Anne was consumed by a huge sense of injustice.
Even though it was another version of herself, the thought that she and Taylor would have completely different destinies was enough to stir up jealousy.
Why should I make things work out for her?
Wouldn't it be better if she ended up just like me?
And the fact that I've ended up here, step by step, doesn't that mean that the future me never reached out to me five years ago either?
Since my future self didn't do anything, why should I be so stupid?
Just leave it.
Her life or death has nothing to do with you.
If she's truly happy, will you be okay with that?
A torrent of thoughts, like a devil's whisper, rang out in her mind.
Suddenly, Luke's handsome face flashed across her memory.
I can save him!
If she told Taylor everything, Taylor would be able to stop Luke from going to Mount Rainier, preventing his untimely death!
Although her memory of Luke was almost gone, that feeling of warmth could never be extinguished.
The stories Taylor told about how they met and fell in love were spontaneously sketched out in her mind.
No matter what, I want Luke to live a happy life!
Even if the one in this timeline is gone, she still hoped he would be safe and sound in another time.
So, Anne got out a pen and paper, ready to write a letter to Taylor.
But as she walked up to the mailbox with the finished letter, she saw another envelope inside.
This one must be from Taylor, too? What did she say now?
Anne set the letter she was about to mail down and tore open the one in her hand first.
"Miss Anne, in your first letter, you jokingly called yourself Luke's wife.
In the letters since then, you've constantly been asking about Luke.
I assume you and Luke must be friends, right?"
Anne nodded at this part and continued reading.
"There's a dance this weekend, and Luke and I will be attending together. Something exciting might happen after the dance.
But I feel so nervous. I'm afraid he might be disappointed in me."
What is Miss Taylor worried about?
"I had a severe illness, and the surgery left a seven- or eight-centimeter scar on my left chest. I feel a bit self-conscious, and I'm worried he'll be disappointed when he sees this ugly scar.
Do you think he will? I look forward to your reply."
After reading Miss Taylor's letter, Anne felt like her head had been violently struck with an iron rod—she was dizzy and disoriented.
She had always believed that Miss Taylor was her own self from five years ago.
After all, she looked exactly like her and was in a relationship with Luke, just like her.
Anne walked over to the mirror and lifted her top: the skin on her left chest was smooth and flawless, like a peeled hard-boiled egg—there was no scar whatsoever.
Taylor wasn't her from five years ago!
This meant she really was just a replacement?
Luke never loved her? He chose her only because she looked exactly like his first love?
The instant Anne learned the truth, her first reactions were deep sorrow and rage.
After a long while, those negative emotions began to recede slightly.
Anne calmed herself down and seriously thought, "No matter what, all the good things Luke did for me over the years were real. You can't fake that."
"Taking care of a sick person like me is exhausting, but he never once complained."
"Until the very last moment of his life, all I ever got from him was nothing but love."
"So, even if he only saw me as a substitute, I'm still grateful to him, and I want him to be okay."
With that, Anne picked up her pen and began to write to Taylor.
Miss Taylor,
I know this may sound absurd, but I sincerely hope you believe me.
The truth is, you and I live in different timelines. I live in 2002.
In my timeline, I am Luke's wife.
I suffer from a rare disease and have lost almost all of my memories.
Thank you for telling me so much about Luke these past few weeks.
Now, I want to tell you two things:
Luke is a very gentle person, and he loves you very much. He will not be bothered by your scar. Please go to the dance with him without worry.
In my timeline, Luke died in a mountaineering accident in March 2001. At that point in time, you must stop him from going to Mount Rainier!
Finally, I wish you both happiness in your other timeline.
Anne .
To make Taylor believe her and to prove that what she was saying was true, Anne found a picture taken of herself and Luke while they were traveling in New York last year.
In the photo, Luke and Anne stand side-by-side.
But in the background of the picture, the iconic New York landmark, the World Trade Center's Twin Towers, is a pile of ruins...
Anne wrote a few lines on the photo, briefly explaining the situation.
That should be enough to convince her, right?
The letter, along with the photo, was put into the mailbox.
She felt a mix of loss and fulfillment.
Then, she turned and went back into her room to continue the remainder of her life.
---
...
...
Miss Anne,
I received your letter.
Although what you wrote is quite bizarre, I completely believe you.
I replied to your first letter, even though it seemed a little crazy, and I've been willing to share so much with you since then because...
I have a twin sister named Anne.
We grew up together and were very close. We promised to look out for each other forever.
But we were separated when I was ten because our parents divorced. She went to live with Dad, and I went to live with Mom, and we lost touch.
Her name is Anne Hathaway, taking our father's last name.
Mom had me change my last name, so I'm a Swift.
When I first received your letter and saw the name Anne, I briefly thought it was her writing to me.
I also saw the picture you sent. We look so much alike. You must be my twin sister from a future timeline.
I'm very worried and sad to hear you have such a serious illness—so severe that you've lost nearly all your memories.
For your sake, and for hers, I'll try to find my sister and tell her she needs to get treatment early.
But there's still one thing I don't understand:
You, the future me, married Luke.
So what about me?
Do I not exist anymore?
If you can, I'd like to ask you to go to my house. Maybe you can help me figure this out.
Thank you, my sister, who is five years older than me.
Taylor Swift.
Anne read every word of Taylor's reply.
Then she read it again several times.
My sister, who is five years younger than me?
She had a twin sister! No wonder Taylor looked so much like her.
But why wasn't she around in this timeline?
A thought surged in Anne's heart, and she became increasingly convinced that this must be the truth.
She immediately threw open the door and ran outside.