Chapter 6

Soon enough, my mom called again. I didn’t answer.

The phone kept ringing, so I simply turned it off.

I didn’t have time to waste on them—I only had three days to get everything done. I needed to secure water and electricity, stock up on food, and prepare enough medicine.

In my last life, I had done all of this for my family.

But I was met with nothing but disdain and ridicule.

I still remember lugging heavy cases of bottled water under the hot sun while my parents stood nearby, watching and mocking me.

“What’s the point of all this? We already have water at home. You’re just wasting money.”

By the time I had carried everything upstairs, dripping with sweat, I was utterly exhausted.

And yet, in the end, I wasn’t even alive to use any of it.

If I had to make the choice again, this time I’d choose myself.

Thankfully, after graduating college and becoming independent, I insisted on renting my own place so I could focus on my writing.

Now, that apartment was my safest refuge.