Chapter 2

The pothos plant on my desk was still alive. There was no scar on my left hand.

Savannah walked over from the break room in her high heels, holding a latte. She bent down and leaned close to my ear:

"Adrian, didn't you request annual leave to go on vacation to the West Coast? It's right during the carnival festival too. Why don't you take us along? We can split the gas!"

I saved the email I was typing as a draft and closed the screen.

"I'm not going anymore."

Savannah blinked. "What? But your leave was already approved. Didn't you book a hotel too?"

I picked up the water glass on my desk and took a sip.

"I canceled it."

"I canceled everything."

I stared at the blinking cursor on my computer screen. I couldn't type a single word.

All I could see were scenes from my previous life.

I remembered every second of those three minutes when the fire burned up from beneath my feet.

After the seatbelt buckle got soaked with water, it wouldn't release no matter how hard I pressed.

I yanked at it until my nails flipped back, until the flesh on my fingers was rubbed raw, but I still couldn't get it undone.

The smoke came first, choking me so badly I couldn't even open my eyes. Then the heat rose layer by layer.

I screamed until my voice went hoarse, until I couldn't make any sound at all.

The car door was open. Savannah had left it open when she ran.

I could see the road outside. People were running on the road, filming videos, screaming.

But no one came to pull me out.

In the end, it was a DoorDash delivery guy who happened to ride by on his motorcycle. Without a word, he rushed in, used a blade he carried with him to cut the seatbelt, and dragged me out of the driver's seat by force.

That guy's arm got burned too. Later, when I was in the ICU, I asked my dad what his name was.

My dad shook his head. He said the guy left right after putting me down. Didn't even leave a phone number.

Eight colleagues. Two thousand miles. Free rides, food, and lodging.

In the end, the one who saved me was a stranger.

I pulled my thoughts back and glanced around the office.

Twelve desks, nine people seated.

Savannah sat diagonally across from me. She was looking down at her phone. After I rejected her just now, she went back to her seat without another word, but I knew what she was thinking.

It was the same in my previous life. After being rejected the first time, she stayed quiet for about half an hour, then started round two.

Sure enough.

She put down her phone, turned to look at me, and changed her expression.

"Adrian, are you under too much work pressure lately? I think you really need to get out and relax. Look at those dark circles under your eyes."

"Yeah, I'm a bit tired," I said.

"Then you should definitely go out and have fun." Savannah stood up and walked to my cubicle, resting one hand on the back of my chair. "The West Coast is great. The carnival is so lively. You'd be so bored going alone. If we all go together, we can take turns driving so you can rest too."

Take turns driving.

In my previous life, she'd said the same thing. Two thousand miles, eight people, and I was the only one who ever touched the steering wheel throughout the entire trip.

Eight people, eight excuses, each more ridiculous than the last.

"I'm really not going," I said. "I withdrew my leave request too. I'll just stay home this weekend."

Savannah's hand slid off my chair back. Her mouth fell open.

"You... you withdrew your leave too?"

"Yeah."

"But that was your annual leave. If you don't use it, isn't that a waste?"

"I'll save it for later."

Savannah looked at me for a few seconds, then smiled.

"Alright then, rest well."

She turned and went back to her seat.

I knew this was just the beginning.