Chapter 2 The Second Chance

Chapter 2: The Second Chance

I woke up suddenly gasping for breath as my hand went to the side of my body where the knife had been but there was nothing there.

No blood. No pain.

Just the soft cotton of my pajamas against my skin.

I looked around and saw that I was in my bedroom and the sunlight seemed to be coming through despite the half-closed blinds.

I was on the bed as the clock on the nightstand read 7:15 AM.

David was lying down beside me, still asleep, his breathing deep and even. I stared at him, in shock seeing nothing of the man that I loved but a stranger that has watched me die.

Was it a nightmare? It had felt so real-the knife, the blood, Jessica's eyes as she smirked triumphantly as she watched me die.

But it seemed like I wasn't dead because I was still here, alive with my heart pounding in my chest, very much alive.

I got out of bed quietly, to not wake David up as I made my way gently to the bathroom on shaky legs.

I stared at the face in the mirror and it looked exactly as I remembered seeing myself.

I could see my tired eyes, and my hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, with the lines that seemed to be visible on my face from years of worry.

As I poured cold water on my face, to wash off the sleep remnants and get ready and alert for the day, I had something shocking as I realized something.

The calendar on the wall. It was Tuesday.

Not just any Tuesday that was repeated once a week. But the Tuesday. The day I died.

I collapsed my legs barely strong enough to hold me up as I slid down to the floor shaking.

This wasn't possible. People didn't get second chances. People didn't come back from death.

But here I was.

"Caroline?" David's voice called from the bedroom. "You alright in there?"

I cleared my throat as I tried to maintain a fake facade around my husband. "Fine! Just... felt a little dizzy."

"Don't forget the boys have soccer practice after school. I've got meetings all day, so you'll have to take them."

Meetings. That was what he said the last time in my dream. But there were no meeting, at all. It was just the code for meeting Jessica. Had they been planning my murder together? Or was she acting alone, removing the obstacle between them?

"Sure," I managed to say when I realized that he has been waiting for a reply from me all this while. "No problem."

When I came out of the bathroom, David was already dressed up as he was checking his phone with a smile on his face.

I had been seeing that same smile about a thousand times before but never recognized what it was- meant for someone else.

He kissed my cheek absently on his way out. "Don't wait up. Late meeting."

"David," I said, grabbing his arm as he stopped looking at me in surprise at the grip as I cleared my throat and asked him. "Do you love me?"

He blinked, caught off guard by my question as I could see the hesitation and confusion on his face. "What kind of question is that?"

"A simple one."

He hesitated-just for a second, but enough for me to know my answer. "Of course I do. I have to go."

And he was gone, leaving me standing alone knowing that he lied to me in my face and that I was going to die soon by his mistress hand..

---

The morning passed quickly like that we I tried to do the things that I normally did. I made breakfast for the twins, packed their lunches, drove them to school, just doing the same old things out of habit while my mind was busy working double time as I tried to remember for clues that I missed through all the past memories.

This wasn't the first time that I had encountered Jessica. She has been a part of my marriage for a very long time since she came back from abroad two years ago. She was his first love so I knew about her although David had sworn that he didn't love her anymore.

But then David was the one bringing Jessica to our neighborhood barbecue, something that should have been a family thing done with our neighbors and gave the excuse.

"Just an old friend."

Another memory was when Ethan mentioned Jessica had picked him up from school when I was stuck in traffic.

"Dad said it was okay."

Finding a woman's earring in our car that I had no idea who it belonged to because it wasn't mine.

"Must be yours," David had said back then shrugging his shoulders.

Liam also asking if Jessica could come to his soccer game. "She promised to bring those cookies I like."

All these were suspicious moments I'd dismissed thinking that it was all coincidence or Jessica just being a good friend. I couldn't believe that I had been so blind to not notice the fact that I was being gaslighted by every turn.

But now I have a second chance at life to change my mistakes. And I wasn't going to waste it.

My first stop was the bank. I withdrew as much cash as they would allow from our joint account without them calling David to approve of the withdrawal.

Next, I went to a lawyer's office. I didn't have an appointment scheduled, but I must have looked desperate enough because they allowed me in.

"I need divorce papers drawn up immediately," I told my attorney. "And I need to know my rights regarding my children."

"These things take time," she said gently. "There are procedures-"

"I don't have time," I insisted. "If I don't get these papers filed today, I might not be alive tomorrow."

She stared at me for a long moment, shocked written all over her face as she watched me intently trying to see id I was joking. She didn't see any signs of lies as she then nodded her head slowly. "Tell me everything."

I told her not the truth but a version she would believe and more likely realistic than the fact that I had been born again.

By noon, I had temporary custody papers and an emergency restraining order. The divorce filing would take another day, but at least I had started the process.