Liam felt like he was drowning in a sea of uncertainty. Every step he took, every breath he made, was filled with anxiety. Would Selena make it? Would she still feel the same after they got through this emergency and talked it out? The questions swirled in his mind, taunting him with their lack of answers.
He stopped in front of a vending machine, its metal exterior gleaming in the fluorescent light. He rummaged through his pockets, searching for change as he scanned the options. The wheel inside the machine turned, and compartments full of unappetizing, dry-looking tuna, turkey, and ham sandwiches rotated into view. Brownies, big, somewhat inexplicably salty chocolate chip cookies, and a Gelatin dessert vibrated with a cheap crown of whipped cream as the machine revolved. Liam leaned against the machine and sighed.
Liam fed coins into the machine with a tired sigh. He pulled out a sandwich, the bread stale and the filling unappetizing. He also selected a big brownie, the only thing in the machine that looked remotely appealing. The chocolate was dense and rich, a small comfort during the hospital's chaos.
As he waited for his food, Liam leaned against the wall, his eyes closing in exhaustion. He felt like he was losing himself in the hospital's endless corridors, like he was disappearing into the sterile white walls. He thought about Selena, about the way she smiled, the way she laughed. He thought about the way she looked at him, with eyes that sparkled like diamonds.
He pushed off the wall, his eyes snapping open as he retrieved his food from the vending machine. He unwrapped the sandwich and took a bite, the dry bread sticking in his throat. The brownie was a different story, its rich flavor a small consolation amid the hospital's chaos.
Liam took another bite, his mind wandering back to Selena. He wondered if she would ever wake up, if she would ever smile at him again. The thought sent a pang of sadness through his chest, and he felt his eyes well up with tears. He blinked them back, taking a deep breath as he tried to compose himself.
He looked around, taking in the hustle and bustle of the hospital. He felt like an outsider, like he didn't belong in this world of sickness and pain. But he knew he had to stay, had to be there for Selena, no matter what.
With a newfound determination, Liam took another bite of his sandwich, the dry bread a reminder of the long and difficult road ahead. Liam forced the dry sandwich and brownie down his throat, washing it down with a drink from the fountain.
Liam headed to the bathroom, his feet carrying him on autopilot as his mind wandered back to Selena. The bathroom was a small, sterile space with white tiles and a single flickering fluorescent light overhead. The air was thick with the scent of disinfectant, and the sound of running water echoed off the walls.
A row of sinks lined one wall, each one equipped with an automatic soap dispenser and a paper towel holder. The toilets were enclosed in small stalls, each one with a sign that read "Please wash your hands" in bold letters.
As he stood in front of the sink, Liam felt a searing pain, like his body was being replaced cell by cell. He looked up at the mirror, and his eyes widened in surprise. His face was youthful, with no signs of the wear and tear he had accumulated over the years. He felt a surge of excitement, realizing that he had traveled back in time.
"When the hell am I and where am I?" Liam's A.A system, the artificial intelligence that had been implanted in his brain, began to update unknowingly with all of the changed knowledge as the A.A, in the unconscious Selena in the ICU, aware that Selena was in an unconscious state, excitedly communicated with the boring A.A in his body.
As he exited the bathroom, he was greeted by a sight that made his heart skip a beat. Jonah, his friend who had died in his last life, was sitting in his wheelchair, talking to Claire. They were both smiling, laughing, and completely oblivious to Liam's presence. Liam's heart was racing, his thoughts swirling with questions. How was this possible? Had he really traveled back in time?
Liam felt overwhelmed, unsure of how to process this new reality. He was so dizzy. "What the hell happened?" he muttered.
Liam stumbled backwards, his mind reeling with the implications of what he was seeing. He felt winded and giddy, his breath knocked out of him. He grasped for the doorframe, his hand closing around it like a vice. A stranger looked at him, perturbed.
"Are you okay?" the man asked.
Liam smiled and nodded. He looked down at his hands, wondering if he was dreaming. He had done it so much in his past. He even created augmented reality to replicate it. He smiled like a fool. This was paradise. But everything felt real. The cool metal of the doorframe beneath his hand, the soft hum of the hospital's machines in the background, the faint scent of antiseptic in the air.
Liam's A.A system, the artificial intelligence that had been implanted in his brain, came with him. It was updating and processing the new information. It was communicating with Selena's A.A system, which was aware and excitedly chattering away, even though Selena herself was unconscious.
Liam felt like he was drowning, unable to keep up with the sheer volume of information flooding his mind. He was dizzy, disoriented, and struggling to stay upright. He looked for a chair nearby. He put one foot in front of the other, aiming for his target. If he could just sit down, he could rest and think this out.
His brain felt like it was on fire as information flooded into his brain. The universe tried to correct its mistake by giving him all the information, but all at once. It felt like his head had been smashed by a brick repeatedly.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He needed to think, to process what was happening. He looked around, taking in the familiar sights of the hospital. But everything felt different now, like he was seeing it all for the first time.
Liam's eyes landed on Jonah, and he felt a pang of emotion. He had thought he would never see his friend again, and yet here he was. Alive. Breathing. Smiling.
Liam's mind was racing with questions, but he knew he had to be careful. He didn't know what was going on or how he had gotten here. He didn't know what the rules were or what the consequences would be if he made a mistake.
All he knew was that he had been given a second chance, a chance to relive a part of his life. And he was determined to make the most of it. Just then, a figure appeared in front of him. It was Amelia Kinsman Lowrie, the Matriarch of Kinsman's and the "Great Seer". She was pushing a stroller with a child inside.
"Mr. Reinhold," she said, her voice warm and gentle. She gave him a slightly irate smile.
"Child, you've had such a long trip. Many things have changed." He had met this woman in his past life in the future, after Jonah died, and after McKenna never manifested powers. She persisted into a very ancient age; they did a torturous amount of medical work to keep her active. The last time he saw her alive, she looked different. She was resigned and struggling to help them when she was lucid.
Liam bowed to her, feeling a sense of reverence. Amelia was a highly respected figure, known for her wisdom and insight. She had given him valuable guidance in the past, helping him to navigate the complexities of time travel. "Madam Seer." As he looked at her, he felt a sense of Deja Vu.
Amelia smiled and put her hand on his shoulder. "Oh weary old traveler, come closer to me. We are almost family," she said. "She's given up her life for you. You know, wait a second, her eyes narrowed. How? " she said, her brows knitted in confusion. She pulled her glove off and sliced her hand, and her blood pooled. She grabbed his shoulder.
Amelia whispered a single word in his ear: "Faiceamaid a' Bhan-dia." And with that, she removed the knot she saw that was about to bloom. What had he done, or had she missed something? Amelia grabbed Liam's wrist roughly. Liam looked at the Madam Seer, confused.
Liam's vision went golden. A big, golden, beautiful being twisted as if looking at him. It drew closer and closer, then it shrieked loudly and angrily at him. Liam felt a surge of power, a newfound sense of clarity. He stared at the being, and it was not pleased with him. "This is a mercy." It seemed to hiss. Liam balled up in the fetal position, scared senseless.
Amelia smiled and gifted him with "short sight", the ability to see glimpses of the future. It was not her choice. The boy either had an ancestor she missed, or he had fooled around with things he did not understand. Her granddaughter was fond of him; he was a child of prophecy himself, so she was merciful.
Liam felt his mind expanding, his perception of time and space shifting. Amelia reached into him and untangled the knot attached to the A.A. Amelia's genetic material. That was engineered with Kinsman cells to make it more compatible with McKenna in his past life, but it was unknowingly made for Selena. His A.A system began to resonate, updating him with visions of his past.
As the memories flooded his mind, Liam felt his new life integrating into his memories. He saw himself as a teenager, as a young adult, making choices and Selena Lowrie. His eyes widened.
Amelia smiled. How splendid, another version of her had gambled and made the right decision. She had given him a rare gift, one that would allow him to assist Selena and Jonah. She staggered, leaning on the stroller, which had taken a bit of energy. Liam passed out. "What will Màthair Dônn say or think about him?" she thought.
Liam gasped on the floor, his vision blurring. Jonah's voice called out for a nurse, but Amelia's hand waved him off. "He's going to talk with Mother," she said, her voice low and mysterious.
The next thing Liam knew, he was being lifted onto a stretcher and wheeled away to a hospital room. A doctor examined him, diagnosing exhaustion and dehydration. Intravenous fluids were administered, and Liam drifted off to sleep.
When he awoke, he was greeted by the sight of Jonah sitting in a chair, playing with a little girl who looked so uncannily like him and Selena. She had the biggest blue eyes. He could only look at Jonah with mixed happiness. It still felt like he was looking at a ghost. He wanted to hug him to make sure he was not a delusion.
His best friend's life had been cut so short last time. He had promised him to look out for her in the crash as he died. He carried the trauma of watching him die in his last life. Jonah had lived a better, but still rough life.
Selena had done her best to save him. It hit him like a wallop that she was his sister. Was that what drew his eye in his past life? Selena had the hardest time in school in her last life. He should have seen it back then at some point. In both these lives, she still suffered. The crazy thing is, she was helping him. He was surprised as hell with her changes and her identity.
The girl, Rose, was laughing and giggling as Jonah sang a soft, gentle melody. Her chubby cheeks reminded him of those of Selena in her past life. She was so thin in this timeline, it was a shame. The little girl's tiny legs hung over Jonah's. He would soon be out of that chair; he knew it. He could not imagine how he was feeling, his sister was lying in a bed downstairs.
"Oh, MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O, and on that farm he had a cow," Jonah sang, his voice bouncing, trying to amuse the toddler with the cow stuffed toy.
Liam's eyes widened as memories long forgotten, a past life ago, came flooding back. He remembered teasing Selena with that very song in his past life, tormenting her with McKenna, calling her a 'crack baby' after she'd had mild seizures and odd behavior in his teens.
He remembered watching Gregory's prank and Jenn MacPherson and Claire occasionally beating her up. McKenna was bent on making her past life hell, all the way to her death. When it came to the point of killing her, Liam's eyes watered.
Liam's eyes locked onto Jonah's, and he spoke in a low, serious tone. "You should not sing that around your sister. Trust me."
Jonah's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, but he nodded and continued singing. Liam didn't explain why, but he was just happy to see his friend and Rose, Jonah's daughter. A change from the boy who died in a car crash at 17 in his past life. One that was caused by sabotage.
As he looked around the room, Liam's eyes landed on Gunn, who was standing in the corner, watching him with a quiet intensity. Liam felt a surge of gratitude and emotion, knowing that Gunn was the one who had pieced together the truth about Selena's past life and her connection to Jonah.
"Hey, dick bag, you're in trouble. You pushed it too much. You were already burning the candle at both ends before the shooting. Can you try sleeping and eating regularly? You're not a robot." Gunn said.
This guy had betrayed him in his past life, but he was technically responsible for his death and suffering in his past life. He choked on his emotions. He had long forgiven him; he would not have been able to look his child in the eyes.
"Your imaging was clear, but you are very malnourished and dehydrated, " Gunn said, his stern tone breaking. Liam had been through a lot in the past few days, but so had he. He had to fish a bullet out of a girl he loved, but could not do anything about it. Selena was inches away from death and had lost so much blood. If that bullet had been 3 inches closer, it would have gone through her heart.
Processing all this was a lot. First it was Jonah, then Selena, now he fainted. Their best friends seemed cursed. Liam was traumatized and felt guilty about something he could not control. He had passed out after keeping vigil. What was going on with him? He was all serious these past couple of days, but now he seemed ecstatic.
Liam was just happy seeing his friends, who died decades ago in his past life. It seemed like a dream come true. He was so happy; he still had his leg, and the tumor was gone. So was the persistent, painful headache. Ever since that encounter with Amelia and that incredibly angry being, he had been pain-free.
He didn't say anything, but he thought to himself, "Gunn, you have no idea what you've done. You've prevented a grim future, one that I thought was inevitable. Thank you, Gunn. Thank you." His eyes widened, remembering those last few moments. She was in the ICU.
Gunn looked at his friend, who seemed distressed. He was worried about him. He was doing his postgraduate with Selena at the lab. He knew something was up, and he saw the locket. He knew who was in her heart; that he would probably have to bury his love into friendship. Marry someone else and have a family. It would not be fair to any future wife if he were completely hung up on Selena.
All that mattered was her feelings and maintaining the friendship for now. If Liam fucked up, he would romance her, it would be fair game. He would give it a decade, then give up. "Sleep, bud, and eat all the food that the Lowries sent."
Gunn's eyes locked onto Liam's, filled with a deep sense of sympathy and concern. He could see the toll that Liam's ordeal had taken on him - the dark circles under his eyes, the gaunt cheeks, the exhaustion etched on his face. He had been able to sleep, mainly because he wore himself down into exhaustion by the end of his shift, and that happened to be the shift it all went down.
As a surgeon, Gunn had to remain professional, but as a friend, he couldn't help but feel a pang of worry for Liam's well-being. He pushed aside the resentment he had been harboring, the feeling that Selena had chosen Liam over him. That was a battle for another day. Right now, his focus was on getting Liam to take care of himself.
"Liam, you're in no condition to be in the ICU, don't even try it," Gunn said, his voice firm but gentle. "Plus, it gives others the chance to sit with her. She's not conscious yet, so go get some rest. Eat something, sleep. Doctor's orders." Gunn's eyes bore into Liam's, willing him to listen, to take care of himself. He knew that Liam was running on fumes, and if he didn't get some rest soon, he would collapse.
"Dude," Gunn urged, his voice softening. "I'll keep an eye on her. You can trust me." Just sleep, let me run some fluids and eat".
Liam controlled his eyebrows, although he had forgiven this man on his deathbed, it does not mean he did not harbor resentments towards him. In this life, he had not betrayed him and slept with his wife. He would have to let go of it now, as it did not happen. There was no way or need to marry McKenna now. "Thanks, man," Liam said.
Liam looked at the tray. Madam Seer sent over some food and a letter. "It would be best to read it when everyone is gone." Liam thought, still very disoriented by this reality. There was a box of matches taped to it. He assumed it was to be burned, like in his past life.
Liam dug into the massive tray of food, his hunger and exhaustion momentarily forgotten in the face of Gunn's orders. He ate with a sense of purpose, fueling his body for the long road ahead. Gunn slapped him on the shoulder, and a small glint of the future flickered when he was touched. This guy was really hung up on Selena. He would need to keep a close eye on him.
He was excited to have seen Gunn, the unheard-of cancer, which was the bane of his existence. As much as they did not want to, they had to charge for the operations. Not as much as Gunn charged Selena at McKenna's request. He wondered what his 'ex-wife' was doing. Was she alive?