. I wiped them away roughly, telling myself nothing was certain yet. Clara might resent me, but she hadn't actually ended things. As long as she kept her promise, I still had hope.Just as I steeled myself to try again, my phone buzzed. An anonymous message with a photo attached.Though the image w
Unable to pay for the damages, I faced legal action from the neighbors, forcing the police to detain me.Clara arrived while I was processing the detention paperwork. She stood before me in a red dress, perfectly styled and made up. I tensed, instinctively trying to move my legs, but they remained heavy and unresponsive."Why did you come?" I asked, tasting blood from my bitten lip.Clara's eyes betrayed her disgust, though her words were gentle. "If you hadn't saved me two years ago, I'd be dead now."So don't talk about breaking up. I'll keep my promise."Once I start at the hospital, we'll get married."She moved to take my hand but recoiled at the sight of dirt and dried blood. I forced a smile and hid my hand, matching her gesture.Clara paid to settle everything, and the police released me.On the ride home, she stared out the window, avoiding my gaze. At our building, she tipped the driver generously to help me into my wheelchair and up to our apartment.As she rushed t
**Clara's Cousin's Perspective**When Clara died, my aunt's devastating sobs over the phone left me paralyzed.Clara was our family's pride - the youngest department head, a brilliant doctor with a promising future.My dad constantly used her as an example, telling me to be more like her instead of wasting time.Honestly, I resented her a bit. I thought she was love's fool. She risked everything to get him a heart. Yet he never seemed interested in marriage.Still, she followed him without hesitation.At Clara's funeral, my aunt and uncle collapsed several times from grief. The whole family was there, but Clara’s boyfriend was nowhere to be seen.I asked my dad about him, and he frowned, lowering his voice as he told me that Clara's boyfriend was in a psychiatric hospital. And it was he who drowned Clara with his own hands. But since he was mentally ill, there was no real justice to be had.I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. Clara, what were you thinking?My aunt and uncle’s
**Caleb’s Perspective**During the physical exam in my senior year of high school, I was diagnosed with heart failure.At the time, my parents were going through a divorce. My father had gotten involved with another woman, and she was already pregnant. He planned to keep it a secret until after my college entrance exams, but the woman couldn’t wait. She went to my mom, knelt in front of her, and begged for a divorce, saying her child was about to be born.My dad didn’t have any reason to ask for a divorce at first, but my illness became his perfect excuse to abandon us. He said he didn’t have the money to save me. He needed a healthy child, not me—a worthless son on the verge of death.The day he left, it poured outside, and my mom held me, crying for what felt like forever. She begged me to take the college entrance exams, to fight for my future.I was determined to get into a good school, even if just for my mom. I had to survive.But then, my mom left too. The day my exams end
I didn’t even know how I left.But the moment I heard the door slam behind me, I regretted it. I didn’t want to leave the home Clara and I shared. That was our home. How could I just walk away?As I raised my hand to knock on the door again, a voice suddenly echoed in my head."Caleb, it was me. I killed Clara."The wind was strong that night, the rain was heavy, and I lured her to the beach to make a wish. Then I pushed her head into the water."She only had eyes for you."She took my heart, but she loved only you."She deserved it. I had to tear you two apart. Clara belonged to me."I shook my head violently, trying to get the voice out of my mind. “Who are you? I don’t know you! I didn’t kill Clara. I didn’t!”The voice just laughed. A loud, mocking laugh.“I’m Leon Marshall. I’m the other personality that emerged after you got my heart.“I loved Clara so much, but she kept telling me to leave, telling me to go away. She only loved you.“If I couldn’t have her love, I ha
Clara's dead?No. It can't be true.I pushed past the woman at the door, shaking my head violently. She must be lying. Clara's playing a prank. She's hiding somewhere inside, waiting for me to find her.I searched the small two-bedroom apartment room by room. Every familiar corner, every possible hiding place. But Clara wasn't there.Desperate, I rushed back to the woman, gripping her arms. "Please, call Clara. I'm Caleb—I just need to see her. Tell her to come meet me."She shoved my hands away, her face cold. "Now you remember who you are, Caleb Carter?""She loved you so much. She ruined her medical career killing someone to get you a heart.""She could have been an incredible doctor. You made her throw it all away.""She sacrificed everything for you, but you couldn't let her go. You drowned her at the beach with your own hands."I drowned her?Impossible."No!" I stared at her, shaking my head. "I'd never hurt Clara. I love her. I couldn't do that."Her face twisted wi
"No..."I jolted awake, heart racing in unfamiliar yet somehow known surroundings. Panic seized me. I threw off the covers and rushed to the door, pounding it desperately. "Let me out! I need to see Clara! I remember everything—I have to tell her something important!"My fists hammered the door without response. Exhausted, I slid to the floor, defeated. My eyes caught the hospital bracelet reading "Caleb Carter." Gripping my head, I huddled in the corner, trembling.Time passed until footsteps approached. I jumped up as a nurse walked by, banging the door again."Let me out! I need to see Clara! Please!"The nurse frowned, placing a medication tray outside. She opened the small slot in the iron door. "Caleb, time for your meds.""I don't need medication! I'm not sick! I remember everything—just let me see her!"She paused, confusion crossing her face. "You want to see Clara Garnett?""Yes! Please! She's my girlfriend," I begged, clutching the slot's edge.The nurse raised an e
Clara had been driven mad with fear. She spent her days clutching a pillow, muttering Leon's name endlessly. She insisted she hadn't wronged him, questioning why he haunted her. Though she claimed to trust only science, declaring that death was final and souls didn't exist, she remained terrified that Leon had returned for her.Sleep eluded her, and when exhaustion finally won, she'd wake screaming until her voice gave out. The neighbors had called the police so often about her screams that officers regularly visited, suggesting we move elsewhere after seeing her condition.Remembering Clara's love for the ocean, I used her savings to rent a small beach house. Though rundown, its proximity to the water seemed perfect.Today's storm brought heavy rain. Each thunderclap sent Clara pressing against me in terror. I stroked her back soothingly."Remember in college, when you were trapped in the lab during that storm?" I said softly. "You called me at eleven, crying."You said, 'Leon,
Clara was suspended pending the hospital's investigation.She came home pale and panicked. Seeing me on the couch, she backed away, staring for a long moment. "Caleb… Are you Caleb?”I turned to her. "Who else?"She forced an awkward smile and kicked off her shoes, reaching for her usual pair by the door. Finding nothing, she checked the shoe cabinet and screamed."I threw out Leon's slippers! Why are they still here?"She ran to me barefoot. "Caleb, look in the cabinet. Do you see old gray slippers?"I glanced over and shook my head. "No, just two pairs of black men's slippers.""I washed yours and left them to dry on the balcony. I'll get them."As I stood, Clara grabbed my arm desperately. "No, stay. I'm scared."Scared?I gently pulled her into an embrace. "Of what?"She clung to me, trembling. "I... I don't know. Maybe I'm just tired, seeing things. There's nothing to fear.""I need a shower and sleep." She broke away and rushed to the bathroom, not bothering to undres
After paying Rebecca, I used Leon's phone to send the restaurant conversation recording to the hospital director's email.Back home, I waited. Clara had a pattern - when upset, she'd drink and stumble home late. Right on cue, she returned that night, reeking of alcohol.Face flushed, she kicked off her heels and staggered toward me, jabbing an unsteady finger in my direction."Caleb, I was so wrong about you. How could you betray me?" she slurred. "What does she have that I don't? How is she better?""You would've jumped from that window if I hadn't stopped you that day. These past five years, even with Leon, I never stopped thinking of you. I thought once I passed my boards and got Leon's heart, we'd finally have our happy ending.""I got my license. I got Leon's heart. But..."She grabbed my collar, tears streaming down her face as she rose on tiptoes. "Why did you change, Caleb? Why?"I gripped her wrist, my voice ice-cold. "What about Leon? How was he worse than me? Why did
After Clara left, I contacted a dating service manager, requesting a woman meeting specific criteria. They quickly sent me three profiles.I chose the oldest - average-looking but clearly desperate for money.As I called her, Clara texted me, saying she had a free afternoon and wanted to meet for lunch.I stared at her message, gripping my phone tighter. "Let's meet at the restaurant near the hospital," I replied.Then, into the phone, I said, "Follow the plan, and you'll get your payment."She agreed immediately.After hanging up, I sent Clara a simple "Okay."Seeing her cheerful reply, I pocketed Caleb's phone and changed into one of the new outfits Clara had bought me.Before leaving, I retrieved Leon's phone from the bottom drawer. I needed it to ensure Leon's revenge.At the restaurant, the woman - Rebecca Miller - was already waiting.We exchanged pleasantries, and I led her to a window table.Rebecca eyed me hungrily. "If I'd known you were this handsome, I wouldn't h