Reborn Together, We Both Fled The Wedding

My wife and I were reborn at our own wedding, ten years in the past.

Without a word of explanation, we both defied our families and friends, both demanding the ceremony be called off.

After we went our separate ways, she wasted no time getting with another guy whod been chasing her, and they moved overseas together.

I kept my head down, grinding away as a simple programmer.

Ten years later.

Her new boyfriend had become a rising star in the international business world, a celebrated mogul with a future brighter than the sun.

And I, in everyone else's eyes, was still just a programmer at the same old company.

She leaned into her man's arms, a vision of sultry success, and looked down her nose at me.

Ten years, Finn, and youre still the same dead-end programmer. Thank God I had the sense to cut my losses when I did.

I couldnt be bothered with her smug, triumphant act.

Not until my wife, a world champion, gently looped her arm through mine.

Thats when Lydia shattered the wine glass in her hand.

Finn! Im your wife! How could you let another woman touch you?

We met again at the funeral of our old university professor, a decade after our rebirth.

Lydias husband now was Grayson, the hotshot business mogul whod just returned to the country. A crowd of fawning admirers buzzed around him, making him the undisputed center of attention.

The service was about to start, but the funeral homes A/V equipment was on the fritz. To keep things from falling behind schedule, I was crouched by the stage, troubleshooting the system.

Thats when Lydia and Grayson made their grand entrance.

A flock of our old classmates practically tripped over themselves to greet them, completely ignoring the somber setting.

Grayson, youre a legend! Building an empire at such a young age.

Heard youre back to expand into the domestic market, Grayson. Dont forget about us old friends, huh?

Totally! I always knew you were different back in school. A cut above the rest.

And Lydia, you havent aged a day! You look like you just stepped off campus. What a power couple.

Lydia couldn't hide the smile blooming on her face. Oh, you guys are too kind.

Seeing how much she lapped up the praise, the crowd doubled down, each person trying to outdo the other in their flattery.

I rose from behind the console of equipment.

Could you show some respect? This is a funeral. Your racket is completely out of line.

Lydias brow furrowed the moment she saw me. What is he doing here?

Most of the people here were old classmates. They knew that Lydia and I had been reborn at our wedding and had promptly, wordlessly, cancelled the whole thing. They knew our history.

Isnt that Finn? Whats he doing behind the tech booth? Still a programmer after all these years?

Man, to think you and Lydia were almost married. Look at you two now. Worlds apart.

A flicker of discomfort crossed Lydias face. She shot a nervous glance at Grayson. Thats all in the past. Lets not talk about it.

At her cue, everyone shut up and quickly changed the subject.

I gave the equipment a final check, and seeing everything was working, I stepped back into the crowd.

As I approached, Grayson let out a cold snort. Still slinging code at that same little company, huh?

His words were a signal, and the pack pounced.

Yeah, Finn. Ten years and youre still stuck in the same place?

No wonder you never show up to the reunions. If my life were that pathetic, Id hide too.

Exactly. Lydia and Grayson missed them because they were overseas building an empire. You missed them because youre a nobody.

I looked up. Lydia was dressed in a designer gown, a limited edition piece that probably cost more than a car. Her hair was swept up loosely, with a few tendrils framing her face, their tips brushing against a pair of diamond earrings. Every move she made oozed a calculated sensuality. Grayson stood beside her in a bespoke black suit, a watch on his wrist that screamed wealth.

Together, they looked like theyd stepped right out of a luxury magazine. A perfect, untouchable pair.

The barbed comments kept coming, and I shot them all an irritated look. This is a funeral. Try to have a shred of decency for the man were here to honor. If you want to kiss their asses, wait until the service is over.

My words were blunt, and Lydias face tightened, ready to snap back.

But Grayson held up a hand, stopping her. Finns right. Lets honor the professor. He then turned his attention to me. Look, the Dean mentioned were all getting dinner tonight. You should come.

My new hotel is having its grand opening, so well go there. Its on me. Its been too long since we all got together.

I was about to refuse, but then I remembered the Dean had called me last night. Hed specifically mentioned this dinner, telling me several senior faculty members wanted to meet me and that I absolutely had to be there.

While I hesitated, Graysons voice cut in again, laced with a challenge. Whats the matter? Too good for my invitation? Or are you afraid to show up?

I raised an eyebrow. Afraid?

In that case, Id be honored. Thanks for footing the bill, Grayson.

My acceptance seemed to satisfy them, and the murmuring finally died down, allowing the funeral to proceed.

As Lydia and Grayson walked past me to lay flowers, Lydia paused, her gaze dripping with condescension.

Look at you, Finn. Just look at the pathetic mess youve become. Her voice was a low, venomous whisper. If you had just listened to me, you wouldn't be stuck as a dead-end programmer for the rest of your life, scraping by on a few thousand a month, struggling just to get by.

Were on different paths now, Finn. We have been for a long time.

Watching them walk away, I got lost in thought.

Different paths? She had no idea.

In our first life, Lydia and I met in college. We were each others first love. After graduation, we got married, just as everyone expected, and started our life together.

But that simple, happy life didnt last. Everything changed when Grayson returned from overseas.

He had pursued Lydia relentlessly in college, but shed chosen me. So, after we got married, he left the country. Just like in this life, he returned a decade later, a self-made tycoon, dripping with success.

At the reunion party thrown to welcome him back, the way Lydia looked at him had changed. I tried to tell myself I was imagining things, that Lydia wasnt the type of woman to betray our vows.

But after that party, she quit her job. The collection of designer bags and clothes in our closet started to grow exponentially.

On the day we were reborn, she hadnt come home all night. When she finally did, her neck was covered in the faint, unmistakable marks of passion.

Thats when we had our final, explosive fight.

She threw her new Herms bag right at my head. I must have been blind to choose you, Finn! she screamed, her face twisted with rage. So what if I cheated? Look at this bag! Your entire pathetic salary for a year couldnt even buy this! Im sick of this miserable life!

Staring at her distorted face, all I felt was a deep, chilling sorrow.

The truth was, our life wasn't miserable. We owned our own home in a decent city, had a reliable car. My salary was more than comfortable, and with no kids, we lived well.

But Graysons return had shown her a bigger, shinier world, and shed gotten a taste of wealth and status. I could understand wanting a better life, but I could never accept her betrayal.

After her tirade, she stormed out. She was so agitated, I was afraid shed do something reckless, so I ran out after her. Maybe it was the guilt of being caught, but she couldnt calm down. We were arguing on the street when an out-of-control truck came barreling towards us.

The next thing I knew, we were both waking up, ten years in the past, at our own wedding.

Even with everyone watching, we acted in perfect, unspoken agreement, cancelling the ceremony on the spot.

After we split, she seamlessly transitioned into a relationship with Grayson, and they left for Europe together.

And I went back to being a programmer, continuing down my path of software development.

The only difference between this life and the last was that I was no longer just a simple programmer.

I had a ten-year head start on the rest of the world. A decade of foresight.

After the rebirth, I saw the coming storm of short-form video. I developed what is now the worlds most popular social media app, and my first move was to acquire the very company I used to work for.

Once the money started pouring in, I began donating to my old universitynew equipment, entire buildings, and a scholarship fund for underprivileged students. It was where my dream began; giving back felt natural. But I was always buried in work and hated the spotlight, so I never attended any of the universitys ceremonies or thank-you events.

Besides the Dean and a few top administrators, no one knew who I really was.

Today was the professors funeral. The Dean had called me last night, and after turning him down so many times, I finally agreed to his dinner invitation.

Running into Lydia and Grayson was not part of the plan.

But since it happened

I wasnt the one who did something wrong.

I wasnt the one who should be hiding.

After the funeral, the group headed for the hotel.

Grayson and Lydia walked out, surrounded by their sycophants. A sleek, low-slung sports car was parked right at the entrance, and they headed straight for it.

Gasps of awe rippled through the crowd.

What a machine. Only the best for Grayson.

Isnt that a limited edition? Of course hes already got one.

If I could own a car like that, I could die happy.

I tuned out their pathetic bootlicking and walked over to a row of shareable e-scooters. The World Championships had just ended, and today was the day my champion wife was flying home. After my driver dropped me at the funeral home, Id sent him to the airport to pick her up.

The hotel wasnt far. A scooter was faster and would let me zip through traffic.

Just as I reached the scooter bank, Graysons smug voice sounded behind me.

Seriously, Finn? All these years and you still cant afford a car?

A guy your age, riding a public scooter? Im almost embarrassed for you.

You know what, why dont you ride with me? Ill give you a lift. He paused dramatically. On second thought, never mind. Dont want to get my seats dirty.

I unlocked a scooter and glided over to him, giving him a lazy, sidelong glance.

A cars a tool, man. No matter how fancy yours is, were ending up at the same place. So stop barking. Its annoying.

Without waiting for a response, I sped off. Halfway down the block, a thought occurred to me. I stopped, turned back, and grinned at Graysons thunderous expression.

Oh, and by the way, since your car is so precious, you probably shouldnt drive it. You should carry it to the hotel, Grayson. Wouldnt want it to get dirty.