Chapter 8: A New Goal
918 Words
After my conversation with Sofia in the library, I realized something very clearly.
Changing my behavior alone was not enough.
Avoiding Ethan and choosing a different university had already shifted the direction of my life, but if I truly wanted a different future, then I needed something more important.
I needed a goal.
In my previous life I never had one.
Everything I did revolved around Ethan Blackwood. I chose classes that allowed me to see him more often. I joined activities that he participated in. Even my choice of university was based entirely on his decision.
I had built my entire future around a man who never cared about me.
The realization felt almost embarrassing.
When I thought about the years I wasted chasing him, I could not help but feel a quiet sense of regret. I had been given intelligence, opportunities, and a supportive family, yet I threw all of it away because of a single person.
This time I would not repeat that mistake.
That afternoon I walked through the quiet halls of the school while thinking about what I truly wanted.
The answer did not appear immediately.
For most of my life I had never asked myself that question before.
What do I want?
The thought felt strangely unfamiliar.
As I stepped outside the school building, the late afternoon sun was beginning to sink slowly across the sky. Students gathered near the gate while laughing and talking about their plans after graduation.
Their excitement filled the air with energy.
I stood there for a moment while watching them.
Everyone seemed to know where they were heading.
Some planned to study medicine. Others wanted to become engineers, lawyers, or artists. Their dreams sounded ambitious and bright.
Meanwhile I had spent my entire youth chasing love.
A quiet sigh escaped my lips.
Perhaps it was time for me to finally think seriously about my own future.
My steps carried me toward the small garden behind the school. It was a quiet place that very few students visited, which made it perfect for thinking.
The wind moved gently through the trees while sunlight flickered softly between the leaves.
I sat down on a wooden bench.
North Valley University.
The name returned to my mind.
In my previous life I had heard that the university was famous for its business program. Many successful entrepreneurs and executives graduated from there.
The thought slowly began to take shape.
Business.
If I studied business, then I could build a career that depended entirely on my own ability. I would not need to rely on anyone else's approval or affection.
I could become independent.
Powerful in my own way.
The more I thought about it, the more appealing the idea became.
In my previous life my marriage to Ethan made me completely dependent on him. Even though I worked hard to support our family, the final decisions always belonged to him.
And in the end that dependence allowed him to destroy me easily.
This time I would not allow anyone to hold that power over my life.
I wanted control over my own future.
I wanted the strength to protect myself.
A quiet determination slowly filled my chest.
Yes.
That would be my goal.
I would focus on building my career.
Love could come later if it happened naturally, but it would never again become the center of my life.
As I sat there thinking about my new plan, footsteps suddenly approached from behind.
"Aria?"
The familiar voice caused me to turn my head.
One of my classmates, Lily Morgan, was walking toward the bench with a curious expression on her face. Lily had always been friendly with me, though we were never extremely close.
She stopped a few steps away.
"I have been looking for you," she said.
I blinked in surprise.
"For me?"
She nodded quickly.
"Yes. The teacher asked some of us to prepare a presentation for the graduation ceremony next week."
Her eyes brightened slightly.
"And your name was included on the list."
That caught my attention.
In the past I rarely participated in school events unless Ethan was involved.
But things were different now.
"What kind of presentation?" I asked.
"It is about our future plans," Lily explained. "Each student will talk about their goals and what they want to achieve after leaving school."
Her words felt strangely meaningful.
My future plans.
Only a few minutes ago I had been thinking about that exact question.
Perhaps this was an opportunity.
"I will do it," I said calmly.
Lily looked relieved.
"That is great. I was worried you might refuse."
I smiled faintly.
"I will start preparing tonight."
She nodded enthusiastically.
"Everyone will present their ideas in front of the whole grade."
After she left, I remained sitting on the bench for a while longer.
The sky above was slowly turning orange as the sun moved closer to the horizon.
I thought about the speech I would give during the ceremony.
In the past my answer would have been simple.
Follow Ethan.
Stay near him.
Support his dreams.
But that answer no longer existed.
This time my words would be different.
I stood up from the bench and looked toward the distant school buildings.
A new sense of purpose settled inside my heart.
For the first time since returning to this life, I felt as though I was truly moving forward.
My story would no longer revolve around Ethan Blackwood.
From now on it would revolve around me.
- Writer
