Upon exiting the carriage, I reach for the necklace in my pocket, feeling content at its touch. Today has been a day of many revelations. First of marriage, then of my mother. They serve as reminders that my time is short and I must be decisive in my next steps.
I look down at my slender ankle in pity. She is the only one, other than Augustus, who may not enjoy what happens next to the fullest.
In a way, Augustus and I share more similarities than Julian and I. Julian and I have both lived previous lives, but I'd like to think I've grown and changed since my days as Maria, the college student whose fiance cheated on her with her best friend. Julian, I could practically smell his former, middle-aged, upper-class self beneath his young flesh. Not to mention, in this world, Julian has ties to a powerful family and is content to coast through life. He still felt guilt, but Julian doesn't have it in him to shake the status quo.
