As I listened to Ellen’s story, a thought suddenly struck me.
It might be the very clue to why the Room of Choices was running two scenarios at the same time.
Apparently, Ellen’s father had been having an affair behind the backs of both Ellen and her mother.
Something must have happened recently between him and his mistress.
In the end, he chose to run away with her.
He’d even taken the money the family had saved at home…
Including Ellen’s college tuition.
Whatever had driven him to do it, it must have been something desperate.
But was that really enough for the Room of Choices to split its scenario in two?
Hans—Ellen’s father—and I had never crossed paths.
There was no connection between us at all.
As Ellen continued her story…
She told me her mother had fallen into complete despair.
She had even tried to end both of their lives.
At that moment, Ellen said she thought of me.
She told herself she couldn’t die.
Not yet.
She stopped her mother.
And somehow, they survived.
A bolt of lightning shot through my mind.
If Ellen had died with her mother…
Then my entire scenario with Ellen would have been erased.
What if…
The Room of Choices had activated its system to prevent an entire scenario from being canceled?
What if, to stop that from happening…
It had moved our first meeting three months earlier than originally planned?
If that was true…
Then it could explain why my Room of Choices scenario was unfolding along two separate paths.
In other words…
Variables could be created.
Looking at everything from that perspective…
The scenarios created by the Room of Choices were capable of generating variables.
And those variables could force me onto a path completely different from the original scenario.
As I walked that altered path…
I would influence the rewritten scenario.
And those influences would push the altered scenario…
Back toward the way it had originally been meant to unfold.
Which meant…
To reduce the impact of those variables…
I, too, was being used as one of the system’s variables.
…This is complicated.
But if I had to put it simply…
The system was using me to restore the original scenario.
“Ellen…
What are you going to do now?”
“I have to help Mom reopen the restaurant if we’re going to survive.
And if I do that…
I’ll have to take a leave of absence from college.”
I looked at Ellen…
And found myself caught in a struggle.
Do I help her finish school?
Or…
Do I leave things alone?
Which one was the original scenario?
I already knew the answer.
In the original scenario…
Ellen never graduated from college.
Because of that, she married me sooner.
Soon after our wedding…
She became pregnant with our son, Isaac.
After giving birth… This chapter was taken from novelping.com without permission.
She never had the chance to return to her studies.
If I helped Ellen now…
I’d only create another variable.
I’m sorry, Ellen.
I want to help you.
But if I do…
The scenario will create something else.
For now…
We have to let this scenario play out.
“Luke?
Are you even listening to me?”
“Huh?
What did you say?
Sorry.
I drifted off for a second.”
“I said…
I want to go to your place tonight.”
“…Why?”
“I’m scared…
Being alone with Mom.”
Her voice grew quieter and quieter.
“And…
I just want to stay with you a little longer…”
Oh, no…
If this happened…
Another variable would be created.
Ellen…
No.
Really…
no.