Until her last breath

Anise My paint brush swoosh on the board, my bright eyes expressed the emotions that I have drawn on it. This was a masterpiece for our anniversary. He wanted the celebration loud and had instructed me to send in words to every prominent personnel in the state. Everyone was gathered but he wasn't here yet. I was a bit nervous and jittery. An uprising music plays in the background as the guests were chatting and introducing each other. However, they avoided me like a plague. I was used to it and the only hope I had was him, my husband. No one wanted me here, not even my in-laws as I don't belong to their clan. I saw my mom at a corner, she was here to cheer me up despite her state of health. I waved at her and she smiled at me, complementing my beauty and painting. Her presence was enthralling. Peris had invited her too for this occasion as he doesn't want me to feel like an outcast in his pack. Then the doorbell rang and a bright smile was suspended on my lips. I abandoned my painting on stage and climb down the podium. I could feel him already. I giggled excited and reeled with an overwhelming emotion. I'd be the first to receive him. I took along with me our anniversary cake which I had baked with my mom. All eyes fell on me as everyone anticipated to meet the man of the occasion. Now I had their attention. He recently won a notable award for one of the paintings I did and he'd be returning home to celebrate his victory along our anniversary. Hastily, I spur the door opened only to be greeted by the cops. My hands trembles with the cake and my smile faded at once. "Mrs peris?" A detective voice called, appearing in front of the two cops. His eyes were heavy on me and a sudden fear gripped me. At first, I threw my gaze inside the house, puzzled and then back at him before responding. "Yes?" I said with a shaky voice and faking a smile as mixed emotions flushes inside me. I was shivering where I stood, I shouldn't be if I'm innocent. "You're under arrest for the embezzlement of the state slush fund, trafficking of drugs, selling of human parts..." "What?" I rolled out, grieved as the list goes on. The skin on my face shrinks and my heart thuds. He wasted no time in delivering the crimes. The cake accidentally fell off my hand and landed on his shoes which made him he cussed at me. The detective quickly took my hands and placed a handcuffs on it, not even giving me a chance to explain myself. Everything was happening fast and the music from inside fell. My ears detected the sound of foots and clomping shoes approaching me from behind. Certainly, the curious guests needs an explanation. It was meant to be a celebration but it seems it has become a nightmare. "You have the wrong person! There's a misunderstanding" I cried trying to refrain from his hold but his grip was firm. "Mr peris reported you, I urge you to remain silence or any word you say would be used against..." "Anise Darling... what's going on?" Mother's voice interrupted, as she had paced towards where I stood, trying to defend myself. Did he just say peris reported me? That's a lie, someone must have set this up. Or it could be a surprise. Maybe the cops were taking me to him in a grand style. I tried not to freak out but it wasn't working. "I don't know mom, they just showed up" i responded as tears stream down my eyes, my whole body vibrates as I just didn't know what to think of. She tried to defend me, say some words to the cops but they wouldn't listen, I was dragged to their vehicle like the criminal they termed me as. The guests were coming out one after the other, to have a peek of what was happening. Some had their phone cameras, taking videos of me like spectators. Their gruesome eyes gawk at me. I could hear their whispers and mockery. My in-laws stood tall at the door, watching like they had always anticipated a moment like this. I noticed a devious smile escaped the lips of my mother-in-law and my breath came in short. My mother pop her head inside the window, wiping my tears. My wandering gaze fell on her. "Hey it's alright baby, I'd get you out of there and if it's a joke, tell peris I'd shave off his hair" she encouraged trying to keep me calm. I nodded, unable to control the tears in my eyes and the vehicle began to move, she had to let go of my hand. There was silence inside the vehicle which grew my curiousity and I fought back my tears to make a request. "I want to speak to my husband" I demanded, frighten and repeating in my head that it was a prank. Silence. "You mean the one who is taking the honary award for exposing a criminal?" A cop finally spoke and my jaw dropped. It's not true. I tried not to believe anything he was saying. I couldn't even speak a word as I lean my back on the seat. My eyes locked with the detective who watch me in rapt silence. We arrived at the precinct in few minutes and adrenaline rushes inside me as I was welcomed by the press media once I got out of the vehicle, they flooded me like swamp. What's happening? I don't like this surprise anymore. Everything seems like a perfect play. "Mrs peris, you are a humanitarian yet you're indulged in such scrupulous acts..." I part my lips slightly, short of words as I only lean on the vehicle, shivering and weeping. The cops weren't even moving them away from me. This was a nightmare that I want to wake up from. Anguish reeled inside me as my mind was void of thoughts. "Your husband is a notable man for exposing a criminal like you, do you have anything to say..." I only shook my head as a denial. I didn't do anything, it's false accusations. "For his act, he'd become the state's mayor" I heard a cop whisper to the other as they began to clear the press media just to let me get inside the precinct for interrogation. I winced as I felt something hard land on my face. It was a stone, thrown at me. Blood drool from my head, staining the white dress on me. It wasn't one, but more objects were being thrown at me and I crouch to the ground, screaming for help. "Please, I'm innocent" I kept repeating and struggling to hide my face. The press media weren't the only ones here, families of the victims who they claimed I sold were here, cursing at me. Everyone had the face of the devil and the only name I could call was Peris.