The Day I Chose Myself

On My Birthday, He Made Me the Punchline

It was no surprise that word of Shawn and Madison's relationship got back to his mother.

That same night, Madison "accidentally" fell and broke her leg.

Shawn was pounding on my front door at midnight.

He slapped me the second I opened it.

The force sent my head snapping to the side.

"So it really was you," he spat. "You told on us, didn't you? You vicious bitch."

I frowned and looked back at him. "I didn't."

I had always covered for all his ridiculous and reckless actions in the past. Now that I had a second chance, I swiftly decided I was done involving myself in anything that had to do with him.

Still, I would never stoop so low as to tell on them.

Frankly, I hadn't said a word to anyone.

He let out a cold laugh. "Wow. You really went all out just to break us up."

His eyes turned flinty with disgust. "Forget it. There's no point talking to someone as rotten as you. You've been dying to split Madison and me up from the very beginning."

He brushed past my shoulder and stormed back out into the rain without another glance.

Judging by the direction he was heading, he was likely going to the hospital.

...

He called me again the next day.

To my surprise, there wasn't a hint of anger in his tone. In fact, he sounded so tender and loving.

"Eve, you have to come tonight," he said. "It's your party. You're the guest of honor."

That was when I realized I had forgotten my own birthday.

"No thanks," I declined swiftly.

"You're coming," he replied smoothly. "It won't mean anything without you there."

He hung up before I could get another word in edgewise.

...

My classmates practically dragged me to the hotel that night.

The second I walked into the room, my eyes were drawn to the enormous cake in the center of the room.

It was shaped like a jet plane, towering several tiers high.

Shawn stood beside it, smiling brightly. "Evelyn, I know your dream is to go into aerospace engineering. Do you like it?"

I froze. 'He remembered?'

For a brief moment, the calm I had fought so hard to keep cracked ever so slightly.

'Is this Shawn, the one appearing thoughtful, warm, and almost tender… truly the same person who had killed my family in a past life?'

I felt a flicker of doubt rising in me for the first time since my rebirth.

Then, something even stranger happened.

My classmates, who had mocked me without mercy, suddenly wore soft smiles as they gathered around and sang me happy birthday.

The lights dimmed when it was time for me to make a wish.

Mist drifted through the room in pale ribbons, carrying the scent of perfume.

Dark wood, warm and rich.

It was Frederic Malle, the exact fragrance I loved most.

My eyes began to sting.

Then, the lights came back on.

Madison was wheeled into the room in a princess gown with a bouquet cradled in her arms.

The entire room erupted.

"Happy birthday, Madison!"

I went still. 'Right. It's her birthday too.'

Shawn took her bouquet and pulled her into a deep, dramatic kiss to the crowd's delighted shrieks.

The humiliation hit me all at once, hot and suffocating.

I turned to leave, but someone grabbed my shoulders and held me in place. "Evelyn, where do you think you're going?"

I looked straight at Shawn, my voice cold. "Why should I stay? Should I stay here and play the voyeur by watching the two of you play the happy couple?"

His face hardened. "Grovel and beg for Madison. Only then can you leave."

I stared, thinking that I had misheard him. "What?"

He looked at me, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. "I'll say it one more time. This will only end after you grovel and apologize to Madison."

Before I could speak, Madison's eyes reddened.

"Evelyn, I know you hate me," she whispered tremulously. "I know you're upset that Shawn chose me.

"But I never meant to take him from you. We just... fell in love. There was nothing either of us could do about it. Honestly, it's a good thing you told his mom. At least I was the one she took it out on, not Shawn. I never would've forgiven myself if she'd hurt him instead."

I stared at her blankly, parroting after her, "Told his mom?"

Shawn's expression darkened the second I said that.

He didn't take his eyes off me as he signaled toward the projector.

A video flashed onto the giant screen.