During the day, while I was studying, Ruth would show up out of nowhere. Sometimes she'd snatch my pen, other times she'd cut the power, plunging the house into total darkness.By the third time, when she shredded a freshly finished test paper, I just stared at her, deadpan."Seriously? You're still at this?"She smirked, leaning against the desk like she owned the place. "What? Can't stand seeing you study."In our last life, you didn't even get to go to school. This time, you won't either. You're staying in the dirt where you belong!"The next day, I went to a café by myself.There was a girl working there, darting between tables with a tray. The place was packed, but for some reason, the customers only ever called for her, like it was some kind of sick game.When she set a coffee on my table, I looked up and said quietly, "You're exhausted, aren't you?"She blinked, startled, and then gave a tired, awkward smile. "Yeah, but what can you do? If there were an easier way, I'd t
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