I Saw Her Confession And Went Back In Time Chapter 01

I Saw Her Confession And Went Back In Time Chapter 01

The day I was discharged from the hospital after another mental health crisis, I came across a viral post online.

The prompt asked, [What is the single best decision you have ever made in your life?]

The top-voted answer made my blood run cold.

[Ten years ago, my best friend and I made the final eligibility list for a state civil-service position. She ranked first. I ranked second. If she failed the pre-employment medical clearance, the offer would pass to me. So I secretly made sure she couldn’t pass the screening.]

[Afterward, I hinted that her boyfriend was the one who drugged her, driving them to break up so I could swoop in. Now, he’s my husband. We have a house, a car, plenty of savings, and two beautiful twins. Talk about winning at life.]

Someone in the comments asked if the best friend ever recovered.

[Nope. Heard she failed her next three attempts, gave up, and ended up at a tiny firm where her boss made her work life miserable.She eventually developed severe depression and struggled for years to rebuild her life.]

[To be honest, I even influenced people around her to make her work life miserable. In this life, strategy beats hard work every single time.]

The poster’s tone practically oozed smug satisfaction.

Staring at that familiar profile picture, a numbing chill crept from my fingertips straight to my heart.

My entire life had been stolen from me a decade ago.

Closing my eyes, I desperately imagined how different things would have been if I hadn’t been drugged that night.

When I opened them again, I was sitting in my old bedroom, exactly one day before my medical screening.

******

My boyfriend, Bennett Lewis, was sitting on the edge of the bed, carefully double-checking my documents.

“.Driver’s license, appointment notice, medical clearance form, and ID packet—everything’s here,” he said.

I stared at his face as tears streamed down my cheeks. I was back. I had actually returned to ten years ago.

Startled by my sudden outburst, Bennett panicked.

“Valerie, why are you crying? Are you nervous? Don’t worry, you’re perfectly healthy. The screening will be a breeze.”

I wiped my face quickly, trying to think of an excuse, when my best friend’s voice cut through the room.

“Valerie, come try this! I finally made that pudding cup you were craving yesterday.”

Chloe Lane walked in, carrying two bowls.

I froze.

For one second, all I could see was my past life—the hospital rooms, the depression, the years I spent wondering why everything had gone wrong.

My fingers curled at my sides. I forced myself to stay still.

It wasn’t time yet. Tomorrow’s screening mattered more.

It wasn’t time to show my hand yet; tomorrow’s screening was all that mattered.

“I have to fast before the medical exam tomorrow. I’m not eating anything.”

Chloe’s smile stiffened, clearly caught off guard by my refusal.

“Just a bite won’t hurt, and it’s still early,” she said, tugging at my sleeve playfully. “I spent all day working on this, Valerie. At least give it a taste.”

In my previous life, I had been terrified of messing up the exam and avoided eating anything, but I ultimately gave in to her relentless pestering. That one bite of pudding had contained the drug.

I pulled my arm away and hardened my voice. “No. If you really want to celebrate, make it for me after I actually get the job.”

Chloe’s expression instantly darkened.

“What is your problem, Valerie Sterling? It’s dessert. Why are you acting like I brought you poison?” she snapped. “I’m the one who missed the cut by a measly half a point, and I’m not even throwing a tantrum, yet you’re giving me attitude.”

I looked her dead in the eye. “Why would you even think that? Unless you actually put something in it.”

For half a second, panic flashed across Chloe’s face.

As the tension in the room grew suffocating, Bennett quickly stepped in to play peacemaker.

“Chloe, she didn’t mean it like that. You really do have to fast before these screenings,” he said, grabbing a spoon. “If she won’t eat it, I will.”

He shoved a massive spoonful into his mouth. “Wow, this is amazing. You’ve outdone yourself, Chloe.”

Seeing her plan fail, Chloe slammed her spoon back into the bowl. “Whatever, suit yourselves,” she muttered before storming out of the room.

That night, Bennett held me close, whispering, “You and Chloe are usually joined at the hip. What happened today?”

I stared into his eyes, hesitating for a long moment before answering, “It’s nothing. I’m just stressed about tomorrow.”

Bennett rubbed my back soothingly. “Get some sleep. Everything is going to go perfectly tomorrow.”

I closed my eyes, praying silently that he was right.