Her Choice, My Freedom

t was to completely and utterly detach from the black hole that was her existence. I focused on my studies with a singular intensity. I aced my final

taken a side, and most of them were on Sarah's. She p

ts to celebrate my acceptance. We were sitting at a small table, my mom beaming w

n walked Sarah, with Chloe flan

ah's eyes narrowed, and she

r voice loud enough for the entire coffee

ly. "Sarah, this is a

ocusing on me. "I heard you got into that fancy school. Must be nice. Leavin

e starting to stare.

om said, her voice tight.

. "He's worked very hard at being a heartless jerk. Aban

ittle. A tear welled up in her eye, but didn't fall. "I just don't und

older woman shake her head in disapproval, looking directly at me. I was trapped, publicly s

sk of indifference. My lack of reaction seemed to

opened again. This

ace that didn't reach his cold eyes. He sized up the scene in a

wrapping a protective arm around Sarah'

leaning into him. "He'

my parents. "You need to learn some manners," he said to m

" my dad said, putting

g our way. "I don't think so. I t

stumbled back, knocking into our table. Coffee cups

But I remembered my last life. I remembered the war

s, Mark," I said, ke

"Oh, I thi

peed and grabbed my mother's arm. He yanked her for

rled, the calm faca

ightening on my mom's arm. She winced in pain. Th

even Sarah looked a little shocke

ying my fury, my helplessness. This was his powe

illing clarity. This wasn't just about Sarah. This was about

age. "You only feel strong when you're hurting people wh

shoved my mom away-she stumbled into my da

floor. Stars burst behind my eyes. He stood over me, ready to kick,

leg back, a sound c

si

One siren became two. Red and blue lights flashed through

iformed officers stormed in, fo

commanded, his voice booming with author