When my mom got divorced, she gave up every single penny of her share of the assets just to win custody of me—a girl suffering from severe anterograde amnesia. She used to hold me tight and whisper, “Amber, even if your memory only lasts twenty-four hours, I will spend the rest of my life being your sticky note.” To pay for my medical bills, she worked two exhausting jobs, aging herself into an early grave, until we both ended up dead in that cramped, suffocating rented apartment. But then, I opened my eyes again. We were back to the exact day of the divorce, back to the moment they were deciding who got which child. My heart surged with pure joy. I thought I could finally give her a beautiful surprise with my fully recovered memory. But before I could even open my mouth, she pointed her finger right at my nose, her eyes filled with nothing but cold disgust. “Robert, you take Amber. Leo stays with me.” “I’m not ruining my life dragging a brain-damaged liability around.” At that very second, the freezing truth hit me. I wasn’t the only one who had been reborn.
Robert’s brows furrowed in annoyance. “Watch your mouth! The kid is standing right there!” Sarah rubbed her temples exhaustedly, throwing me a sideways glance. “Does it even matter? She won’t remember a single thing tomorrow anyway.” I froze. This habit of rubbing her temples—she only started doing that *after* the divorce in our past life. Back then, she had to work two jobs to afford my medical bills. Whenever she was running on zero sleep, she would rub her temples to force herself to stay awake. So, Sarah had traveled back in time too. And she had already made up her mind to throw me away. A wave of intense hurt rushed over me. I couldn’t help but burst out: “How do you know I won’t remember? Actually, I—” Before I could finish, Sarah’s eyes turned bloodshot. She lunged forward and slapped me across the face. “How do I know? Because every single morning, I’m the one who has to tell you what day it is! What you need to do! What happened to you!” “One year, two years, ten years… you can’t go to school, you can’t get a job, you never make any progress!” “I’ve been sick to death of you for a long time! Honestly, even if you weren’t sick, I wouldn’t want you anymore!” The burning pain on my cheek cleared my head. Suddenly, a flood of details I had long forgotten rushed back into my mind. In the beginning of our past life, Sarah really was a saint to me. She would cover my headboard with colorful sticky notes, never getting tired of answering the exact same questions twenty times a day. Every time she got her paycheck, she would take me straight to the hospital. Within six months, we had visited almost every famous specialist in the state. But every doctor said the same depressing thing. “Cases of this type are extremely rare. We can only offer conservative treatment.” “As for recovery? It’s hard to say. You should probably prepare yourself for the fact that she might never recover.” As the diagnoses grew bleaker, the light in Sarah’s eyes slowly died. Robert didn’t want me either, but he was clearly freaked out by Sarah’s sudden hysteria. “Why the hell did you hit her? Amber is a teenage girl now, is it even appropriate for her to live with me?!” “And I’m way too busy with work! How am I supposed to look after her?!” I grabbed Robert’s arm, tears streaming down my face. “Dad, I promise I’ll take care of myself.” “I’ll write everything down in a notebook so I won’t bother you. Please, just choose me.” At that moment, the look in Sarah’s eyes turned incredibly bitter. “Ha. I’m the one who worked myself to death raising you, and now you’re playing the devoted daughter with him? What an ungrateful little leech.” “Fine. You want to stay with your dad? Go ahead. He’s all yours!” I held onto Robert’s arm, lowering my head to hide my devastating grief. *That’s not it, Mom. It’s just that this time, I don’t want to be the anchor that drags you down to the bottom of the ocean.* She was beautiful. After the divorce in our past life, she had tried dating. But whenever a man came over and saw my condition, they would give her a polite, awkward look. “Sarah, let’s be real. Your daughter is a bottomless money pit. Marrying you means feeding two mouths forever. No sane guy is going to sign up for that.” That night was the first time Sarah ever laid a hand on me. “You’re a curse! You ruined the only chance of happiness I had left!” “If I had known, I would have never been soft-hearted enough to take you! My life is miserable because of you!” So, in this new life, I wanted to let her have her freedom. Robert stayed silent for a long time. In the end, Sarah traded her entire share of the house and the car just to get him to agree. “Fine,” Robert said. “Since you’re leaving me the house and the car, I’ll count that as child support for taking this girl off your hands.” They signed the divorce agreement incredibly fast, as if Sarah was terrified I would change my mind and cling to her if she delayed by even a second. Sarah immediately started looking for a cheap apartment, saying she would move out with Leo the second she found one. Even though we were still living under the same roof for those few days, she treated me like literal air. She cooked slow-roasted BBQ ribs for Leo, and the savory aroma filled the entire house. Robert had “forgotten” to leave me lunch money multiple times. Smelling the food, my stomach cramped painfully from hunger. I couldn’t help but creep over to her. “Mom… can I have some?” She didn’t even look up as she wiped the kitchen counter. “You don’t have a mom starting today. Better get used to it now.”
The moment the front door slammed shut, I heard Leo’s whiny voice echoing in the hallway: “Mom, I want Ben & Jerry’s!” Sarah’s voice was so sweet it could drip honey. “Of course, sweetie. Mom will take you to get some right now.” I slid down against the wall, clutching my starving, aching stomach, and let my tears finally spill over. From that day on, I had to teach myself how to cook. My hands were constantly covered in painful blisters from hot oil splatters. Meanwhile, Sarah enrolled Leo in multiple expensive after-school clubs, driving him back and forth every single day. I stayed at Robert’s house, doing his laundry, cleaning his room. But whenever I brought up going back to school, Robert would just sneer. “With that goldfish brain of yours? Why waste the money? Don’t worry, your dad has a better plan for you.” A few evenings later, he came home with a man and his teenage son. He dragged the boy—who was visibly obese and looked mentally challenged—right up to me. “Amber, meet Toby. You two are going to be best friends from now on.” Toby’s dad scanned me up and down like he was inspecting a piece of meat at a grocery store. “She looks decent. A bit skinny, though. I wonder if she’s got good hips for breeding.” “Our family wants a boy and a girl. If she doesn’t give us a boy first, she’ll have to keep trying.” Robert laughed, patting my shoulder. “She’s still young, right? Give her a few years to fill out, and she’ll look great.” Toby, whose eyes were completely vacant, looked around the room. Suddenly, he grabbed my hand and tried to shove my fingers into his mouth. “What is the meaning of this, Dad?!” I screamed, shaking Toby off in terror. Robert shoved me hard. “Why are you yelling?! Don’t scare Toby!” “You’re a girl with a broken brain. You think a normal family like ours can support you forever?” “Mr. Miller here is looking for a child bride who can take care of Toby. If you two get together, I won’t have to worry about your future anymore.” I couldn’t believe my ears. Panic-stricken, I turned to look at Sarah, who was packing her last box in the living room. Her face tightened slightly. “Are you insane, Robert? She’s only fourteen! You’re selling your own daughter?” Robert raised his voice defensively. “You’re the one abandoning her! You have no right to lecture me!” “And who’s selling her? In some countries, girls her age are already promised to families. I’m doing her a favor.” Sarah opened her mouth to argue, but Mr. Miller spoke up in a slow, casual tone. “Well, we don’t just take anyone. I used my connections to get Amber a discretionary enrollment at Oakwood High. If you guys agree, she starts classes with Toby tomorrow.” “If Toby is happy with her, the promised twenty-thousand-dollar payout will be transferred to you immediately.” Like a drowning person reaching for a lifeline, I grabbed Sarah’s sleeve. But she hesitated for a second, then coldly pried my fingers off. “I want half of that money. Wire ten thousand to my account.” The Millers left shortly after. My blood ran ice-cold. I could only force my numb throat to make a sound. “Dad, Mom, please listen to me. My illness is gone. I’m cured.” “I remember eating bagels yesterday morning, instant noodles last night, and the day before, we watched *Gossip Girl* on TV.” “I’m normal now. Please, don’t do this to me.” Both of them looked genuinely shocked. But then Leo chimed in from the couch. “What about Monday? Do you remember what you told me on Monday, Amber?” I froze. I had traveled back in time just two days ago. Of course I had no memory of what happened on Monday. Robert’s expression returned to its usual coldness, and Sarah let out a sharp sneer. “Good thing Leo is smart. You just kept a notebook for two days and thought you could fool me?” “It’s not like they’re forcing you to get married tomorrow. Stop being so dramatic! Didn’t you say you wanted to go to school? Now you have the chance, so shut up and take it!” I shook my head violently, dropping straight to my knees. “No, please. Just take me to the hospital for a check-up, you’ll see!” “I’m really cured! I can go to school, get a job, and take care of you guys! I don’t need to be sold to Toby!” Leo yawned, looking bored. “Mom, she’s so loud. I’m sleepy. Come read me a story.” “I got an A on my spelling test today. Can we get ice cream after school tomorrow as a reward?” Sarah didn’t want to waste another second on me. She picked Leo up with a glowing smile. “Of course, my perfect boy. Mom will buy you whatever you want.” As they walked past me, I tried to grab her hem, but she kicked my hand away. I kept frantically trying to prove to Robert that I was sane, but he grabbed me by the collar and threw me into my dark bedroom. “Enough. If you still remember all this tomorrow morning, we’ll talk.” That night, I hugged my knees in the dark, crying until I threw up.
The next morning, before the sun even rose, I was already waiting in the living room. If I could prove I had my memory, if I could prove I was normal, maybe I could escape this living hell. Even if there was only a one-in-a-million chance. The moment I heard Robert’s bedroom door click open, I lunged forward. “Mr. Miller came yesterday! He offered a twenty-thousand-dollar payout! Leo ate chips, and Mom promised him ice cream!” “Look! I remember everything perfectly! Doesn’t this prove I’m cured?” Robert gasped and turned to Sarah. A flash of surprise crossed Sarah’s face, but she quickly masked it with a scowl. “Look at your bloodshot eyes. You stayed awake all night on purpose, didn’t you?” In our past life, Sarah and I had realized that if I didn’t sleep at night, there was a small chance I could retain the previous day’s memories. Now, she was using that exact piece of knowledge as a weapon against me. The Millers’ car was already waiting outside. My parents grabbed my arms and pushed me out the door. Tears streaming down my face, I clawed at the doorframe, refusing to let go. Sarah sighed, kneeling down to stroke my hair. “Just go to school for a few days. Getting an education isn’t a bad thing.” “Once your dad and I are done with the paperwork, we’ll take you to the hospital. If you really are cured, we’ll figure something else out, okay?” Her eyes suddenly looked so gentle, just like they used to. I instinctively reached out my pinky finger to lock promises with her. But the next second, Leo called out to her, and she immediately shoved me aside. “The milk on the table is getting cold, sweetie! Let Mom warm it up for you!” Robert took the opportunity to grab my wrists, dragging me out to the car like a criminal. The moment I walked into the classroom with Toby, I felt the hostile, mocking stares of everyone around us. Sure enough, the second the teacher stepped out, a group of boys sneered and crowded around my desk. “Hey, are you the retard’s child bride? Do you guys sleep in the same bed at night?” “Does the retard even know how to do it? Want us to teach you?” The entire classroom erupted into loud laughter. I swallowed my disgust, keeping my eyes glued to my desk, my voice trembling. “I’m not. Stop lying.” The ringleader mocked my voice in a high-pitched squeal, then turned to slap Toby on the back of his head. “Hey, Toby! Tell us, is she your girl?” Toby nodded droolingly, a dumb grin on his face. “Daddy said she’s mine. I get to kiss her.” The laughter grew deafening. I covered my ears and buried my head in my arms. *Just endure it,* I told myself. *Just a little longer.* I played dead until the final bell rang, and I was the very first one to bolt out of the school. Sarah was waiting at the school gate to pick up Leo. I threw my arms around her. “Mom, the kids in my class are going to hurt me. I’m scared. Please take me home with you!” Her voice was ice-cold. “Picking you up is your father’s job. My scooter can’t fit three people anyway.” “Besides, bullies don’t pick on kids for no reason. If they don’t like you, maybe you should look at your own behavior.” Leo started whining for ice cream again. Sarah didn’t listen to another word. She started the scooter and zoomed away, leaving me in the dust. Before I could even take a step, several hands grabbed me from behind, dragging me into a blind alley with no security cameras. I screamed “Mom! Mom!” over and over, but I knew she couldn’t hear me. One of the boys locked his arm around Toby’s neck, pushing him within inches of my face, while others pulled out their phones to record. “Here comes the retard’s wife! Let’s watch them make out!” Hands began pushing the back of my head, trying to force my face against his. I fought back with everything I had. “If you do this, I’ll tell the principal! I’ll call the cops!” The leader laughed even louder, squeezing Toby’s shoulder. “Are we bullying you? Aren’t we all just good friends playing a game?” Hearing the word “friends,” Toby grinned widely. “Yeah! Friends! Playing games!” They shoved Toby forward. Like an animal, he started licking my face wildly, his sticky spit smeared all over my cheeks. The smell and texture made me gag instantly. The crowd grew wild with excitement, shouting at Toby to rip my clothes off. Toby didn’t understand what he was doing; he just knew that doing this made everyone laugh. He pulled at my clothes with brute force. Within minutes, I was stripped down to my underwear, with dirty hands touching me everywhere. When you’re in absolute despair, your body just shivers. You can’t even make a sound. Just when I thought my life was completely over, a sharp scream echoed from the entrance of the alley. “What are you doing to Amber?! Stop right now!”
It was my homeroom teacher. She had overheard some students talking about the “prank” on her way out of school and had rushed over to stop it. It was only when she took me into the girls’ bathroom to check my bruises that I finally let out a loud, gut-wrenching sob. She patted my head gently. “I’m going to call your parents right now. Don’t worry, they will be severely punished.” She called Robert first. But before she could even explain, Robert snapped that he was busy working overtime and hung up. So she called Sarah. The moment she said, “Amber was assaulted at school,” Sarah replied in a completely uncaring tone: “Are her bones broken? She’s a special-needs kid; it’s normal for her to be isolated.” “It’s fine, teacher. Amber will forget everything by tomorrow anyway. She won’t cause any trouble for the school.” The teacher gasped, completely furious. “This is a young girl’s safety and dignity! How can you be so irresponsible as a mother?!” “If you don’t come down here right now, I am calling the police and having them bring you in!” Half an hour later, Sarah finally showed up at the office. The boys hadn’t had time to delete the video before the teacher snatched their phones. With undeniable proof, every single one of them was suspended. Mr. Miller, fearing legal trouble, immediately wanted to cut all ties with our family to protect his son. To protect me, the principal offered to transfer me to a different class. On the way home, I walked with a heavy limp behind Sarah. She suddenly stopped and turned around, looking extremely annoyed. “What are you crying for? The doctor said they’re just minor scratches.” “You got into a prestigious school, and you don’t have to marry Toby anymore. Isn’t this a blessing in disguise?” “Tomorrow, your dad and I will finish the divorce paperwork. I’ll move out with Leo, so you’d better start looking out for yourself.” My body was in agonizing pain, but my heart was breaking even more. I thought I was just switching parents. Why did it have to be this cruel? Did she really not love me at all anymore? I looked up, staring directly into her cold eyes. “Mom, is it because you think my illness makes me a burden? Is that why you don’t want me?” She pursed her lips, staying silent. I clenched my fists, a fire burning hot in my chest. “But I’m really, completely cured.” “In our last life, I was supposed to die in that rental apartment because of brain atrophy. But the moment I woke up here, I remembered everything.” “I know you came back from the future too. I recognize all your expressions, all your habits.” The coldness in Sarah’s eyes flickered for a fraction of a second, but she quickly turned her face away. “You’re insane. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Tears streamed down my face. “I know how hard it was for you in our past life, Mom. That’s why I was going to let you go.” “But I don’t want to live with Robert. What if he tries to sell me again?” “Mom, I love you so much. I just want to be with you. Didn’t you always say that as long as you had me, it was enough?” During our poorest days, we lived in a damp basement, sharing a single pack of instant noodles. She would put the noodles in my bowl, and I would feed her the first bite. She would hold me tight, laughing, “Amber is such a good girl. You are Mom’s favorite person in the world.” At the mention of our past, Sarah’s body shivered slightly. Her eyes welled up with tears, and her warm palm instinctively covered the back of my hand. Hope flared in my chest. I gripped her hand tightly. I was just about to warn her about how Leo’s gambling would eventually ruin Robert and drive our family to ruin. But in the next second, she violently shook my hand off, pushing me away with immense force. “Enough!”
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