I was in a coma for three years after the car accident. When I finally woke, my family cried with relief. Their attentiveness was almost too perfect. Beneath the devotion, something felt wrong. There were men’s clothes in the house that didn’t fit me. Baby items I didn’t recognize kept appearing in my mother-in-law Susan’s shopping cart. My father-in-law David got a congratulatory text from a friend about “a newborn.” And Serena, my wife, was always working late. The night Serena left for another “business trip,” I followed her. In a warmly lit house, my in-laws and Serena sat around a table. A man who looked almost exactly like me was holding a child, gently urging them to call my wife “Mommy.” Under the soft, warm light, the man held the child beside my wife-a portrait of a happy family. My in-laws watched them, their eyes full of tenderness. “We should start planning Leo’s birthday party, Dylan. You’ve both been through so much.” Dylan hesitated. “A birthday party…are you sure that’s safe?” Susan reached over and gently squeezed his hand. “You’ve suffered enough, dear. If Julian hadn’t woken up, you wouldn’t be living like this-always in hiding.” “We’ll keep it quiet. We’re giving Leo a party. Even if we have to hide it from Julian!” My wife, Serena, also gently took his arm. “She’s right.” Watching their picture-perfect family scene from outside the window, I felt a chilling cold spread through my entire body. I’d been in a coma for three years due to a car accident, waking up just a month ago. They had all been overjoyed. A few days earlier, I’d been discharged and moved back home, only to find my bedroom completely redecorated. Even my closet contained many clothes that weren’t my size or style. Susan had explained then, “Mike came to stay for a bit, said he missed you and wanted to help take care of you. We agreed.” Mike was my best friend since childhood, so I didn’t question it. But when I walked into my in-laws’ bedroom later that night, intending to share some heartfelt words, I saw them holding tiny baby clothes and toys, laughing about something. Seeing me, their faces instantly changed. They quickly shoved everything behind their backs. Before I could say anything, David sternly barked, “Why did you come in without knocking?” I froze. My in-laws always treated me like their own son. They’d never asked me to knock before. In fact, they used to scold me if I did, saying, “Why are you treating us like strangers?” Now, their faces were clouded with anger, their tone accusatory. They quickly caught themselves, and Susan rushed off the bed to pull me closer. “We just… haven’t gotten used to things yet.” I forced a smile, pushing down the strange feeling in my chest. But I lost all desire to chat and went back to my bedroom. Serena was taking a shower, but I couldn’t understand why she’d been in there for over an hour. She used to take ten-minute showers, tops. I waited on the couch. Serena finally emerged from the bathroom, phone in hand, a sweet smile still lingering on her face. That smile. I knew it better than anyone. It used to be my favorite. I couldn’t help but ask, “What’s making you so happy?” She snapped back to reality, and her smile instantly faded. As if afraid I’d check her phone, she immediately turned off the screen and tossed it aside. Then she affectionately hugged me, but I noticed a red mark on her neck. “Mosquitoes? This time of year?” I asked, feigning confusion. Serena’s face was a mask of bewilderment. Just as the atmosphere grew awkward, her phone suddenly rang. I saw a photo of a man, almost identical to me, fill her screen as the caller ID.
I waited for Serena to explain, a knot forming in my stomach. But she didn’t bat an eye, simply smiling. “Honey, have you forgotten your own photo?” With that, she gave me a quick hug, then turned and walked out to answer the call. I might have been in a coma for three years, but I wasn’t brain-dead for three years. I distinctly remembered never taking a photo like that. Serena was lying to me! She returned quickly. “Something came up at the office. I need to go out. Don’t wait up for me, just go to sleep.” Without even looking at my face, she grabbed her coat and rushed out the door. The old Serena always said, “I earn money so my husband can relax. I’d never choose work over spending time with my husband, right?” She had never stayed out all night before. But for the next two days, she didn’t come home at all. However, during those two days, my former mentor, who had always highly regarded me, was thrilled to hear I was awake. But she was concerned about my health and urged me to go for further tests at a specialized clinic overseas, where her top student worked. I agreed to my mentor’s suggestion, deciding to go abroad after my in-laws hosted a welcome dinner for me. As soon as I got home, Serena, who I hadn’t seen for two days, was already there, seemingly preparing to leave again. She paused when she saw me. “I heard you’re going overseas.” “I just came back to tell you about-” But before I could finish, she impatiently cut me off. “Okay, company emergency. I have to go.” She was in such a hurry to leave that I didn’t press further. But the questions in my heart grew heavier. Was she really that busy? I followed her, and that’s when I saw the cozy scene, the family so joyfully together. My numb fingers stirred. I raised my phone and discreetly recorded the entire interaction. Back home, I tortured myself, watching the video over and over again. It became clear. Someone had taken my place during my years of unconsciousness. What was the point of me even waking up? Soon after, a soft click. The door opened, and my wife rushed back, a smile on her face. “On the way back, I saw your favorite bakery was open. I bought you a lobster roll.” She hugged me, the strong, unfamiliar scent of another man on her making me want to vomit. I pushed her away, forcing a strained smile. “I’m allergic to lobster. Did you forget?” I watched her freeze. I knew it. My place had been taken, and with it, my wife’s memories of me had been replaced. “Why are you still here? The party’s about to start, we need to hurry!” Just as Serena, flustered, tried to explain, Susan’s voice rang out. She walked towards me, holding a suit. “Here, put this on. I had it custom-made. It’ll look perfect on you.” I looked up, and it hit me like a lightning bolt! I had just seen that exact suit on Dylan a little while ago. I clenched my fists, asking softly, “Are you sure this is for me?” Susan nodded, quickly ushering me into the walk-in closet and gesturing for me to change. I chuckled to myself bitterly, then walked out, the buttons of the suit gaping. “Why have you gotten so fat?” Serena frowned. I didn’t explain, just looked at Susan. Only then did she realize I was much taller and broader than Dylan. She looked mortified, quickly arranging for another suit to be sent over. “Oh, my memory! I completely forgot your size. I’ll have someone buy you more clothes tomorrow.” “Our Julian is getting handsomer every day.” The tenderness in her eyes was unmistakable, but I pulled my hand away from her grasp. Susan, Susan, are you truly praising me, or the imposter out there?
At my party, I saw my childhood best friend, Mike. He walked towards me. My smile hadn’t even fully formed when I heard him instinctively call out, “Dylan…” I froze, my outstretched hand suspended in mid-air. He didn’t realize his mistake until another person appeared- Dylan. He was also at the party. Mike blinked, looking from me to him, then quickly dropped my hand as if it were a burning hot potato, his face flushed with embarrassment. “Julian… congratulations, congratulations on waking up.” I tried to swallow the disappointment clutching my heart, looking up towards Dylan. He saw me too, an eyebrow raising, his eyes filled with open defiance. My former friends quickly gathered around him. I was left completely isolated. The next second, Serena appeared. My in-laws hooked their arms through mine, their voices tinged with annoyance. “Why did you let him come? Serena, get him out of here.” Dylan looked at them in disbelief, then was quickly pulled away by a grim-faced Serena. I caught my in-laws’ probing glances, but I wasn’t in the mood to deal with them. In front of me, they were putting on a show of disliking Dylan. If I hadn’t witnessed that warm family scene earlier, I might have believed them. I made an excuse and left, following them. “You barely finished Leo’s birthday party, and now you’re rushing to throw Julian a welcome dinner. The celebration banner is still hanging right over there. What will people think of me if you keep this up?” The man’s bitter voice carried into the hall. I stood outside the door, my blood turning to ice. My eyes swept the room-and there, in the corner, still hung the bright, untouched banner from Leo’s celebration. My welcome party was almost seamlessly connected to their child’s birthday celebration? What did they take me for? I finally understood why Serena hadn’t come home for the past two days-it was for this birthday party. I tightened my grip on the doorknob. Dylan’s face was full of injustice, but Serena offered no comfort. “I told you not to let Julian find out about you!” “He just woke up. If he gets distressed and something happens to him, I swear I’ll never forgive you!” Serena’s tone was incredibly harsh. Dylan looked even more wronged. “I know I’m supposed to stay in the shadows. I’ll be more careful from now on.” Hearing his tone soften, Serena sighed lightly. “Just make sure you understand your place.” But the next second, the sound of them kissing filled the air… A sudden wave of nausea washed over me, and a feeling of profound betrayal tore my heart to shreds! I roughly wiped my face, but as I turned to leave, I met Dylan’s triumphant gaze. My mind reeled, and I wasn’t watching my step. I tripped over a plastic toy ball and fell hard to the ground! I landed with a thud. The sounds from inside ceased. I lay on the ground, my ankle twisted so badly it felt like it had snapped. The pain was so intense I nearly passed out. “Julian!” Serena stumbled out, clothes askew, then spun back to hiss into the dark room. “Don’t come out!” She helped me up, her face a mask of panic and helpless guilt at being seen. For some reason, I needed to hear her say it. “I…I just came to use the bathroom. I…I must have fainted.” Serena’s shoulders relaxed visibly. “What are you even doing here?” When I asked her the same, she just shook her head dismissively. “I was looking for something. Don’t move. I’ll take you to the hospital.” As her lies settled between us, my grip on her wrist slowly went slack.
My ankle was badly twisted. Serena’s eyes were red, and she kept repeating “I’m sorry.” Her body trembled, her voice shaking. “I’m so sorry, Julian, I didn’t take good care of you… I’m awful…” I gently pushed her away, my voice flat. “Why was there an unput-away plastic ball there?” Serena’s voice caught in her throat. Of course, she knew why. Those were the toys she had prepared for her son’s birthday party. She hadn’t figured out how to explain yet. Just then, her phone rang. Dylan’s photo, as usual, flashed across the screen with the ringtone. A man’s voice, feigning urgency, came from the other end. “Leo has a fever, Serena. Can you come with me to take him to the hospital, please?” Serena instinctively looked up at me. Her face was conflicted, but in the end, she chose to abandon me. “Something urgent came up at the office. I’ll be back soon, honey. Wait for me.” With that, she didn’t wait for my reaction and bolted out. At the same time, I received a friend request. It was Dylan. I accepted, and he immediately sent a message. “Serena still chose me, didn’t she? If you’re smart, you’ll just get lost and stop being an eyesore to our family!” I didn’t reply. Instead, I clicked on his Ins profile. The latest video featured Susan. She was kneeling before a wall adorned with religious icons, devoutly praying for Dylan’s safety. Dylan held the phone, recording, his voice triumphant. “You said you’d give anything for my safety. Would you even sacrifice Julian’s safety for mine?” Susan smiled, playfully scolding him. “What are you saying? Of course, I would.” At that, my hand went slack, and my phone clattered to the floor, its screen shattering into a spiderweb of cracks. I shakily picked up the phone, only then noticing. Dylan was wearing the very good luck charm Susan had once sought out for me. I saved everything, the despair in my heart deepening with every passing second. I suddenly couldn’t find any meaning in my existence. My in-laws pushed open the door and saw this scene. My eyes bloodshot, I looked at Susan, on the verge of breaking down. “Mom, do you truly see me as your son-in-law?” “Are you hoping I just drop dead?!” Susan stared at me, aghast. The next second, a clear red handprint bloomed on my face. David’s eyes bulged with rage. “Your mother is so worried about you! How can you speak to her like that? You’re truly no match for Dylan…” He suddenly cut himself off, a look of pure regret on his face. I laughed out loud, tears streaming down my face with the laughter. The hospital room fell silent. That suffocating silence persisted until I was discharged and went home. David’s friend was waiting at the door, holding a gift. Seeing us, he stepped forward, smiling. “Congratulations, Mr. Quinn. I couldn’t make it to the birthday party the other day-” He didn’t get to finish. David’s expression tightened as he looked at me. Soon after, Susan pulled me into a side room. “You’re just out of the hospital. You should be resting.” Her words came quickly, and she left almost immediately. They were afraid I would discover the truth. I already had. I pulled out my phone and opened the latest video Dylan had sent. Serena kissing his son. My heart went cold. I turned toward the window and called Serena. “Serena, you once said you wanted to settle overseas with me. If I asked you now to pack everything and start fresh with me…would you still go?” It was loud on her end. Her voice came through faint, but I heard the refusal clearly. Serena’s voice was a bit muffled, but I still caught her refusal. “Why fix what isn’t broken? Let’s not talk about moving abroad.” My hand tightened around the phone. That was the moment my heart closed to her for good. “Serena, how about I give you a gift you’ll never forget?”
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