After Rebirth I Chose to Opt Out of the Lottery Novel

Chapter 8 This was my first birthday without Roger since I met him . I finished the food through tears and went to bed early . I hoped to dream of Roger pulling out a cake from behind like before to celebrate with me . Just before drifting off , Brian's call jolted me awake . " Laura , could you come to the office ? I need help sending a document before signing this contract on my business trip . " " Okay . " Pushing open the office door , I was greeted by loud poppers exploding by my ears . Colleagues , Brian , and Michelle were all there . " Happy birthday , Laura !

" Michelle crushed me in a fierce hug . " Laura , happy birthday . " Brian opened his arms wide . " Laura , I drove back overnight from my trip just to make it before midnight . A hug isn't too much to ask , is it ? " He gave me those pleading eyes of his utterly impossible to resist . As they sang " Happy Birthday , " I recorded it on my phone , wishing I could freeze this moment forever . After blowing out the candles , they smeared cake all over my face . I shared the rest , saving the biggest slice for Michelle .

While searching for her in the crowd , she suddenly hugged me tight and burst into tears . " Laura , you big dummy ! " Brian spotted the test results in Michelle's hand . " Late - stage brain cancer " glared from the bottom left corner . Stunned , I could only rub Michelle's back , speechless . The office's joyful noise died instantly , leaving only the sound of my own heartbeat . Then came 0.00 % 11 : 180 Chapter 8 sniffles and muffled sobs - once one person cried , everyone else broke down too . Panicking . I tried to reassure them . " Don't cry ! I'm fine right now , aren't I ?

" 288 Vouchers Brian and Michelle insisted on taking me for another hospital check . But when we got the report , silence swallowed us on the drive back . I refused Michelle's offer to take leave for me . She couldn't win that argument . Brian kept turning away to wipe his eyes . Trying to lighten the mood , I teased , " Never realized it before - calling you ' Brian ' feels too casual now . Should I address you as Young Master Brian ? " His daily commute car was a Volkswagen . Spotting that Porsche last night told me he was just slumming it for fun .

Voice thick , he asked , " Laura , anywhere you'd want to go ? " " Me ? " " Too many places - Pennsylvania , New York , Washington , Wyoming ... I want to see them all . " " Would you let me come with you ? "