On the eve of New Year's, I secretly invited my best friend's husband to spend the night with me and ring in the new year.
In my previous life, he had always eyed me with a disturbing hunger, even going so far as to steal my underwear from my room.
When I confided in my best friend, her response was far from sympathy.
“My husband is the most honorable man I know,” she snapped. “Even if you stood naked in front of him, he wouldn’t even bat an eye!”
“You're just jealous of me and the man I’ve found. You probably threw your panties in my house to try to seduce him!”
But that New Year’s Eve, it wasn’t just a stolen glance. My best friend’s husband crept into my home and forced himself on me.
I called the police, but his defense was simple and cruel: he claimed I had seduced him.
I tried to explain myself, but my father’s words cut through the air like a sharp blade.
“You’ve always had a knack for flirting with other people’s husbands. Why are you still so shameless?”
My mother’s fury was evident as she stamped her foot, her voice trembling with rage.
“No wonder you kept saying you invited your ‘beloved’ over and told us to leave you alone. So this is what you’ve been up to!”
“Now, after the fact, you’re calling the police? You want to ruin another family and extort money, don’t you?”
With my parents’ harsh words weighing down on me, I was painted as the villain, nothing more than a vengeful seductress.
My best friend, blinded by rage, stormed into my house.
“You disgraceful slut,” she spat. “Not even my husband is safe from you! Today, you’ll see the consequences of stealing what belongs to me!”
With fury in her eyes, she tore off my clothes and dragged me into the street, where her fists became my punishment.
Even as I took my final breath, I couldn’t fathom why my parents, who had always shown me boundless love, would turn their backs on me so completely, accusing me of things I never did.
But when I opened my eyes again, I was back on the eve of New Year’s.
——
“Nancy, it’s almost New Year’s! Your mom went out early this morning to get all your favorite dishes. And when she saw the fireworks stand, she couldn’t resist picking up a few varieties for you. You’re in your twenties, but to your mom, you’ll always be her little girl.”
My father’s arms were laden with bags, his gaze warm and full of affection as he looked at me.
My mother playfully swatted at him, smiling as she spoke, “Nancy will always be my baby. If anyone else has it, we have to get it for her too.”
As I watched this familiar scene unfold, it hit me like a bolt of lightning: I had been reborn.
As I was lost in thought, my mother approached her hand gently, brushing my forehead.
“What's wrong, Nancy? You look so pale. Are you feeling okay?”
Her eyes, brimming with concern, locked with mine, sending a chill down my spine.
I had always been her only child, and my parents were the epitome of doting.
From the moment I was born, they had given me everything I wanted, never once raising their voices in anger.
Even as I grew older, they continued to treat me like a delicate treasure, cradling me in their hands.
Yet, it wasn’t until the betrayal of my past life that I realized the twisted side of the parents who had loved me so dearly.
I steadied myself and met my mother’s gaze, asking with a seriousness that caught her off guard, “Mom, am I really your biological daughter?”
My mother froze, a flicker of surprise crossing her face.
Then, as if I had told a funny joke, she laughed, squeezing my hand affectionately.
“You silly child, of course, you’re our daughter.”
She continued, her voice warm with love, “Your father and I tried for years before we were blessed with you. The whole neighborhood knows how much we longed for you.”
My father’s voice took on a serious tone as he added, “Your mom’s health wasn’t great, and it was difficult for her to conceive. When you were born, she lost so much blood, we almost lost her.”
“She cried, begging the doctors to save you, no matter what. She said your life mattered more than hers, and if anything happened to you, she wouldn’t be able to go on.”
“Nancy, all these years, your mother and I have cherished you with everything we have. Why would you ask such a thing now?”
