Sophia smiled. “Of course. Since I’ve taken your money, I must fulfill your request. However…”
She stood up with the check in hand and added, “Whether he’s willing to leave me—that’s beyond my control.”
With that, she called out, “Next patient!”
“You’re playing games with me?” Andrea’s brows furrowed. “Sophia, don’t try to fool me.”
“Who do you think you are that I’d bother playing games with you?”
Andrea gritted her teeth in anger. “You have no manners! Is this how you speak to your elders?”
Sophia chuckled softly. “Andrea, let me remind you—you’re not my elder. Livinus and I are in a relationship, which means I should be calling you ‘sister-in-law.’ We’re equals. What right do you have to demand my respect?”
Andrea froze, finally realizing that Sophia was no longer the same person she once was.
She could no longer scold and order this woman around like before.
Sophia was no longer her daughter-in-law—she was Livinus’s woman. If they ever got married, she might even have to flatter Sophia instead. The very thought of this shift in power made Andrea deeply uncomfortable.
Furious, she turned and left.
—
Tobias, a patient, watched the scene unfold and worriedly asked, “Doctor Smith, are you alright? That woman looks difficult to deal with.”
“I’m fine. She’s just feeling unbalanced inside.” Sophia smiled slightly.
“I can tell. But she seems to have a lot of pent-up anger—her health doesn’t look good.”
Sophia didn’t respond. From Andrea’s appearance, it was clear that her health was deteriorating. Even chemotherapy might not help her much.
—
Time passed, and before she knew it, Sophia was about to graduate.
The graduation photos had already been taken. Like in middle and high school, all the names were printed at the bottom. Sophia wasn’t particularly close with many classmates, so she didn’t have strong feelings about it. However, the homeroom teacher, after much deliberation, decided to edit Anna’s picture into the group photo to ensure that everyone from their class was present.
Looking at the digitally added image of Anna, Sophia felt a wave of emotion.
“Sophia, what do you think Anna is feeling right now?”
“She must be uncomfortable. She was supposed to graduate with us, but now she can’t even get her diploma.”
Due to her mistakes, Anna’s diploma had been revoked. She would never have the chance to graduate.
“She used to talk about wanting a photo in a graduation gown. Now, that day will never come.”
Sophia thought for a moment. “Not necessarily.”
“What do you mean?”
“She can’t graduate, but we can still create an image of her in a graduation gown. We can make a life-size cardboard cutout and take pictures with her—that way, she still gets her graduation moment.”
After some discussion, her roommates agreed that it was a great idea.
They contacted a photography studio to edit a picture of Anna in a graduation gown, enlarged it, and turned it into a life-size standee. Once it was ready, Sophia carried “Anna” around the campus to take photos.
She posed as if reading a book while Anna stood beside her.
She took a walk around the school, holding Anna’s hand.
She jogged around the track while Anna “cheered” from the sidelines.
In every ordinary group activity, Anna’s standee was included.
Anna had made mistakes—there was no doubt about that. But she had also paid the price and faced the consequences.
Once the photos were taken, Sophia had them printed into an album and sent them to Anna in prison.
When Anna saw the photos, she cried uncontrollably. She kept saying she was sorry, that she had let everyone down, that she had failed to graduate with them.
For her, the concept of graduation was now out of reach.
It would always be her biggest regret.
But now, her roommates had helped her fulfill her wish.
She felt as if she had truly graduated. At that moment, she had no more regrets.
At the very least, even without a diploma, she had a group of wonderful friends.
During the graduation period, everyone took turns visiting her in prison, talking with her for hours. Each time, they left with swollen eyes from crying.
When Sophia finally received her diploma, she realized—it was real. She had officially graduated.
For her, this was her second university degree. If her past self had still been here, she would probably be very happy.
As summer arrived, the bougainvillea in Sophia’s courtyard bloomed vibrantly.
Her garden had many flowers, carefully arranged so that something would always be in bloom, regardless of the season. The roses were starting to wither in the summer heat, but the bougainvillea thrived. In a few years, when the wisteria fully covered the house, the garden would be breathtaking.
Livinus was away on a business trip to a neighboring city, leaving Sophia at home alone.
It was a rare day off. After a nap, a sudden heavy rain poured down. She had wanted to go out to buy some peaches, but looking at the rain, she realized she wouldn’t be going anywhere.
“I’ll be back tomorrow.” Livinus texted.
“Okay, take care.”
“What are you doing?”
“Thinking about eating peaches. But it’s raining, so I’m wondering whether I should go out.”
Livinus didn’t reply for a long time.
