Back to the 70s Ditching the Doctor for Him

Unable to bear the sight, the old herb farmer helped Reese bandage her wound.

"Ah, you must rest," he urged. "This illness demands it—you cannot push yourself."

Reese agreed, bid the farmer farewell, and wandered away. Her feet moved without thought, carrying her until she stood before Logan's house.

The familiar brick building loomed, and with it came the flood of memory—this very night, in her past life.

Back then, Logan had thrown the door open, his eyes rimmed red, and pulled her into a desperate embrace.

"Reese, they've dug up my cousin's family background," he choked out. "Her father was labeled a class enemy during the political purges—a factory owner accused of exploiting workers. But that was before he married my aunt."

"My cousin was snatched by traffickers as a newborn, only found and brought home recently. She knows nothing about any of it."

"Our whole family already ached for her, losing all those years. We wanted to make it up to her. And now, just as she's starting to have a few good days, they want to drag her out for public denunciation…"

"I was adopted by this family. I can never repay their kindness. If I could take her place, I would."

He buried his face in her chest, tears streaming down.

Heart aching, Reese offered to take Mary's place.

"After all, no one in the village knows what your aunt's real daughter looks like. If I just claim it's me, no one will question it."

Logan looked up, his expression torn. "But you'd suffer for it. I can't ask you to do that."

"It's fine," Reese said, patting her chest. "You saved my life. You've fed me, sheltered me. This little thing is nothing."

Deeply moved, he kissed her then—fervent, clumsy.

Lost in his intensity, she felt his ragged breath against her lips as he whispered, "Once this blows over, we'll get married."

Naive as she was, Reese thought it would only be a public shaming, something she could endure.

She never imagined the three years of hell that would follow in the quarry.

Nor did she foresee the vicious gossip that would chase her even after she'd served her time.

"That one? She was the communal grinding stone at the quarry. Different men every day."

"Hey, a doctor I know said she's so rotted down there it's festering."

"Doctor Logan is truly loyal, taking her back even after all that."

"Right? I don't know how she has the face to burden him. If I were her, I'd have hanged myself long ago."

Wherever Reese went, she was cursed and chased away. Children threw stones and rotten fruit at her.

Heartbroken, she returned to Logan and poured out her hurt.

He only said, lightly, "Then go out less."

His indifference was plain, but Reese, blind and deaf to it all, truly believed he meant it for her own good.

Only after dying and returning did she finally see Logan for who he was.

Lost in the memory, Reese didn't notice the door to Logan's house opening.

Mary stepped out and spotted her immediately.

"What are you doing here?"

"Ah, I know! You're here to steal the medicine!"

"Shadow! Chase the thief away!"

With a sharp whistle, a dark shape shot out and lunged straight for Reese.

Weak from her illness, she had almost no strength to resist.

As the black dog bared its sharp fangs, her instinct screamed for the man now standing in the doorway.

"Logan—help me!"