By the time the sun began to set, Claire was already home.
She had spent the afternoon catching up on a few things she had missed during her recovery. For once, she didn't feel tired. Her body was finally returning to normal, and that alone made her feel lighter.
When she walked into the house, however, she immediately noticed something unusual.
The dining room looked different.
The table had been moved closer to the window, covered with a clean white tablecloth. Several plates and glasses had already been arranged neatly, and there were small candles placed in the middle of the table.
Claire stopped at the entrance.
"Mom?"
Her mother appeared from the kitchen carrying a bowl.
"Oh, you're home."
Claire looked around.
"What's all this?"
Her mother smiled.
"I thought we could have dinner together tonight."
"Just us?"
Her mother shook her head.
"I invited a few of your friends."
Claire's expression changed slightly.
"My friends?"
"Yes. You finally recovered, so I thought we should celebrate."
Claire smiled.
That was exactly the kind of thing her mother would do.
"You didn't have to."
"I know." Her mother placed the bowl on the table. "I wanted to."
Claire walked closer and looked at the food.
There was more than enough for everyone.
"Mom, you made all of this?"
"Some of it."
"Some?"
Her mother laughed.
"Your father helped with the rest."
Claire smiled.
For a moment, everything felt warm and familiar.
Then her mother's eyes narrowed playfully.
"Oh, and Randy said he would bring something too."
Claire blinked.
"Randy?"
"Yes. He said he wanted to prepare something special for you."
Claire couldn't help smiling.
"Of course he did."
Her mother gave her a knowing look.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Mom."
Her mother laughed and returned to the kitchen.
Claire shook her head, but she was still smiling.
She couldn't deny that Randy had been unusually attentive since the accident.
He checked on her every day He brought her food. He made sure she took her medicine.
Even when she told him she was fine, he still worried. And tonight, apparently, he had decided to take it one step further. Claire went upstairs to change. As she stood in front of her closet, her phone buzzed.
It was Randy.
Randy: "Are you ready?"
Claire smiled.
Claire: "Almost."
A few seconds later, another message appeared.
Randy:"Good. I have something for you."
Claire raised an eyebrow.
Claire: "What is it?"
Randy: "You'll see."
She smiled at the screen.
"Always so mysterious," she murmured.
But then her smile slowly disappeared.
Her eyes moved toward the small notebook sitting on her desk.
Three names.
Vienna
Miko.
Randy.
Claire stared at it for several seconds.
Tonight, she had originally expected everyone to be there.
Everyone from their usual group.
But there were two names missing from the guest list.
Diana.
And Tasya.
Claire had been the one who asked her mother not to invite them.
She hadn't given her mother the real reason.
She simply said she wanted a small dinner with the people she felt comfortable around.
Her mother hadn't questioned it.
Claire didn't want a confrontation.
Not tonight.
She wasn't ready to face Tasya and Diana across the dinner table while pretending everything was normal.
Not after remembering what they had done to her.
But she also couldn't accuse them without knowing the whole truth.
Not yet.
Claire closed the notebook.
"One thing at a time."
She grabbed her bag and went downstairs.
The doorbell rang just as she reached the bottom of the stairs.
Her mother looked at her.
"Could you get that?"
"Sure."
Claire opened the door.
Randy stood outside with several containers in his hands.
"Hi."
Claire looked at the containers.
"What did you bring?"
"Food."
"I can see that."
Randy smiled.
"I made some things myself."
Claire looked at him suspiciously.
"You cooked?"
"Yes."
"You?"
"Why does everyone look so surprised when I say that?"
Claire laughed.
"Because I've never seen you cook."
"Well, tonight is your lucky night."
He carefully carried everything inside.
Claire followed him to the dining room.
Her mother looked at the containers.
"Oh, Randy. You brought so much."
"I didn't know what Claire would like, so I made a few different things."
Claire stared at him.
"You made all of these?"
"Most of them."
"Most?"
"I had a little help."
Claire smiled.
"At least you're honest."
Randy laughed.
"You're welcome."
Claire's mother watched the two of them with a small smile before returning to the kitchen.
Soon, the first guests began arriving.
Vienna was the first.
She walked through the door carrying a small gift bag.
"Claire!"
Claire smiled.
"You're here."
"Of course I'm here. Your mom invited me."
Vienna hugged her carefully.
"I'm glad you're really okay now."
"I am."
"Good."
Vienna handed her the gift.
"This is for you."
Claire looked inside.
It was a small bracelet.
Her expression softened.
"Vienna..."
"Don't cry."
"I'm not crying."
"You look like you're going to."
Claire laughed.
"Thank you."
More friends arrived after that, and the house gradually became filled with conversation and laughter.
For the first time in weeks, Claire wasn't thinking about the accident.
She wasn't thinking about her previous life.
She wasn't thinking about the murderer.
She was simply Claire.
A girl having dinner with her family and friends.
When everyone finally sat around the table, Claire's mother stood up.
"Before we eat, I just want to say something."
Everyone became quiet.
Her mother looked at Claire.
"I'm just grateful that Claire is safe and healthy again."
Claire lowered her eyes.
Her mother's voice became softer.
"That day could have ended very differently. We're incredibly thankful that she was saved."
Claire's fingers tightened slightly around her glass.
Saved.
The word echoed in her mind.
She remembered the chaos.
The fear.
The moment Randy had found her.
And the desperate look on his face.
If he hadn't come...
Claire quickly pushed the thought away.
Her mother smiled.
"So tonight, let's forget everything else and just celebrate."
Everyone raised their glasses.
"To Claire!"
Claire smiled.
"Thank you, everyone."
Randy looked at her from across the table.
He didn't say anything.
He simply smiled.
For some reason, that made Claire feel safer.
Dinner continued with laughter.
Vienna told ridiculous stories about their university.
Someone teased Randy about his cooking.
"Honestly, this is pretty good," Vienna admitted after taking another bite.
Randy looked proud.
"See?"
Claire laughed.
"Don't encourage him."
"I knew you'd like it."
Claire shook her head.
"You've become too confident."
"I have a reason."
"What reason?"
Randy leaned slightly closer.
"You're smiling."
Claire paused.
She hadn't realized it.
Then she smiled again.
"Maybe because the food isn't terrible."
"Only maybe?"
"Don't push your luck."
Everyone laughed.
For a while, Claire allowed herself to forget everything.
But as she looked around the table, she noticed the empty spaces where two people would normally have been sitting.
Diana.
Tasya.
No one mentioned them.
And Claire was grateful for that.
She didn't want to spend the evening wondering whether either of them was watching her.
She didn't want to wonder whether their smiles were genuine.
She didn't want another confrontation.
Not tonight.
She simply wanted one peaceful evening.
Later, when everyone was busy talking, Randy quietly placed a small box beside Claire's plate.
She looked at him.
"What's this?"
"Open it."
Claire slowly opened the box.
Inside was a delicate silver necklace.
Her eyes widened.
"Randy..."
"I saw it a few days ago."
He paused.
"I thought you'd like it."
Claire touched the necklace carefully.
"It's beautiful."
"I wasn't sure."
"I love it."
Randy smiled.
"Good."
Claire looked at him for a moment.
"Thank you."
"Anytime."
Her mother noticed the necklace from across the table.
"Oh, that's beautiful."
Claire smiled.
"Randy gave it to me."
Her mother looked at Randy and smiled warmly.
"Thank you for taking care of her."
Randy nodded.
"I'll always try."
Claire's heart skipped slightly.
She looked away before anyone could notice.
But beneath the warmth in her chest, another thought quietly surfaced.
*Always.*
Claire wasn't sure what the future would bring.
She didn't know whether Randy would still be beside her when the truth finally came out.
She didn't know whether the people she trusted would remain innocent.
And she didn't know why Diana and Tasya had wanted her dead in her previous life.
But tonight wasn't about those questions.
Tonight was about being alive.
About the people who had stayed.
About the people who cared.
And perhaps, for the first time since waking up in this second life, Claire allowed herself to believe that she deserved a peaceful moment.
She looked around the table.
Her mother was laughing.
Vienna was telling another ridiculous story.
Randy was quietly watching her.
Claire smiled.
Maybe this was what she had been given a second chance for.
Not simply to survive.
But to live differently.
Still, somewhere deep inside her, a quiet voice reminded her—
The past had not disappeared.
It was only waiting.
And sooner or later, Claire would have to face it.