Returning after many days to that familiar house, Sophia still felt disoriented. I'd lived with her for eight years. Everywhere in the house bore traces of me. On the wall still hung our wedding photo. In it, I smiled so joyfully, so vividly.
Sophia felt somewhat uncomfortable. She went downstairs to buy groceries.
Passing through the apartment complex, the auntie from downstairs asked her, "Little Sophia, why haven't I seen Jackson these past few days?"
Sophia didn't know how to answer. "He went back to his hometown."
"Back to his hometown? Last time he told me you stay up too late, it's bad for your health. He said when he went back home, he'd bring you a free-range chicken to make soup. I brought the chicken back. Did he forget? It's okay. You take it."
Sophia looked at the chicken on the ground. Suddenly felt a pang in her heart. "Thank you, Auntie."
Sophia silently went upstairs. The large house was terrifyingly quiet. She wasn't someone who talked much before. At home, she was also used to silence. But I always talked a lot, telling her about everyday things. Most of the time, she found it annoying. Now that voice was gone. Only then did she realize silence could also be a form of torture.
In a daze, she heard the front door open. Sophia instinctively stood up. "Jackson, you're back."
The words froze as they left her mouth. Quinn at the door also stood frozen, then turned her face and threw her backpack on the floor. "Mom, I'm hungry."
Sophia didn't feel like cooking now, so she took out her phone to order delivery.
After one bite of the delivered food, Quinn put down her chopsticks. "This is disgusting. Why isn't Dad back yet?"
Sophia knew she was picky about food, but didn't expect her to be this picky, planning to have the housekeeper come cook tomorrow. "Tonight, just eat this."
Quinn didn't touch her chopsticks again, turned and went to her room.
The next day, Quinn slept until late morning, instinctively shouting, "Dad, why didn't you wake me up?"
Only after speaking did she remember I was gone. Quinn suddenly fell silent, taking a bite of the steamed bun the housekeeper made. She spat it all out. "I want Dad's cooking. This tastes different from what Dad makes."
The living room suddenly went quiet. Sophia said nothing. Quinn also realized something and stopped making a fuss.
After a long while, Quinn's eyes reddened. "Mom, when is Dad coming back? Didn't you say he'd be back in a few days?"
That's right. Three days. From Sophia's experience, three days later I would reappear. Tomorrow was the third day after the surgery, so they just needed to wait one more day.
Sophia comforted her daughter. "Soon."
As the day approached, Sophia didn't feel happy. Instead, she grew restless. These three days, she felt more clearly than anyone my absence, and she couldn't do anything about it. Could only passively wait.
Finally the third day arrived. Eyes open, waiting until midnight, Sophia had no desire to sleep. Casually throwing on a coat, she went out. She had no destination. Just wanted to encounter some people. Among them might be me.
But from midnight until dawn, Sophia walked around near home and all the places I used to frequent. Didn't encounter anyone resembling me.
The panic in her heart grew. It clearly wasn't like this before. The previous two times I changed identities, I'd returned to her side very quickly. And as long as I appeared, no matter what appearance I took, Sophia would recognize me immediately.
Until the sun rose. Sophia was exhausted. She hesitantly went to the hospital.
Ethan Rivers was recovering very well. His face had begun to glow with health. He could get out of bed and walk around. Seeing Sophia, his eyes lit up. "Sophia, did you come to visit me?"
Sophia looked around distractedly. The hospital was very crowded. She was trying to identify who might be me, until Ethan tugged at her twice. She finally snapped back to attention, casually making small talk.
Suddenly, a figure resembling me appeared before her eyes. Sophia instinctively stood up and chased after them.
But Ethan grabbed her. He asked pitifully, "Sophia, why aren't you paying attention to me?"
Sophia decisively shook off his hand, calling out loudly, "Jackson?" She rushed over and grabbed the person's arm.
But the stranger, there for a checkup, was startled, shaking off her hand. "Who are you?"
Like a bucket of cold water dumped over her head. Sophia stood frozen in place, watching that person's retreating figure, constantly thinking. Where was he? Why wasn't he appearing anymore?
Beside her, Mrs. Rivers rushed over, scolding. "Little Sophia, what's gotten into you? Ethan just had surgery. Are you trying to hurt him?"
Ethan immediately said pitifully, "Mom, don't blame Sophia. She's just worried about my brother, not knowing where he's gone."
Mrs. Rivers' face darkened. "Who knows where he went? Something as important as surgery, and he didn't show his face. Good riddance if he died out there."
The moment those words left her mouth, Sophia's eyes reddened. "Shut up."
Mrs. Rivers was startled. She had never seen Sophia like this. "Did I say something wrong? From Ethan's surgery until now, has Jackson ever come out to show concern? He's a selfish, cold-hearted person. I shouldn't have given birth to him back then. Best if he never appears again in this life."
Sophia's expression grew even uglier. She clenched her fists tight, her voice low. "No, he'll definitely come back."
Her dazed appearance frightened even Mrs. Rivers, not understanding what was happening.
Returning home, Quinn immediately asked anxiously, "Is Dad back?"
Sophia paid no attention to her, walking straight ahead into my room. Only then did she discover the photo that had always sat on the bedside table now only had an empty frame. Inside, the only photo of us together had been torn to shreds. The fragments lay in the waste basket.
I'd done it before leaving.
Sophia's whole body suddenly trembled. As if understanding something, she crouched down and gathered all the fragments, her hands shaking as she tried to piece them back together. But no matter what, she couldn't make it whole again.
Deep into the night, Sophia lay on the floor of my room.
In a daze, as if seeing me again from that other world — the system was projecting images of Sophia before me.
Do you want to go back and see? the system asked.
As I hesitated, in spirit form appearing beside Sophia, she seemed to sense something. Sophia looked around. "Jackson, are you back?"
I didn't respond. In reality, even if I spoke now, Sophia couldn't hear me.
I just looked at her with some confusion. Not understanding why she was reacting so strongly. I thought after I died, Sophia would at most be slightly flustered. Once she had Ethan Rivers, she would very quickly forget everything beside Ethan. But these three days, she'd appeared beside Ethan very rarely.
The system asked me, Host, her favorability toward you has now reached one hundred percent. As long as you appear before her, you'll immediately complete the mission. Do you still want to change mission targets?
In the darkness, Sophia's voice was low. "I regret it."
She laughed bitterly at herself, her voice choked. "I regret it. I truly regret it. Can you come back?"
Only silence answered her.
After a long while, I spoke. "Change."
I could no longer trust Sophia. Moreover, the wounds I'd suffered wouldn't disappear. Neither would the pain in my heart. Sophia had no right to be forgiven.
A white light flashed. I knew I was about to be reborn. Without a trace of attachment, I closed my eyes.