When He Brought Her Home

I felt dizzy.

My lips trembled, bloodless, as I forced the words out. "When we first took Bluebell in, Noah had only just been born.

"Back then, when Bluebell was sick, you visited every veterinarian you could find to save her. I thought… to the Theodore I knew, she was never just a parrot."

He fell silent.

A heavy silence pooled between us, weighing on my chest like a stone.

After a long moment, he responded, "I'm sorry. I'll find you one that looks exactly the same, alright? We can start over."

I forced a smile, though it barely held. "No need, Mr. Calloway. Bluebell was Bluebell. There'll never be another one."

Cradling her small body, I walked out to the back garden.

In spring, the garden bloomed in a riot of color. Bluebell had loved tumbling through the flowerbeds, returning to me dusted with petals and carrying the scent of blossoms, before leaping straight into my arms.

I kneeled and dug a small hole with my own hands.

Then, I gently placed her in the earth, her tiny body already cold.

Silent tears slipped down my cheeks.

They were the first tears I had shed since learning I was about to leave.

Theodore followed me the entire time without saying a word. He stood there quietly, watching as I buried Bluebell.

I didn't know how long he stayed like that.

At some point, his expression changed, as if he had just lost something precious. Panic flickered in his eyes. Then, he asked Polly to stay with me before leaving.

…

That night, I ate alone.

After just a few bites, I let my fork fall to the plate.

"Mrs. Calloway," Polly said softly, "please don't keep everything inside. If you're hurting, you can talk to me."

I looked at her in confusion.

My mind was empty. No memories or emotions rose up to meet her words.

I knew then that my memories were almost gone.

When she saw my blank expression, she hesitated before adding, "Tomorrow is the day Ms. Sinclair moves in."

I smiled faintly. "That's good."

I had stayed in this world for six full years.

Everything was finally falling back into place. Theodore would bring Ruby home, and the system would restore me.

Polly turned away and wiped at her tears. "Mrs. Calloway, you have to take care of yourself. Mr. Calloway… he didn't deserve you."

I gave no response.

By then, I could no longer remember anything about Theodore at all.

I didn't sleep that night.

Pain wracked my body, and before dawn, I could barely make out the distant echo of music and celebration drifting from far away.

…

Morning came.

"Host," the system said, its mechanical voice echoing in my mind. "I'm here to take you home."

Suddenly, a searing pain ripped through every part of me.

I couldn't breathe.

I collapsed to the floor, struggling to move, but I couldn't even push myself back up.

Polly heard the noise and hurried inside. As soon as she saw me, her face went pale. "Mrs. Calloway! I'll get the doctor!"

With the last of my strength, I grabbed the hem of her skirt.

Now, all that remained inside me was relief.

"No need," I whispered. "Goodbye… Polly."

Tears spilled down her face as she gripped my hand tightly.

"I'm… going home."

For the first time in ages, I smiled—a true, heartfelt smile.

Polly pulled me into her arms and sobbed so hard she couldn't speak.

Right then, laughter and music drifted in from the front of the villa, followed by a low and gentle voice I knew all too well. "Ruby, welcome home. As long as I'm here, you'll always have a home."

As laughter and music filled the air, my breathing grew softer and quieter. Then, it faded away.

From that moment on, Amanda Hunter no longer existed in this world.