Chapter 6: The First Break
1047 Words
The next morning I woke up earlier than usual.
For several seconds I lay quietly in my bed while staring at the familiar ceiling of my room. The sunlight that slipped through the curtains painted soft golden lines across the walls, and the quietness of the house made everything feel strangely peaceful.
It was difficult to believe that I had once died.
The memory still felt vivid inside my mind. Sometimes it appeared so suddenly that I could almost feel the cold sting of the needle in my arm again. The fear and betrayal of that moment still lingered somewhere deep within my chest.
But when I looked around my room, I was reminded that I had returned to a time when everything was still untouched.
The past had not happened yet.
That thought carried a quiet power.
Slowly I pushed the blanket aside and sat up.
Today was not a special day. It was simply another normal morning before graduation. Yet for me it felt like the beginning of something important.
Because today I would begin truly separating myself from Ethan Blackwood.
Yesterday I had already taken the first step by choosing a different university. That decision alone had shocked both Ethan and Sofia.
But that was not enough.
In my previous life my entire existence revolved around Ethan. I always waited for him after class, looked for excuses to talk to him, and followed him like a shadow everywhere he went.
If I wanted my life to change, then my actions needed to change as well.
I stood up and walked toward the window.
Outside the morning air looked fresh and bright. Students were already walking along the street toward school in small groups while laughing and chatting about their plans.
I watched them quietly for a moment.
In the past I would already be rushing to school early because Ethan often arrived before everyone else. I used to believe that if I appeared before him every day then eventually he would begin to notice me.
The memory made me smile faintly.
How exhausting that life had been.
After preparing myself I left the house and walked toward school at a calm pace. The morning breeze brushed gently against my face as I followed the familiar road.
When I finally reached the school gate, something unexpected happened.
"Ethan is over there."
I heard a group of girls whispering excitedly nearby.
Their voices were filled with admiration as they pointed toward the basketball court.
In the past my heart would have jumped immediately at the sound of his name.
Today I simply continued walking.
Yet curiosity still made me glance in that direction for a brief moment.
Ethan stood near the court with several of his friends while casually spinning a basketball in his hands. His tall figure and confident posture easily drew attention from the students passing by.
Many girls watched him with obvious interest.
He had always been popular.
I remembered how proud I once felt simply standing near him.
Now the sight felt distant.
Just as I turned away to continue walking, Ethan suddenly noticed me.
His gaze followed my movement.
For a brief moment our eyes met across the courtyard.
I expected him to look away immediately as he usually did.
Instead he frowned slightly.
"Aria."
His voice reached me before I could walk further.
My steps paused.
Several students nearby turned their heads in surprise because it was rare for Ethan to call my name first.
Slowly I turned around.
He was already walking toward me.
The distance between us closed quickly until he stopped a few steps away.
Up close he looked exactly like the person I remembered from my youth. The same confident expression rested on his face, yet his eyes carried a hint of confusion.
"You left early yesterday," he said.
His tone sounded casual, but his gaze remained fixed on me as if trying to understand something.
"I had things to do," I replied calmly.
In the past I would have been nervous standing this close to him. My heart would race and my mind would struggle to find the right words to impress him.
Now I felt strangely composed.
Ethan seemed to notice the difference.
"You have been acting strange lately," he said slowly.
His words almost made me laugh.
Of course I was strange.
The girl standing in front of him had already lived an entire life and died.
But that was something he would never know.
"I do not think so," I answered.
For a moment silence settled between us.
Ethan crossed his arms slightly while studying my face.
"Why did you choose North Valley?" he finally asked.
The question sounded simple, yet I could hear the genuine curiosity behind it.
Perhaps he could not understand why the girl who once followed him everywhere suddenly decided to walk in another direction.
"I wanted a different future," I said.
The answer was honest.
Ethan frowned slightly.
"Westbridge is a better university."
"That might be true," I replied calmly. "But it is not the one I wanted."
He looked at me carefully as if trying to detect whether I was lying.
When he found nothing, a strange expression appeared in his eyes.
Before he could speak again another voice interrupted us.
"Ethan."
Sofia approached from behind him with her usual graceful smile.
Her gaze shifted between the two of us before settling on me.
"Aria, good morning," she said gently.
"Good morning," I replied.
Sofia turned back to Ethan.
"The teacher is looking for you."
Ethan sighed quietly before nodding.
"I will come."
He glanced at me one last time.
For some reason his eyes lingered slightly longer than usual, as if he still could not understand the change in front of him.
But I simply met his gaze calmly.
After a moment he finally turned and walked away beside Sofia.
I watched them disappear into the school building.
For years I had always followed behind them.
Today I remained where I was.
A quiet feeling spread through my chest as I realized something important.
This was the first time Ethan Blackwood walked away while I stayed behind.
And for the first time in my life, I did not feel the urge to chase after him.
- Writer
