The child didn't deserve any of this. I knew I couldn't just walk away from Ashley or our unborn bond, but every fiber of me hated her. At first, I'd only wanted to use her to get back at Vivian. Ashley's scar between her eyebrows reminded me of her, twisted my senses. I had thought it was clever… but fate had a cruel sense of humor.
Vivian hadn't betrayed me. She was just… caught in the chaos. And I had failed her. Two years ago, when she needed me, I wasn't there. Now, after all this time, I'd made the same mistake again. I hated myself for it.
In my drunken haze, I saw her. Vivian, running toward me in a blue dress, calling my name like she always did. Her ponytail bounced, and she laughed like life itself was easy. She'd drag me to the cinema after class, talk about sitting in the same seat decades from now, laughing at the same movies. I'd grin, shake my head, and we'd laugh together until our sides hurt.
