Chapter 2

  Sarah almost didn’t leave her room. For a moment, she considered making an excuse not to go to church.

  She was exhausted by Ben’s constant attention. Sending that message had been cruel, but necessary. Now she would have to see him anyway. Their families would eat lunch together, as always. She would have to endure his glances, his awkward staring, his offers for a ride home.

  The thought made her stomach turn.

  She imagined him moping through the divine liturgy like a beaten puppy, dragging the mood down with him. How could she focus on prayer like that?

  She even considered going to a different church. Her father would be scandalized.

  With a sigh, she checked her reflection one last time. She smiled despite herself. She knew she was beautiful. It wasn’t as though she blamed him entirely.

  Church was the same as always. The same car ride. The same greetings. The same signs of the cross.

  And the same glances, even from married men. The attention followed her everywhere. It was hard not to notice. Harder not to let it go to her head.

  Ben, on the other hand, was a college dropout working a minimum-wage job, addicted to videogames…and church. The latter wasn’t bad, but the rest was unacceptable. He wasn’t in her league. Everyone knew it. Or at least, they should have.

  Yet Ben never took the hint. Until now.

  She watched the church doors, bracing herself.

  But Ben didn’t look at her.

  He sang the hymns. Recited the prayers. No lingering stares. No stolen glances.

  Even during coffee hour, he avoided her table. His parents sat with her family, as usual. Ben sat elsewhere, talking casually with her brother Tim and a few other men.

  Relief flickered through her, followed by something else she didn’t want to name.

  Before people began to leave, Ben approached her as she poured tea.

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  “I’m sorry for my behavior,” he said. “You’re right. I won’t bother you again.”

  Then he walked away.

  Sarah stood frozen, cup trembling in her hand. He hadn’t sounded bitter. Or hurt.

  He sounded free.

  Weeks passed. Nothing happened.

  No flowers. No notes. No messages.

  She told herself she should be happy. Men asked her out. She turned them all down. Instead, she buried herself in her studies.

  Still, her thoughts wandered.

  Why did she care?

  Almost a year later.

  Ben stared down at the package in his hands, heart racing. He tore it open with his keys.

  Inside was a VR headset. A small card inside read: Limited Edition.

  “This will do,” he murmured.

  In his past life, he couldn’t afford one. This time, he’d made sure he could.

  The system hadn’t given him money, cheats, or shortcuts — only a countdown and a reminder.

  [Please prepare.]

  He didn’t need reminding. He knew exactly what was coming.

  Being sent back a full year had felt like a curse at first. He couldn’t access the beta. He couldn’t exploit markets he never paid attention to. He couldn’t buy his way into an advantage.

  Money would still matter once the game launched. The rich would always have an edge.

  So Ben focused on what he could control.

  He stayed home. Worked relentlessly. Picked up extra shifts. Took a second job. Cut every unnecessary expense. Donated plasma. Saved everything.

  By the end of the year, he had enough to survive without working — even if his father finally charged him rent.

  He still carried debt. It wouldn’t matter.

  What mattered was time.

  He had wasted too much of it in his past life — running from responsibility, numbing himself with games and half-hearted faith. He had been strong once. Strong enough to survive.

  Not strong enough to protect anyone.

  This year had given him something else.

  Clarity.

  Faith.

  Purpose.

  Sarah had faded into memory. The pain lingered, but he didn’t blame her. She hadn’t betrayed him yet. She wasn’t that person yet.

  He didn’t have time to think about her anymore.

  The day arrived sooner than he expected.

  Ben sat on his bed, staring at the headset.

  “This is it,” he whispered.

  His hands trembled as he knelt and prayed. When he finished, he lay back and pulled the helmet over his head.

  [You are number 352 in the queue.]

  [If you log out, your position will be reset.]

  [Eternity will launch in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 53 seconds.]