Chapter 7

“Oh, Zee… What’s the matter? Did Henry bully you? I’ll go over to the Pelhams tomorrow and demand an explanation!” My mother was startled to see me crying and quickly sat down on the bed to hug me. “Mom, Henry didn’t bully me. I was just touched because you’re so nice to me.” I sobbed as I hugged my mother’s waist. Henry did not bully me in my previous life. I only became that way as a result of my wishful thinking. He was open about his philandering, and I was just his foolish admirer. My mother gently patted my back and sighed deeply. I was her only child, and she knew me best. How could she not understand my grievances throughout my marriage to Henry? I did not cry often and would not shed tears if I didn’t have any grievances. My mother asked, “Do you still want to eat the cookie?” “Yes! "I miss your baking..." I choked up and wiped away my tears before getting out of bed and walking downstairs with my mother, arm in arm. My father was already asleep, so it was just me and my mother sitting and chatting in the dining room. The chocolate chip skillet cookie was delicious, and I ate half of it in one sitting. I developed an eating disorder and could not eat much in the last few years. Thus, I felt bloated and nearly puked after eating so much. My mother patted me on the back. “Why did you eat so much? You won’t be able to sleep if your stomach is bloated.” “I was really hungry.” I chuckled. The last time I felt so happy eating was during my graduation dinner with Krystal and the girls. After graduation, I married Henry and began my miserable, resentful life. “Even if you are hungry, you should still eat slowly. Don’t stuff yourself,” my mother said in a soft voice. I nuzzled her arm. “Mom, will you sleep with me tonight? I want to know more about your health regimen!” My mother agreed without even thinking about it. I awoke the next day feeling lighter than ever, having been well-fed and rested. I left for the hospital after having breakfast at home. Zachary was playing with his phone. He had no broken bones, but he needed stitches to close the wounds. Thus, he could not simply move because his leg was wrapped in thick gauze. “What brings you here?” Zachary was surprised and embarrassed when he saw me. “Actually, you don’t have to be so concerned about me or visit me so often.” ‘Of course I do!’ I thought to myself. I smiled and turned to face Lee. “Bring the things in.” Lee carried a bag of nutritional supplements and placed it next to Zachary’s hospital bed. Zachary was shocked to see all these and looked a little embarrassed. “It’s just a skin abrasion, so It’s not that serious.” “Well, skin abrasion should also be taken seriously.” I smiled as I sat beside the hospital bed. “By the way, I still don’t know your name,” Zachary suddenly said. “My name is Zena Sudbury,” I answered calmly. Zachary nodded. “Hi, Zena.” I spoke with Zachary in the ward and discovered that his thinking was quite naive. Zachary was a junior majoring in civil engineering. He was a hardworking student who also worked part-time during the summer. Our conversation quickly shifted to his lovely girlfriend. His ambition was to get a good job after graduation and marry the love of his life. I sneered but quickly stopped myself when I realized my gaffe. Zachary asked hesitantly, “Zena, what are you laughing at?” I awkwardly rubbed the tip of my nose and said softly, “It’s nothing... Talking to you brings back memories of my college days. Those were some of my favorite memories..." “Which university did you attend?” Zachary was curious. I gave him a long, hard look. “University of Avonopolis.” In that regard, Henry and I were considered Laurel and Zachary’s seniors. Zachary was surprised and exclaimed, “You are an alumnus of my university!” I pretended to be stunned. “Yeah! What a coincidence, huh?” There were several universities in Avonopolis. The University of Avonopolis was ranked among the top three universities in the country. Students there were either intelligent or from wealthy families. Graduates of the University of Avonopolis had a bright future and were mostly well-off. Zachary’s dream would most likely have come true if Laurel had not met Henry. Zachary and I talked about college. He was a talker, and I could hold a decent conversation with him. We were chatting happily when a clear and sweet voice interrupted us. “Zach, I’m here to see you!” Hearing these words brought back memories of Henry’s unique ringtone from my previous life. It was the same tone and voice. I turned around to see Laurel standing at the door. She was wearing a white chiffon dress, with her jet-black hair falling loose over her shoulders. Her hair was naturally curled at the ends, giving her a lovely and feminine appearance. I was not envious of her beauty, but seeing how young she looked at only 20 years old made me bitter. When I was 20, I had been secretly in love with Henry for three years. My best years were spent caught up in an unrequited love that would eventually kill me. Why was it that Laurel received Henry's undying love at the same age that I had to hide my feelings for Henry in my diary? “Laurie!” Zachary was overjoyed to see Laurel, but he immediately felt guilty. "If I had known you were coming, I wouldn’t have told you about my hospitalization. I didn’t want you to worry.” Laurel walked over with the fruit basket she had bought, looking like a beautiful swan. “Silly, why didn’t you tell me you were hurt yesterday?” I stood up and gave Laurel the only chair. I kept my cool. What’s a mere chair when I had to give up Henry to her? “It’s you!” Laurel recognized me and looked at me with surprise. “Why are you here?” ‘Because I bumped into your beloved boyfriend,’ I thought to myself. I smiled awkwardly. “Sorry, I accidentally knocked Zach over, so I came to see if he’s feeling better.” Laurel looked at me, then at Zachary. She did not blame either of us and simply laughed. “It must be fate! Zach, this lady has been coming to the cafe lately. She’s a very nice person, so she must have bumped into you by accident.” Her compassion left me speechless. If it had been someone else, it might have been an accident, but I purposefully knocked Zachary over. “I know. Zena didn’t mean to hit me. She even compensated me for more than I should’ve received. I feel ashamed.” Zachary embarrassedly scratched his head. “That won’t do! You should only accept standard compensation.” Laurel immediately took out her phone. “Zena, what’s your account number? I’ll refund you the extra money.” Henry was probably drawn to her demeanor of treating money as if it were nothing. This girl was pure and uncorrupted by money. I had to give it to her for making me feel worthless despite the fact that I only wore high-end brands.