he first thing K

remained so vivid that when consciousness returned, she instinctively braced herself for agony. Her h

hing. Not a s

ruptly that the blanket slipped onto her lap. Apart from

te curtains swayed gently beside an open window, carrying the scent of fresh rain inste

e of any of it, the door o

inside with a

uite a scare. Your f

ine stared at

e been unconscious for an entire day. Your mother has been calling every few

"I'm sorry... wha

ked puzzled.

shook her head

been unc

e blanket tighter. "

sphere inside the

faltered slightl

r the accident. I remember the headlights. I remember..." Her breathing became

iately. Instead, she pressed

the room, followed by another nur

ns. What was her name? Di

id she thi

nly made their expressi

ly said carefully. "Miss Hart, you were admitted because

s impo

hat's re

hit by

no police

fami

" Katherine looked from one face to another, desperately sear

ested she rest and quietly led the nurs

therine sat motionless, her pu

bly wrong. Her eyes wander

almost absentmindedly. The device felt strangely familiar

the old photograph she had used years

hone; the passcode didn't work, and then she tr

ged to another version of her life. Conversatio

were still chatting as though nothi

pened her socia

Even unfinished university assign

g became sha

denly vibrate

nearly stopped. With trem

heri

the speaker, so full of energy tha

made everyone? I told you that fever wasn't norma

. Filled with grief and almost hated her. Now Amelia sounded years youn

ed softly. "Don't tell me

..

Katherine sw

Her voice

sou

und w

a brief silence befor

She continued talking withou

necessary. Your birthday is only a few days aw

ed inside Kat

inued happily. "He wants you to meet an old friend's son.

tening anymore. "His

herine's hand. It struck t

ore she opened the calendar application. The nu

lier. Exactly four years

oron. Joanna hadn't appeared. She hadn't yet been declared the Fa

as one impossible truth finally sett

ears t