About Two Chances, One Bullet: How His "Next Life" Promise Failed Novel
"My father adopted two orphan brothers as bodyguards for my sister and me.
The older one was tall and strong - fell for my sister at first sight.
That left me with his ""autistic"" little brother.
I didn't want Ethan sent back to the orphanage to get bullied, so I just accepted it.
He wouldn't talk, so I dragged him to the best psychiatrists in the country.
Spent two hours every day telling him jokes, even though he never responded.
He couldn't protect me, so I learned martial arts myself and begged Dad not to send him away.
I thought he was just traumatized. That with enough patience, he'd get better.
Until the cruise ship capsized.
He ripped the last life jacket right off my body.
First words he ever said to me:
""Sorry, but Madison's life jacket is broken.""
Madison - that's my sister.
He watched me sink into the ocean, squeezing my hand one last time:
""I failed you in this life. I'll make it up to you in the next.""
Huh. Turns out his autism was just an act. Only around me.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day we chose our bodyguards."