Everyone in the military base housing envied me. I was the "slow" girl, yet I was going to be the wife of Captain Liam Hayes. But they didn't know that when I was eight years old, I took a hit meant for him. That incident nearly cost me my life, and it permanently froze my mental development at that age. Knowing he owed me an unpayable debt, Liam promised to marry me. He promised to treat me well for the rest of his life. And for a long time, he actually did. While the other officers' wives were elegant, sophisticated, and perfectly poised, Liam never found me embarrassing. He never minded how slow or clumsy I was. Once, during a devastating flash flood, he even gave up his spot on the rescue chopper for me. Until... Mia showed up. Her arrival made Liam’s trips home fewer and farther between. Even the little boy we had adopted together started saying: "I wish Auntie Mia was my mom. I don't want a stupid girl for a mother!" Before I even had time to process the heartbreak, I was sent away to a rundown cabin in the country, where I died alone in the freezing drafts. When I opened my eyes again, I was unexpectedly back on the exact day Liam was supposed to fulfill his childhood promise. But this time, I didn't want his guilt. And I didn't want to marry him anymore. I didn't understand why, but I should have been dead. Dead in that dilapidated, freezing cabin. But when I opened my eyes, I saw Liam, standing tall and handsome in his crisp military uniform. He asked me gently, "Ellie, let me take care of you forever, okay?" I lowered my eyes, knowing this meant we would spend the rest of our lives together. Because the last time he asked, I agreed, and not long after, I put on a white wedding dress. Honestly, marrying Liam was something I used to be thrilled about. It had been my birthday wish every single year since I was eight. But my head was spinning. It felt like I had just woken up from a vivid, identical dream. In that dream, Liam said the exact same thing. Then he married me, but shortly after our wedding, he regretted it. The very last time I saw him in that dream, I was crying, clutching his hand, begging him not to throw me away. He coldly shook me off. His voice was so tired, so utterly exhausted. "Ellie, please, just let me go." "You took that hit for me when we were kids. I owe you, I know. But I've poured my heart and soul into taking care of you for all these years. Isn't the debt paid by now?" "Just have some mercy. Sign the divorce papers. Let Mia and me be together." Mia was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. In my memories, Liam was always by her side. I heard the other wives on the base whispering about her. They said Mia was incredible. She was a brilliant, highly educated researcher who had just returned from studying in Europe. The kind of person I could never compare to in a million lifetimes. They also said she and Liam were a match made in heaven, unlike him and me—a slow girl who could barely even read. I had pouted. I felt so wronged. Actually... I wasn't born slow. I grew up with Liam. We went to elementary school together, and teachers used to call me bright. But when I was eight, I drank a glass of poisoned cider that was meant for him. When I woke up, a crowd was gathered around my hospital bed. A doctor with a white beard shook his head and sighed. "There's no cure. Severe neurological damage. She'll be like this for the rest of her life." Back then, I didn't understand what "the rest of her life" meant. But I remember Liam holding me tight, crying endlessly. He shed so many tears. Finally, the little boy made a promise: "Ellie, I'm so sorry." "When you grow up, we'll get married. I'll take care of you forever." I didn't know what marriage really meant, but Liam said marriage meant two people getting to stay together forever. My eyes instantly lit up. I smiled so wide my cheeks hurt. That sounded wonderful. I loved Liam more than anything. I wanted us to be together forever. But for some reason, after that day, the kids on the base stopped playing with me. They walked around me. They would huddle in groups far away and secretly point and laugh. I ran to Liam and asked him why. He comforted me so patiently: "It's okay. Our Ellie is just a little sick right now. When you get better, your friends will come back." "Besides, you have me, right? I'll play with you." "I'll always stay with you, Ellie." And he kept his word. He took care of my every need. When I turned nineteen, Liam kept his promise and married me. But shortly after, he met Mia. And he regretted it. The very first time I heard the phrase "love of my life" come out of Liam's mouth... It was when he was describing Mia. Liam didn't know that on the day he asked for a divorce, I wasn't plotting anything. I had no intention of clinging to him. I just wanted to ask if he could please not send me back to that empty cabin in the country, because it was too lonely there. But the more anxious I got, the harder it was to form a complete sentence. Huge tears just kept rolling down my cheeks. That was when little Noah stepped forward. He was the son of Liam's fallen squadmate. Liam and I had adopted him together. I knew the little guy never liked me. He thought I was an embarrassment. So when Liam brought up the divorce, Noah quickly shoved me away. He glared at me viciously. "You burden! You're just dead weight! How much longer are you going to drag my dad down?" "Get out! Get out of our house! Auntie Mia is coming over soon, and she's going to be my real mom! I don't want a stupid girl for a mother!" Liam was also disgusted by my crying. In the end, I was sent away to the country, where I died in that broken-down cabin. A cold sweat broke out across my back. The dream felt too real. So real that it chilled me to the bone. I didn't want to die. So I gently pushed Liam away and waved my hands frantically. "Let's not do that, Liam." For the first time, a look of utter confusion crossed his face. Before he could ask why, two soldiers in uniform walked in and saluted him. They told him there was a new mission. Liam hastily said goodbye, telling me to take good care of myself before he left. I watched his back as he walked away. If I remembered correctly, this was the exact rescue mission where he was going to meet Mia. I really didn't expect Mia and I to cross paths so soon. A week later, she showed up at my door with gifts. She said she wanted to thank Liam for saving her life. She covered my table with beautiful, delicate pastries. Mrs. Higgins, the sweet older lady who lived next door, pulled me aside to warn me. "Ellie, honey, you need to keep your eyes open. You aren't officially married yet, and you have no idea how many women are gunning for your Captain." When she said that, her eyes were locked onto Mia. Seeing that I still didn't react, Mrs. Higgins patted my head and sighed. "Oh, you poor, sweet girl." Then, she turned her head and quietly spat in Mia's direction, muttering, "Homewrecker." Mrs. Higgins told me that after Liam saved Mia, she had used "gratitude" as an excuse to invite him out to dinner multiple times. People had spotted them alone at the local diner more than once. Mrs. Higgins knew I had saved Liam's life, and she knew about our arrangement, so she was trying to help me guard against Mia. But I just shook my head. After that vivid dream, I was more certain than ever that I couldn't use a childhood debt to hold Liam hostage. He deserved to choose his own life. And I wanted my freedom, too. I didn't want to stay in the Hayes household anymore. After all, besides Liam, no one there actually liked me. In stark contrast to me, Mia was incredibly popular. Liam's grandmother absolutely adored her. How much? She would constantly hold Mia's hand, pushing her toward Liam, saying the family was just missing a granddaughter-in-law exactly like her. During their very first meeting, Grandma Hayes even gave Mia the antique diamond bracelet that had been passed down through the family for generations. I remembered Liam telling me that bracelet was meant for his future wife. Liam happened to be walking downstairs when it happened. Hearing his grandmother's words, he frowned, clearly displeased. He stopped her. "Grandma, stop talking nonsense. I'm marrying Ellie." But even though Liam said he was marrying me, he and Mia were becoming increasingly inseparable. Coincidentally, Liam's newest assignment was to act as the protective detail for this brilliant researcher. As a result, they were glued to each other. The people on the base laughed at me constantly. They would walk right up to my face and joke: "Ellie, your man took Mia to the movies again." "Hey there, slowpoke, the Captain took someone to the mall today." "Does the Captain even want you anymore? We all saw him buy Mia a gorgeous dress. Did he buy you one?" Whenever they started talking like that, I would run out and sit under the old oak tree by the gate. I wouldn't say I was heartbroken. I really was fine with not marrying Liam. But could he please not abandon me? I didn't want to be completely alone. I... needed family. Liam treated me well, and he was all I had left. If we couldn't be husband and wife, could I just be his little sister? I picked up a twig and drew circles in the dirt. The answer was no. A couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, Grandma Hayes took Noah and me to the department store downtown. She wanted to buy some holiday treats and toys. And right there, we bumped into Liam. And Mia. At that exact moment, he was looking at her with absolute tenderness, gently helping her tie a silk scarf around her neck. From the back, they looked like a perfect, beautiful match. Little Noah immediately squeezed next to me, gloating proudly. "See that? That's the kind of person who actually deserves my dad." "If you know what's good for you, you'll pack your bags and leave, you dead weight." Mhm... Noah loved calling me that. Dead weight. A burden. I bit my lip, just about to pinch his cheek and tell him: Listen here, kid. I can be really mean. I'm not someone you want to mess with. But when I looked up, I locked eyes with Liam. Seeing me, he completely panicked, instantly putting a massive distance between himself and Mia. He rushed over to explain, "Look, Ellie, it's not what you think. Mia and I are just..." I didn't wait for him to finish. I just nodded. I didn't blame him. Truly. Ever since that dream, I knew that the Liam who met Mia was no longer just my Liam. I just didn't expect Mia to take him away so absolutely, so completely. Because that night, I came down with a terrifyingly high fever. Maybe I hadn't worn enough clothes at the mall. Usually, when I got sick, Liam would make me hot tea, stay right by my bed, and tell me stories until I fell asleep. But this time, a single phone call from Mia changed everything. I heard her crying through the receiver. "Liam, I sprained my ankle. It hurts so badly. Can you take me to the ER?" Liam didn't hesitate for a second. As he headed for the door, I made one last, desperate attempt. "Liam, can you not go? I feel really sick too." Liam grabbed his truck keys, not even turning around. He brushed me off. "Be a good girl, Ellie. I need to get Mia to the hospital, it's an emergency." "I'll bring you your favorite caramel apples when I get back." And then he was gone. The house he left behind was suffocatingly quiet. Not a single sound. I rolled over in bed, tears streaming down my face. I cried because, once again, I had no family. It was true. Liam... my Liam, was no longer my family. I knew I wasn't smart. But when my mom was still alive, she told me: No matter what happens, family will never abandon you when you need them most. Liam's excuse—it's an emergency—translated to one simple truth: Mia was more important than me. I curled into a tight ball under the covers. I waited, and waited. By the time the middle of the night rolled around, Liam still hadn't returned. I was dizzy with fever, my throat parched and burning. I had to get out of bed to boil some water myself. I guess I really am just clumsy and stupid. So stupid that I tripped over my own feet just trying to get a glass of water. I hit my head hard against the edge of the cabinet. I saw stars. I finally understood why, in my dream, Liam had slowly grown to resent me. Just like Noah said, I really was a burden. I was dead weight. I couldn't do anything right. I bit down hard on my lip to stop myself from crying out loud. It hurt... It hurt so much. My forehead was throbbing. I mimicked the way my mom used to comfort me when I was little, whispering to myself: Don't cry, Ellie. Be a good girl. Ellie is the bravest. Ellie is... is very strong. But the more I whispered, the faster the tears fell. Mom, I miss you so much. I miss you and Dad. You were the only ones who never thought I was stupid. I crouched on the floor, sobbing quietly. That night, the moon and stars were completely hidden behind dark storm clouds. I dug through my closet and pulled out a floral dress my mom had made for me years ago. I used it as a pillow, and finally cried myself into a heavy sleep. My fever raged on and off for days. It wasn't until Thanksgiving arrived that I finally started feeling better. During that entire time, Liam stayed by Mia's side. He didn't forget I was sick, though. But every time he showed even the slightest inclination to come check on me, Mia conveniently found a reason to call him away. I got used to it. In my dream, this exact scenario had played out countless times. Perhaps out of guilt for abandoning me while I was sick, Liam went out of his way to buy me a bunch of my favorite pastries. And peanut butter cups. I had a massive sweet tooth. Ever since my parents passed away, candy was the only thing that could reach the bitter depths of my heart. Sitting on the sofa, Noah rolled his eyes at me. "Are you a baby? I stopped eating that childish junk years ago." I pressed my lips together, clutching a crumpled candy wrapper in my hand, saying nothing. Of course Noah didn't need candy. Even though he didn't have his biological parents, he had Liam to dote on him. He had Grandma Hayes to spoil him. I was different. I only had candy. It was the only sweetness I could actually hold onto. Later that evening, the Thanksgiving family dinner began. Liam finally came home. He wasn't alone. He brought Mia with him. Liam explained that it was Mia's first holiday back in the States, her family was still in Europe, and she didn't have many friends around here yet. So, he just brought her home. Mia walked up to me with a brilliant smile, handing me a beautifully wrapped gift box. "Ellie, I heard you love sweets. This is my Thanksgiving gift to you." She winked at me. "I had a friend specifically send these from a boutique down south. You have to try them." I didn't want them. But after glancing at the warning look on Liam's face, I took the box. Pecan pralines. All the color drained from my face. There was absolutely no way Liam didn't know that I had a severe, life-threatening allergy to pecans. I realized then that I truly despised Mia. Especially when she tried to force me to eat something that could kill me. When it was just the two of us left in the living room, she aggressively pushed her gift on me. "Ellie, just take one bite. Don't you love candy?" I ignored her, shifting my seat further away. She followed me. "Ellie, it was so hard to get these imported. Why are you being so disrespectful?" Mia aggressively tried to shove one of the pralines toward my mouth. I slapped her hand away. During the scuffle, a glass cup on the side table was knocked to the floor. It shattered into a dozen pieces. It was a custom, matching couple's cup I had hand-painted for Liam and me. Now it was shattered, just like the far-from-perfect ending Liam and I had in my dream. Mia reached down to pick up the pieces, and a shard of glass sliced her finger. It was a long, bleeding cut. Her eyes instantly welled up with tears of pain. Liam walked into the room at that exact moment. Mia stood pitifully next to the broken glass. She pointed a trembling finger at me. "Liam, I just wanted Ellie to try the candy I brought her, and she aggressively refused. Does your family really hate me being here that much?" Before Liam could even speak, Noah rushed over. "Auntie Mia, it's not your fault! Evelyn is just a weirdo, none of us like her anyway!" "She's stupid. Don't let her get to you." "Does your finger hurt?" Seeing Mia bleeding, Liam's face turned terrifyingly dark. "Ellie, apologize." I didn't understand. I just didn't want to eat the candy that would make me deathly ill. Why did I have to apologize? I refused. But the price of not apologizing was that I had to eat the pecan pralines. Liam said that eating them was the only way to prove I wasn't intentionally disrespecting Mia's kindness. I stood frozen in the middle of the room. My throat bobbed. I wanted to scream, Why? Why are you treating me like this? Didn't you say you'd treat me well for the rest of your life? Didn't you say Ellie was the most important thing to you? But Liam was unyielding. Either I apologized, or I ate the candy. Noah stood protectively in front of Mia. The two of them, father and son, stood like a united front, guarding a woman they had only known for a few months.
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