When I was five years old, I was adopted from the foster system by the wealthy Montgomery family. My sole purpose was to be a companion for their only daughter, Chloe. The very first time Chloe saw me, she grabbed her best friend, Liam, by the hand, ran over, and split her candy in half with me. From that day on, the three of us became an inseparable trio. The "Iron Triangle." Until the summer after high school graduation, when I finally accepted Liam's confession of love. After that, Chloe quietly applied to a college three thousand miles away. The night before she was supposed to leave, she went to a bar to drink away her sorrow. She was dragged into a dark alley and brutally assaulted until she died. Liam and I lived the rest of our lives carrying an unbearable, suffocating guilt. When I turned forty, I was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). The night before I died, Liam held my rapidly deteriorating body, sobbing so hard he shook. "Anna, I love you. I have always loved you." "But if there is a next life, I have to protect Chloe. I absolutely cannot let anything happen to her ever again." When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the exact day Liam was planning to ask me out. Inside the karaoke room, our classmates were screaming into the microphones, beer bottles clinking loudly against the glass tables. Liam and Chloe were missing. The horrific image of Chloe's mutilated body in that dark alley flashed violently through my mind. My hands trembled as I pulled out my phone and texted her. "Chloe, I'm not feeling well, so I headed home early. Please come home soon." I grabbed my purse, muttered an excuse to the person sitting next to me, and practically ran out the door. Standing in the elevator, I leaned against the metal wall, tears streaming uncontrollably down my face. In this life, I absolutely will not let history repeat itself! When I got back to the Montgomery estate, it was dead silent. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery were already asleep. I tiptoed upstairs. As I passed Chloe's room, I saw the door was slightly ajar. Sitting on her desk was a framed photo of the three of us from elementary school. Tears fell before I could stop them. In my previous life, I had been so wrapped up in the joy of accepting Liam's confession. I completely failed to notice Chloe's forced smiles and her shattered heart. Later, when it was time to submit our college applications, Chloe secretly chose a university in freezing, remote Alaska. The night before she left, she went to that bar. When we finally found her, she was lying in that damp, foul-smelling alley. She looked like a ragdoll that had been torn to pieces. There wasn't a single patch of untouched skin on her body. The bruises, the lacerations, and the lingering terror and absolute despair in her dilated, lifeless eyes... it became a nightmare that Liam and I could never, ever escape. We stayed together, bound by our massive, shared guilt, trying to keep each other warm while simultaneously torturing each other. Until I was diagnosed with ALS, my body slowly freezing into a living corpse. The night before I passed away, he held me, his scalding tears dropping onto my neck. He said: "Anna, if there is a next life... I have to guard Chloe properly. I can never let anything happen to her again." ... My breath hitched violently, a sharp pain seizing my chest. The tragedy of our past life will absolutely not happen again. I went back to my room and didn't sleep a wink all night. The next day, the angry, questioning phone call I expected from Liam never came. My iMessage and texts were completely silent. According to the timeline of my past life, after I ghosted his meticulously planned confession, given his personality, he should have stormed over to demand an explanation immediately. I opened my phone and saw a few scattered messages in our class group chat. "Liam has been hanging out with Chloe all day today!" "Yeah! They're inseparable. Didn't he act super mysterious yesterday, saying he was going to do something huge?" "And Liam is acting incredibly protective of her today." "Do you think there's something going on between them?" My confusion deepened. I put my phone down and went downstairs to get a glass of water. I saw Liam and Chloe sitting in the living room. Chloe was laughing, talking to him while peeling an orange and popping a slice directly into his mouth. Liam didn't pull away. His gaze was entirely focused on her. When Chloe shifted slightly to the left, his eyes tracked her immediately. Seeing Chloe so vibrant and alive, a wave of intense emotion washed over me. I walked over, clutching my water glass. "Chloe." She looked up, her smile radiant. "Anna! Come here! The oranges Liam bought are so sweet!" I was just about to sit down when someone suddenly grabbed my arm. Liam yanked me around the corner into the hallway, pinning me aggressively against the wall. He gripped my shoulders so hard it hurt. He stared at me, his eyes bloodshot, his voice dropped to a lethal whisper: "Anna. Stay away from Chloe." I froze. He continued, "Stay away from me, too. It's better for all three of us this way." His eyes were a storm of regret, self-blame, and a complex, indescribable agony. I stared at him, stunned. In a fraction of a second, all the missing pieces connected, exploding in my mind! Liam. He had been reborn too. After that day, I became the sole target of Liam's "special attention." As long as I came within ten feet of Chloe, he would materialize instantly, physically wedging himself between us. If I went to the kitchen for water and passed through the living room where she was, his entire body would tense up. If I took three steps toward her, he would immediately stand up. One time, Chloe was standing on a dining chair, trying to reach a photo album on the top shelf of a cabinet. I reached out to help her. Before my hand could even touch hers, Liam lunged forward and roughly swatted my arm away. "I've got it." He shoved my arm so hard I stumbled back two steps. Chloe glared at him. "What is your problem?! Why are you being so mean to Anna?!" He didn't explain. He just pulled the album down and handed it to her. Chloe turned to me, offering a sweet, apologetic smile. "Just ignore him. He's been acting like he ate a bowl of gunpowder lately." With that, she pulled a piece of chocolate from her pocket and shoved it into my hand. "Liam bought it! We can split it! What's mine is yours~" The chocolate still carried the warmth of her palm. I clutched it tight, my nose stinging with unshed tears. When we were little kids, this was exactly how she had shared her candy with me. But I knew I couldn't get close to them anymore. I stopped participating in any activities that involved the two of them. Chloe invited me out ten times, and I rejected her ten times. My excuses ranged from being lazy, to having a headache, to needing to study at the library. She finally realized something was wrong. That weekend, she forcibly "arrested" me and dragged me to a dessert shop. Liam followed closely behind, his face dark as a thundercloud. Chloe aggressively scooped her mango shaved ice, her eyes full of worry. "Anna, seriously, what is going on with you?" "The three of us haven't hung out together in forever. Did you... get into a fight with Liam?" I stirred the boba in my milk tea, unable to look her in the eye. "No. I'm just... the SAT scores are coming out soon, and I'm really anxious." I tried to change the subject, acting as casual as possible. "Have you thought about which colleges you're applying to?" "Honestly, the local State University is great. It's close to home, and their programs are strong. If you go too far away, your parents will worry." The moment those words left my mouth, Liam, who had been completely silent across the table, snapped his head up. His voice was ice cold. "Staying close to home isn't always a good thing. Sometimes, the further away certain people are, the better it is for everyone." The implication was glaringly obvious. He wasn't even trying to hide it. Chloe froze, then lightly shoved his shoulder. "Liam! Watch your tone! Why are you acting like such a jerk?!" She turned back to me, offering a comforting smile. "Anna, seriously, ignore him. He forgot to take his meds today." Watching Chloe aggressively defend me, my heart felt simultaneously warm and agonizingly broken. Late that night, I curled up in bed, and a flood of beautiful memories crashed over me. At six years old, some neighborhood kids mocked me for being an orphan. Liam and Chloe teamed up and beat them until they cried. At twelve, when I had a high fever, they skipped class, climbed the school fence, and bought me hot soup. At fifteen, sitting on the roof, we screamed at the stars, promising to be "best friends for life." ... All that kindness... it was real. But now, the cautious, disgusted look in Liam's eyes when he looked at me... that was real, too. The day before the college application portal opened, Chloe and I sat on the swings in the neighborhood park, swaying gently. The setting sun stretched our shadows long across the grass. I hesitated for a long time before finally speaking up. "Chloe, no matter what happens in the future... please, never go to a bar or a club by yourself. It's not safe." "If you're ever feeling upset or depressed, you can call me anytime, okay?" Chloe blinked, then burst out laughing. "Okay, okay, Mom! I don't even like those loud, annoying places anyway!" I was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when a voice, vibrating with suppressed rage, echoed from behind us. "Anna. Evans." I didn't know when Liam had arrived, but he was standing a few yards away, his face looking absolutely murderous. He took long, aggressive strides toward us, grabbed Chloe by the arm, and yanked her off the swing. "We're leaving." "Liam, what is your problem?! I'm talking to Anna!" "There's nothing left to talk about." Liam dragged her away, shooting a warning glare over his shoulder at me that was thick with venom. "Anna. Stop trying to brainwash Chloe with your cryptic bullshit." As Chloe was being dragged away, she kept looking back, shooting me confused and apologetic looks. I stood rooted to the spot, watching their silhouettes shrink in the distance, unmoving, until my entire body felt freezing cold. When it was finally time to submit our college applications, I sat right in front of Chloe and Liam and selected the exact same local State University as them. Chloe cheered in excitement. Liam stared at me, his eyes dark and unreadable, but he didn't say anything else. What they didn't know was that later that same night, I opened my laptop. I submitted applications to several prestigious universities overseas, and then I spent hours researching the early-onset symptoms of ALS. That weekend, Mrs. Montgomery cooked a massive, elaborate dinner and specifically invited Liam to stay. At the dining table, Mrs. Montgomery kept putting the best cuts of meat onto Liam's plate, smiling so hard she couldn't close her mouth. "Liam, eat up. We really appreciate you spending so much time with Chloe lately. This girl has been smiling like a fool all week." She then shot me a loving look. "In this house, both Chloe and Anna are my precious girls." Chloe giggled. "Mom, you're being so cheesy!" Mr. Montgomery chuckled warmly. "Liam is a solid, reliable kid. Knowing he's looking out for you gives us incredible peace of mind." The atmosphere at the table was incredibly warm and domestic. Chloe chattered non-stop about her college plans, while Liam offered occasional, quiet agreements. I ate my food silently. It tasted like ash in my mouth. Mrs. Montgomery looked at Liam and Chloe sitting side-by-side, suddenly letting out a soft sigh. "You know, I never really thought about it before, but looking at you two now... Liam and our Chloe really are a perfect match. You look so good together." The moment the words landed, the entire dining room fell dead silent. Chloe's face instantly flushed a dark, brilliant red. She stole a shy glance at Liam. Liam didn't look up from his plate, but he didn't deny it, either. Mrs. Montgomery then scooped a bowl of soup for me. "And Anna too. I know you'll find a wonderful man who will love and cherish you." I took the bowl. My fingertips were ice cold, but I forced a perfectly shy smile onto my face. "Thank you, Mom." After dinner, I cleared the table and went into the kitchen to wash the dishes. Just as I turned on the faucet, I heard footsteps behind me. Liam stood in the doorway, dropping his voice to a harsh whisper. "Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery just want what's best for Chloe. They saved you from the foster system. You owe them a massive debt of gratitude." My heart began to sink, inch by inch. "I logged into the portal and changed your college application. You're going to the University of Alaska. It's far away from here. It's better for you." The water rushed loudly into the sink. I gripped the ceramic bowl in my hands tightly. He was right. Being far away from here was better for me. But hearing those words come out of his mouth still felt like a jagged knife twisting in my chest. I turned off the water and turned around to face him. "Okay." He froze for a second. He probably hadn't expected me to agree so easily. I dried my hands and walked past him. "Liam, protect Chloe. I won't come near either of you ever again." He opened his mouth, but no words came out. That night, an email notification lit up my screen. It was an acceptance letter from a top-tier university overseas. Attached was also an invitation to participate in a cutting-edge clinical research program focusing on early intervention for neurodegenerative diseases. I stared at the screen for a very long time before finally knocking on Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery's bedroom door. I showed them the acceptance letter on my phone. Mrs. Montgomery gasped. "Anna, you want to study abroad?" I nodded. "I want to see the world." Mr. Montgomery was silent for a moment before asking, "Do Liam and Chloe know?" I shook my head. "Could you... please not tell them just yet?" "I'm afraid they'll try to stop me. You know how Chloe is; she'll definitely try to make me stay." Mrs. Montgomery sighed heavily and gently stroked my hair. "Silly girl. If you want to fly, then fly. We'll help you keep it a secret from Chloe." My eyes burned with tears. I dropped to my knees and bowed my head deeply to them. "Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Mom." Mr. Montgomery pulled me up, his own eyes red. "We're family. You never have to thank us." The next day, I booked my flight. The departure date was three days after Chloe's birthday. Two days before her birthday, I went up to the roof to bring in the laundry. Down in the garden below, Liam and Chloe were sitting together on a bench. Chloe seemed a bit sleepy, her head nodding slightly. And then, her head gently came to rest on Liam's shoulder. Liam's body went completely rigid for a fraction of a second. But he didn't push her away. He slowly lifted his hand and gently stroked her hair. I turned around, my eyes stinging painfully. As soon as I walked back inside, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Chloe: "Anna! Liam is taking me to the amusement park tomorrow! Do you think he's going to..." Before I could finish typing a reply, she sent a rapid-fire string of blushing emojis. I typed: "He definitely likes you." She replied instantly: "Really?!?!?!" "Really." That night, Chloe came into my room and refused to leave my bed. "Anna, honestly, I used to think he liked you. I secretly cried about it so many times." I turned my head to look at her. She continued, "But I really hate how mean he's being to you lately. I've yelled at him about it so many times, but he never listens." I smiled softly. "It's okay. How he treats me doesn't matter. As long as he treats you well, that's enough." "Of course it matters! You're my best friend! What gives him the right to be mean to you?!" I didn't say anything. I just pulled her into a hug. Chloe, you don't know. He's mean to me because he's trying to protect you. On Chloe's birthday, the Montgomerys hosted a small, intimate party at the house. Liam's entire family was there. Mrs. Montgomery held Chloe's hand in one of hers, and Liam's hand in the other. Tears welled in her eyes, but her smile was overwhelmingly joyful. "Seeing you two so happy together... as parents, it's the greatest comfort we could ever ask for." I stood on the outskirts of the crowd, watching Chloe's face flush bright red. Suddenly, she stood up. "Liam, I... I have something to tell you." The entire room went dead silent. She took a deep breath. "I like you. I've liked you since we were kids. Will you... will you be my boyfriend?" Liam stared at her. The seconds ticked by agonizingly slowly. The hopeful light in Chloe's eyes began to dim with every passing moment of his silence. Just as she was about to burst into tears... Liam closed his eyes for a second, his Adam's apple bobbing. Then, very slightly, but undeniably, he nodded. He said, "Yes." The room erupted into cheers. Mrs. Montgomery cried tears of joy, covering her mouth. Liam's parents were grinning from ear to ear. Chloe launched herself like a joyful little bird straight into Liam's arms, hugging him fiercely. Liam's arms hovered in the air for a moment, before slowly, securely wrapping around her. He lowered his head and gently kissed the crown of her hair. I stood hidden in the shadows near the doorway, quietly watching this perfect, happy scene unfold. The warm glow of the candles illuminated every smiling face. I thought back to my previous life. I thought of his scalding tears, and the words he had forced out with the last ounce of his strength: "If there is a next life... I have to protect Chloe properly." Liam. In this life... you did it. I quietly turned around and walked back to my room. I placed the gift I had prepared on Chloe's desk. It was a glass jar, filled with hundreds of origami stars I had spent the last week folding. Inside every single star, I had written the exact same sentence. "Chloe, be happy." I rolled my suitcase down the stairs. The party in the living room was still loud and vibrant. No one noticed me. The taxi was waiting outside the gate. I got in. Closed the door. The airport. The security line. The boarding gate. My phone buzzed. A text from Chloe: "Anna!!! Where did you go?! I looked all over the house for you! Mom said you went out to buy me a present?" "Hurry back! Liam gave me a necklace, it's so beautiful! I want to show you as soon as you get home!" I typed: "That's wonderful. I'm so happy for you." I powered the phone off. The plane taxied down the runway and lifted into the air. Outside the window, the lights of the city grew further and further away. I leaned my head against the seat and closed my eyes. Memories flashed through my mind like a movie reel. At five years old, Chloe grabbing Liam's hand and splitting her candy with me. At fifteen, eating popsicles on the roof, promising to be best friends forever. At eighteen, the brilliant light in Liam's eyes when he confessed his love to me. And in my past life... the sterile white hospital room, him holding my freezing, dying body, his tears burning my skin. "If there is a next life..." Finally, the reel stopped on tonight. In the flickering candlelight, him nodding and saying "Yes." Chloe throwing herself into his arms, her smile absolute perfection. The tears I had held back for so long finally, uncontrollably, flooded down my face. In the quiet cabin of the airplane, no one noticed. Goodbye, Liam. Goodbye, Chloe. I hope that in this life, the two most precious people I have ever known get everything they ever wanted. I hope you stay safe, happy, and grow old together. As for my battle... it lies thousands of miles away in a foreign country, fighting against a body that is destined to betray me.
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