Hall, the ai

the forms

other couple, I leaned over the coun

spelling of my middle name,"

text on his phone, p

d shook, but I wrote "Jessica" where "Maya" shoul

dges on critical parts of the document, enough to cause pro

iam asked, no

and sorrow in my chest. Step one was in moti

be mailed. Don't peek when it arrives, okay? Let's open it togethe

ady halfway out the d

er. My small victory felt ho

City Hall steps

told my parents we'd be

The Walkers.

I'd tried to talk to him about my dreams, about a music scholar

ed, Maya. My parents expect us to focus

, swallow

ache. Now, that lost d

d, "I need to go see yo

urprised. "

to discuss with

long. We have that dinner with the Hendersons ton

siness. A

hed out, brushed a stray strand of hair fr

ght, Maya? You seem

r of concern, the Liam who h

is coldness, had an innate kindness, a

at distract me. This

forcing a smile. "Ju

ger to move on. "Alright. I'll meet you at their h

rds his car, his broad sh

change. Like we were a re

ered as soon as he

led away, my phone buz

voice. "Is this Maya?

es

Albright was just brought in.

ening, but much earlier than in the original timeline

my unhappiness and complaints to his parents about his continued connecti

w she used him. I'd tried to tell him, to warn his p

that regret directly, to save her,

goal w

nsion. My hands were clammy.

his timeline, she still believed I was the solution to Liam'

just called, said you were on your w

m, reading the financial news. H

wn way. They loved Liam fiercely.

eting made what I was a

e temporal jump, the emotional

, cookies. "You look a little pale, dear

s was a hea

"So, it's official then? Our

ey truly believed this mar

em. It was going to hurt