From Rags To Riches: A Tale Of Revenge

Chapter 02

“Amanda!” A loud voice startled her, and she jumped from her seat, confused. She immediately stood up and started looking around, inspecting her body. Her neck. Her neck was not bleeding. But how?

“Amanda? Are you okay? Did you have a bad dream?”

Amanda jerked her head toward the familiar voice. Her eyes almost fell out of their sockets in shock. Was she going mad? Is this what death feels like?

“Robert? What are you doing here?” she asked, hyperventilating in disbelief. She looked around to see that her surroundings were way too familiar in a very creepy way.

“Amanda? Are you okay? We are in class. You must have had a really bad dream,” Robert said, moving closer, trying to comfort her. She automatically jerked back from his touch, and Robert looked at her, confused.

He couldn’t understand why she was acting so weird. Normally, she would be very excited to see him. But he played it off as just a terrible dream.

“In class? I’m back in college?” she whispered, confused. She looked around, and this was indeed her old classroom. Impulsively, she took her phone from the desk and mirrored herself. She was looking two years younger, and the neck wound and scars were all gone. How was this even possible?

I must be going insane, she thought to herself.

“Amanda, you’re really acting weird,” Robert spoke, looking very concerned. Amanda was still fiddling with herself, trying to make sense of the situation. Was she a ghost? But then how could Robert see her? How, when he tried to touch her, his hand didn’t go through her body?

“Amanda. Look, Robert got you some flowers,” she heard what sounded like a woman’s voice and turned to see Lisa partially peeking behind Robert. She immediately felt anger rising in her when she saw her face. This was the woman who killed her in cold blood with no mercy. She had the nerve to look all innocent now.

“Just sit down and calm down a bit,” Robert suggested as he helped Amanda into her seat. “See? Your favorite flowers,” he said, pointing at the huge bouquet of roses. She took them in her hands to inspect them. She vividly remembered this moment when Robert gave her the flowers five years ago, thinking that he would, but he ditched their plans and spent the whole night with Lisa. That Lisa lied about being in a car accident so she could spend time with Robert.

Could that mean? she wondered as her eyes scanned the roses in her hand. Could that mean the universe has given me a second chance? The thought settled in her mind. This could be the only way she could explain this.

“I wanted to apologize for bailing out on our plans yesterday. I hope you understand,” Robert said, now his voice sounding purely manipulative, unlike how she thought it sounded sweet two years back.

“Yeah, I’m really sorry. It’s all my fault. I was just really scared,” Lisa seconded with puppy eyes that would have fooled Amanda if she didn’t already know any better.

“That’s very nice of you. You know, I didn’t realize that you were a doctor all of a sudden,” Amanda answered, shocking them both. They expected her to be very understanding and accepting, which she was back then.

“Amanda, please let’s not do this right now,” Robert said, now a little bit shaken that his motives were being questioned.

“No, it’s fine. Thank you for the flowers,” Amanda simply responded as she took a whiff of the roses. If this was indeed her second chance, then these two would have to pay for everything they had done.

“Thank you for understanding, Amanda,” Lisa chirped. Amanda only gave a short smile before turning her attention to the bouquet.

“Aren’t they beautiful?” she said, carefully inspecting the roses. “Even though they die and wither, their beauty can be reborn… but so is the sting of their thorns,” she said, confusing both Robert and Lisa. But their confusion was just a foreshadowing of what was yet to come.

She smiled, satisfied, listening in to some of her classmates already gossiping in the back.

“…Robert is such a loving boyfriend…”

“…I would love a man like him…”

The voices carried over to her. But Amanda knew how wrong they were. That was so far from the truth.

“Jenny!” she blurted as she immediately remembered her little sister. She shot up from her desk and gathered her things.

“Where are you going?” Robert asked.

“Jenny. I have to see her,” Amanda said, already panting.

“But you already saw her this morning,” Robert reminded her. But Amanda was already at the door, not willing to hear anything else. If this was her second chance, that should mean her little sister was still alive.

She rushed out of the campus, catching a cab to the hospital. When she arrived, she didn’t waste any time and went straight to her sister’s room.

“Jenny! Jenny?” Amanda called out as she entered the room, finding Jennifer sleeping on her bed and looking surprised at Amanda’s sudden arrival.

“What the f**k, Amanda? Is everything okay?” Jennifer jerked from her sleeping position, shocked. Amanda didn’t answer any questions as she embraced her sister in a very tight hug.

“Jenny, oh my goodness. I’m so sorry. I’m really sorry for everything,” Amanda cried uncontrollably, refusing to let her little sister go.

“What the f**k is wrong with you? If you don’t let me go, you’ll be sorry,” Jennifer argued, trying to escape the very tight hug. Amanda finally let go, with tears of joy in her eyes.

“I really missed you,” Amanda said, cupping her sister’s face in her hands. Jennifer looked at her, gobsmacked. She might be the one lying sick on the bed, but her sister had completely lost her mind.

“You saw me this morning,” Jennifer said.

“I know. I’m just really happy to see you. How are you feeling?” Amanda asked, her heart beating hard with joy. Of everything the universe could give her, this was the best gift of all. Her little sister.

“I feel like my heart is failing me,” she scoffed sarcastically.

“Don’t worry. We already found a donor, and it’s a match,” Amanda said, recalling the events of her past life.

“Yeah, but we don’t have the money for the operation,” Jennifer pointed out.

“Don’t worry about the money. I’ll make sure you get that surgery,” Amanda said with confidence in her voice.

“Where are you planning to get that amount of money? By selling your own heart?” Jennifer looked at her crazily.

“Maybe,” Amanda smirked as an idea crossed her mind. Jennifer looked at her with crazy eyes before finally piecing two and two together.

“I hope you’re not talking about that bastard Jayden,” Jennifer sneered angrily.

“Relax, sis. Don’t stress yourself about Jayden. And anger is not really good for your heart,” Amanda said softly, placing her sister back into a resting position.

“Haha.” Jennifer rolled her eyes. “Where’s Robert?” she asked. “He’s the better boyfriend. He’s thoughtful and kind. He really cares about us,” Jennifer said.

Oh, you have no idea how soon you’ll swallow your words, lil sis, Amanda thought to herself. Amanda smiled as she brushed a lock of hair behind Jennifer’s ear.

“Please rest now. I’ll come again later. I’ll sneak some of your favorites,” Amanda laughed. Jennifer looked at her, delighted. Though her heart was almost useless, the doctors still forced her to take care of it.

“Take care now,” Amanda said, kissing her on the forehead, finally relieved to have seen her sister still alive.

Okay, universe, you’ve given me a second chance to unfuck my life. I can't let you down again.