Chapter 2

Just as Michael finished his dismissive explanation about the divorce papers, the door creaked open again. Jessica Hayes, my younger sister, glided in. She was dressed impeccably, a mask of concern etched on her pretty face. Her eyes, however, held a glint of something else – calculation.

"Sarah! Oh, thank goodness you're awake!" She rushed to my bedside, avoiding my gaze just like Michael had, and grasped my hand with a theatrical display of relief. "We were all so worried. Mom, Michael, don't crowd her. She needs her rest."

She spoke as if she were the calming influence, the one managing the situation. Master manipulator. My premonitions had shown me her true face, the one behind the innocent act.

"I'm fine, Jessica," I said, pulling my hand away. Her touch felt cold.

Karen immediately started in again. "She's not fine, Jessica. She's talking about divorce, and that stressful grant. She needs to focus on her health, on her marriage. Michael, you need to talk some sense into her."

My mother' s voice was a familiar drone, the soundtrack to years of criticism. "And children, Sarah," Karen added, her voice dropping to a stage whisper loud enough for everyone to hear. "You're not getting any younger. Michael deserves a family."

The fertility pressure. It was always there, a constant undercurrent. In my premonitions, after my death, Jessica had quickly given Michael the children I supposedly couldn't or wouldn't.

Jessica placed a comforting hand on Karen's arm. "Mom, please. Sarah's just been through a lot. Of course, we all want her to be happy and healthy." She glanced at me, her eyes full of feigned sympathy. "And a baby would be wonderful, when you're ready, Sarah. Michael would be such a great dad."

Exasperation warred with a cold anger inside me. They were ganging up on me, as always.

I remembered a conversation with Michael, years ago, before the constant pressure from Karen had really ramped up. I'd tentatively mentioned wanting to focus on my career for a few more years before starting a family. He' d been dismissive. "We'll have kids when the time is right, Sarah. Don't worry your pretty little head about it now. My career is taking off, that's the priority." His priority. Not ours. The memory, sharpened by the premonitions, tasted like ash.

My newfound resolve, fueled by the chilling clarity of those visions, solidified. No more being the quiet, accommodating Sarah.

I looked directly at Michael, then let my gaze slide to Jessica, who was still clinging to his arm with that undue familiarity she always affected. "Actually, Michael," I began, my voice calm but carrying a new edge. "Speaking of family and priorities..." I paused, letting the silence stretch. "Maybe you and Jessica should discuss your future family plans. Since you two are so close."

The room went silent. Karen gasped. Jessica's eyes widened, a flicker of genuine shock replacing her practiced concern. Michael stared at me, his face darkening.

"Sarah! What the hell are you talking about?" His voice was low, angry. He took a step towards me, his hand reaching out as if to grab my arm, to control me. "You're not making any sense. You're overwrought."

"Am I?" I met his gaze without flinching. "You always take her side, Michael. You always believe her. Maybe it's time you were honest about why."

He recoiled as if I'd struck him. "That's enough!" He didn't try to touch me, but his voice was a lash. "You're upsetting everyone. You're tired. You need to rest." He was trying to dismiss me, to make my words the product of a damaged mind.

"I'm tired of being dismissed, Michael," I said, my voice rising slightly. "I'm tired of the lies." The premonitions had shown me the end result of those lies. My erasure. "There were always rumors, you know. About you and Jessica. Even before we were married."

It was a gamble, dredging that up. Old whispers I'd always tried to ignore, to attribute to small-town gossip. But the premonitions painted those whispers in a new, sinister light. Jessica' s proprietary air around him, her constant presence.

Michael' s face went pale, then flushed with anger. "Rumors? You're bringing up baseless gossip now? I married you, Sarah! Doesn't that count for anything?" He sounded indignant, but there was a defensive edge to his tone. "You're letting your imagination run wild because of this accident. You need to stop this."

He was blaming me, subtly shifting the fault to my "misconceptions."

He turned away, a gesture of finality. "I'm going to get the doctor." He didn't look back. He walked out, leaving me in the suddenly cold room with my mother and sister. Karen was sputtering, speechless for once. Jessica was watching me, her expression unreadable now, the mask firmly back in place. The comfortable family dynamic, the one where I was the problem, was trying to reassert itself. But I wasn't playing my part anymore. The air in the room felt heavy, charged with unspoken accusations and the chilling echoes of my premonitions.