Chapter#2: Chance

‘It’s a race against time, and a race between heart and mind.’

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Bad memories are like a parasite; as soon as it grabs hold, it doesn’t let go. It keeps sucking away, taking every inch of you until you are nothing…they leave you feeling drained because they take all your blood and energy. This was how I felt after hearing and watching to Ethan’s marriage proposal to Delisha.

But now, I somehow felt at peace as slowly the blood from various parts of my body continued to seep out from the injuries caused by the car hit. I would have cried out of pain but who was to blame? I had already let those tears out. My eyes were dry. No emotion, no moisture. Just like a doll who has nothing to do with the world but yet once it is used, who knows where it will take a hit.

Everything was blurry. I didn’t bother to focus either. I just wanted to sleep, take a break from this fast pacing world.

‘I am coming mom and dad.’ I thought.

“For God’s sake, wakeup Pearl!” A melodic and familiar voice broke through the peaceful and dark slumber I had just submitted myself into.

Brightness from somewhere brought some light to my dark surroundings. I opened my eyes, just to get them closed again due to the blinding light. I began fluttering my eyes in hope of getting my vision back to normal. My body felt energized and well rested.

“Oh, come on. Stop this drama of yours, cotton candy. You got fifteen minutes to get ready now.” Only two people used to call me by that name. Gordon, but he had a male voice and this voice definitely belonged to a female, and the other person to have ever called me by this name was…

I opened my eyes to such extent that they almost bulged out. I ferociously got up and sat in a sitting position, only to see a very familiar person standing at the end of the bed.

“Mom?” I whisper asked.

Mom’s face contorted with worry and she came walking to me. After settling herself right beside me, she pulled me into a hug. Her feminine scent, that I had missed all those past four years hit me. I was as still as a statue, afraid to hug her, for if I hugged her, I might just end this dream. Tears formed in my eyes and they spilled out.

“Shh, honey. Your mom is here. Had a nightmare, huh?” Her wrinkled yet beautiful hands commenced massaging me on my back.

I decided to enjoy the dream as much as I could, thus, I hugged her back, a little too tightly. I was afraid to let her slip away from my grasp. My mom was my best friend and when she left the world, the only hope to survive was Ethan, one about whom I didn’t even wanted to think about and make the cause of ruining the dream, which was a little too real.

“Okay, cotton candy, don’t have time. Your college dorms are going to be assigned toady and thus, don’t want my daughter to get late, hmm? Now get up. Breakfast will be ready within ten minutes. Dress up nicely.” With that mom left the room. My room. My OLD room.

My eyes travelled every inch of the surroundings. And then, as if a truck had just hit me.

“COLLEGE? WHAT ON EARTH?” I jumped out of the bed with mouth hanging open. I ran to the floor length mirror and saw that I had short raven black hair. I had this hairstyle back in college days.

 I stood where I was before I ran to get my mobile. The date stated that it was……five years early? From 2025, I travelled to 2020?

I fell onto my bed and held my head in my hands.

“I just…just…TRAVELLED BACK IN TIME? Oh my goodness, this is so not true!” My head began hurting until I heard mom calling. Although I was flabbergasted but I just replied back in the happiness that whatever was happening, I got to live with my mom again!

“Coming!” I then scurried to my closet with endless waves of nostalgic memories hitting me.

 I opened my closet to find baggy T-shirts, sweatpants and a few shorts thrown in the corner of the closet....and T-shirts and…sweatpants.

“Ah of course, the old me knew nothing what to wear apart from this stuff.” I mumbled to myself.

Choosing the best T-shirt (a little better than the rest of the garbage) and pair of ripped jeans shorts, I made my way to the washroom. Once done with the bath, I walked to the mirror and saw myself staring.

“This is reality. It isn’t a dream. I just had a car accident, but instead of dying I just traveled back to the past.” I contemplated on the situation.

Just when I was about to exit the room, I felt a magnetic pull. I couldn’t move anywhere else apart from moving to my side table.

“Ughh!” I tried to fight the pull but gave in and let it guide me. My body was as if it wasn’t mine. It moved on its own. But this one was not as shocking as getting to relive again, adding more honey, getting to go back in the past.

My hand stopped by the side table’s drawer. I found that the magnetic pull wanted me to get the drawer open, so I did, only to find my old diary! It was the diary in which I used to write everything!

I held it in my hands and settled myself on the bed. I peered it open to see a blinding light flashing through it.

“What?” I fluttered my eyes shut. After a minute, I opened them to see the diary in its normal state.

The page I had opened was the beginning one. It had an entry already written with….today’s date.

I commenced reading it.

^Dear Diary,

Today I am leaving my home and going to my college. I am way too excited! But then at the same time, I will miss mom.

She will be entirely alone. What if she gets ill when I am not around? I will definitely talk to mom about this.

Anyways, I really want to make new friends. My mom wants me to finally make a boyfriend since she thinks I have reached the age. But, I don’t want to.

Anyhow, wish me a luck dear diary!

Love,

Pearl Bennet^

“Of course! I remember how excited I was for the college.” I laughed at the memory.

“Pearl, you coming or not?” I heard mom calling out.

“Ah, on my way!” I quickly closed the diary, without reading the other entry that I had made the same day. I slipped it into my clothes bag and hurried downstairs.

I saw mom putting all the bags in the car as she motioned me to eat my breakfast. I sat down on the chair and looked at the house. I missed everything. It was just one bite of the French toast that made me smile, even in such ‘hard to be handled’ circumstances.

I savored the relishing taste of the toast. My mom had that unique taste that left one for more. Back in the past, I would have left the breakfast but I finished it till the very end. I placed the empty plates in the basin and started washing them.

“Oh dear, what are you doing, Pearl?” Mom came to me and tried to snatch away the plates but I countered her from doing so.

“Mom, it is not your responsibility to do all this stuff. I have had ignored my duties all these years and you never said a word. At least, let me do it today.” These words came from my mouth a little too sadly that caused her to hug me. I hugged her back.

“Oh dear. No worries. To repay me, all that you need to do is to top your studies and…get yourself a boyfriend.”

“Mom!” we laughed together. It felt so good. I literally wished at that time that may I would have just travelled a little more back in time, to spend more quality time with mom.

Once done with all the necessary chores, we locked the doors and settled ourselves in the car. Mom brought the car to life and off we went to my college.

The drive was filled with laughter and me and mom dancing and singing along to our favorite music. Moreover, this drive gave me enough time to make a decision.

‘Life has given me a chance. A chance to change things. A chance to win the man of my dreams.’

I continued with a new hope and determination.

‘I will for sure use this chance to change everything. I will make Ethan mine. This will also prevent my death in the future. That is it!’

I had a reignited determination and a more strong hope. One which I knew had the chances to come true this time.

We reached the college right after a long drive of two and approximately half an hour.

“I wish the drive could be longer than this.” I said to mom. She smiled in response.

Once we were done taking out my bags from the car, it was finally time to bid a good bye to mom.

“Honey, listen to my words.” My ears perked at her words. Last time I had just shut her off but this time I would definitely listen.

She held my hands in hers and continued, “Although we will be far but we can still meet and talk, okay?” I nodded in response.

“Remember to always share things with me, instead of only writing the words in that diary of yours. Also…..dear, you will meet different people. Some good, some bad. But no matter what, never ever give up! You hear me? Never. Love everyone so that they are forced to love you back. Good always comes to good people just like bad is bound to happen to bad ones one day. Love you. Rock hard and study hard, too.”

“Of course mom. I will remember your words. Take care of yourself, and don’t miss me too much. Love you too.” We shared a hug and then we bid each other a good bye.

I entered the familiar college. Everything was the same. The familiar corridors, the lights, and even the people! I just remembered them with a single glance!

 My feet due to their habit, carried me to the dorm building, without even getting the guidance from the registration table. I passed through the endless corridors until I came in front of my room.

“Room number 301.” The number plate brought me back to my old memories.

I tried the door knob and found it open. Stepping inside I found the same maroon sofas placed in a L-shape in the lounge, followed by a four seater dining table on the other side of the room.

I walked to the counter kitchen and placed my handbag on the counter shelf. A similar coffee scent hit my nostrils. I peeked inside to see the coffee pot sitting beside two mugs.

“Wait a sec….” Before I could think anything else, I heard someone behind me.

I turned around to meet a familiar face. Blonde hair, plump lips, gray eyes and a tall, curvy figure with a perfect tan skin.

“Hi! You must be Pearl!” She hugged me tightly.

“I am Delisha Evans, your roommate. Can’t wait to be friends with you!”

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Delisha was Pearl’s roommate and she had totally forgotten. How will things turn out when Pearl knows the future and despises her with all her might. Will Pearl be able to use this chance to win the man of her dreams in this life? Especially when tonight is going to be the big night, the night to make a first impression on Ethan.