Whispers Carved Into the Wind 1

Chapter 1 

Callum Reid and I? Ten years together. But ended up hating each other for life. 

He hated me for bringing his memories back-said I “killed” the girl he really loved. 

I hated him for breaking every promise-said he’d love me forever, then forgot me and fell for someone else. 

When I got diagnosed with ALS, everyone told him to leave? 

He went to some church upstate, spent two days straight on his knees lighting candles, begging God to let me live. 

The night before I died, he held me the entire time. Put his forehead against mine and whispered: 

“Vivian, I did what I had to. I was a good husband. But next time? If there IS a next time? Don’t make me remember. Just… let 

me be with her.” 

That’s when I finally got it. 

I never should’ve trapped him with some childhood crush. Never should’ve dragged him down my entire life. 

When I opened my eyes again, I was back-right before I found him. Right before I made him remember. 

This time? I walked away. 

Just let him run to HER. 

“Mr. Reid’s got zero memory. He won’t come back with us.” 

“But we tracked down this top neurologist. Should get his memory back real soon.” 

Same exact conversation. Word for word. Just like last time when we finally tracked down Callum after he went missing. 

Only this time, I didn’t feel excited. Didn’t feel that desperate need to fix everything. 

I shook my head. “No.” 

Then I did two things. 

First, I went to Columbia Presbyterian and got every test they had. Full workup. 

Second, I took the ALS diagnosis and walked straight into the Reids’ place in Greenwich to call off the engagement. 

Mrs. Reid grabbed my hands. She was shaking her head so hard, eyes already red and puffy. “Vivian, no. You can’t do this. Callum loves you so much. He’d never marry anyone else—” 

I didn’t say anything. Just pulled out my phone and showed them a picture. 

In the photo, Callum’s staring at this girl dressed up like a mermaid at the Mystic Aquarium. The way he’s looking at her? Like she’s the only person in the world. 

“Look, I don’t wanna force him to marry someone who’s dying, okay? Let’s just… keep things how they are. Let him be with the girl he actually wants. I’m done dragging him down.” 

In my last life, after Callum disappeared, I spent five years looking for him. 

Turns out this girl Riley Harper had found him first. They were together, totally in love. 

I didn’t care what Callum wanted. Forced some hypnotherapist to bring back his memories. 

The day he remembered everything, Riley jumped off a building. 

And after that, Callum and I? We were done. 

Ten years of marriage. Cold as hell. 

Then I got diagnosed with ALS. Callum took care of me for seven years. Fed me, bathed me, drove me to churches, flew me to pecialists. 

}ut I knew. He wasn’t doing it because he loved me. He was doing it because he felt like he had to. 

blinked hard, trying not to cry. My voice came out all shaky. “Callum and I… we’re done. There’s no future for us.” 

This time, I’m not making the same mistake. 

After I left the Reids’, I went to find Riley. 

he second she saw me, she practically shoved Callum away, all panicked. 

I swear I didn’t hide him on purpose!” She was talking so fast, stumbling over her words. 

Right.” I kept my voice flat. “You know what you did.” 

When she realized I wasn’t buying it, she bit her lip. Then she just… snapped. Her voice got loud, almost hysterical: 

Fine, okay? FINE. I know he’s always loved you! His whole life, it’s been you! Once he gets his memory back, he’s just gonna litch me and run straight to you!” 

But I saw him first day of senior year at Fairfield Prep and I just… I fell so hard. I loved him for YEARS and he never even ɔoked at me, and now I finally have a shot-” 

I just wanted a little more time with him! That’s it! Just a few more days!” Her voice broke. 

listened, but I wasn’t really looking at her. I was looking past her at Callum. 

His eyes were locked on me. Every muscle in his body looked tight, tense. Like he was barely holding himself back, just vaiting for me to make one wrong move toward Riley so he could lose it. 

The guy who used to follow me everywhere, who used to protect me from everything-now he was protecting someone else. 

didn’t know what I was feeling. 

But I knew I couldn’t keep him trapped anymore. Not this time. 

forced a small smile. “Relax. I’m not here to break you guys up. I’m here to bring both of you back to the Reids’.” 

Riley’s eyes went huge. “Both of us?” 

“Yeah.” I nodded. “You’re the person he loves. If I leave you behind, he’s not coming anyway.” 

“Go pack your stuff. You’re both coming back to the Reids’.” 

My voice stayed calm. “His parents know about you. They’re not gonna fight it.” 

Riley looked like she just won the lottery. She grabbed Callum’s hand, gave him this huge smile, then rushed off to pack. 

That’s when Callum finally relaxed. His voice got a little softer. “Sorry. I thought you were gonna hurt her.” 

Everything he felt, everything he cared about-it all revolved around her now. 

Nobody remembered that back when Riley was all over him, he’d get fed up and literally hide behind me, making these puppy eyes like, “Viv, come on, do your thing. Tell her I’m yours. Be mean about it.” 

He’d even make these exaggerated tough faces trying to teach me how to do it. 

We’d end up laughing so hard we’d fall off the couch. 

But that’s over. 

Callum doesn’t belong to me anymore.