Chapter 1

My mom always said she loved me, but her 'love' came with strings.

"Do you think I'd be this exhausted if it weren't for you?"

"If you don't study hard, how can you face me?"

"Everything I do is for *your own good*."

She forced me to choose the humanities track, even though I hated it.

Before college started, she hid my acceptance letter to my dream university, pushing me instead toward a local state college closer to home.

Even after I went to college, she rented an apartment nearby, just to keep an eye on me.

Later, I fell in love, finally feeling a glimmer of hope.

But she ruined my relationship, threatening to die if I didn't marry a man who'd already been divorced once.

After the wedding, I was constantly abused, leading to a miscarriage, and I could never conceive again.

She still told me to "make it work." Eventually, I jumped from a tall building, ending a life dictated by her.

Reborn, I found myself back in my sophomore year of high school, right before the humanities or STEM track decision.

"Mom, if you don't want to drive me to my death, let me choose for myself."

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