Shattered Reflection

Chapter 2

Aria

“My face! My face!” Tears pour down my cheeks, and my shaky hands move to touch my face.

“Evon, my face!” I can’t stop staring at my reflection in the mirror, but her features soon blur my view. “Evon, what happened to me? What happened to my face?” My hands tremble as they leave my face and move to hers.

“Evon!” I scream, my voice breaking. She holds my hands tightly, her gaze trying to comfort me, but the tears running down her cheeks betray the truth.

“Evon,” I whisper now, my voice softer. The accident was terrible, but the scars—those scars are worse. My life, once imperfect, has now shattered.

“Evon! Help me... tell me I’ll get my face back.” The tears feel endless, each one tearing through my chest.

“You will,” she promises. But there’s no strength in her voice, no conviction.

“Evon!” I scream again. I feel the panic building inside me, clawing its way to the surface.

Doctors and nurses rush around, but their words are like static. I bang my fists against the bed, desperate for something—anything—to make this stop. I’m not sure if it’s the fear of the unknown or the crushing weight of a future I can’t even imagine, but the pain in my chest is unbearable. Just then, the needle—my only comfort—pierces my skin, and I fade into nothing.

When I wake, the whispers are still there, but this time they don’t pull me back to reality. I open my eyes and see Evon, the nurses, and the dull light filtering through drawn curtains. My hands reach up, but they tremble as I feel the jagged texture of my face. The nightmare isn’t over. It’s just beginning.

“Aria. Aria.” A voice calls my name, pulling me into the moment. I turn my head, my eyes finally focusing on the doctors standing at the foot of the bed.

“Aria, you’ll be fine,” one of them says. His words are gentle, but there’s a flicker of something else—hope? I cling to it. It’s the only thing keeping me from breaking.

The next few days blur together. I attend therapy sessions. The idea that surgery might restore 90% of my face offers a glimmer of hope, but the cost is overwhelming.

“Can I see Ethan now?” I ask, my voice pleading. I haven’t seen him since I woke up, and

My mind races with worry. Evon, is Ethan, okay?” I need to hear the truth.

“He’s fine. Don’t worry about him,” she says, her voice soft, though something in it sounds off. “I’ve already called him, and he knows you’re awake.”

“I’m glad to know he’s fine.” I try to smile, but it feels foreign. “But why hasn’t he come to see me?”

“Don’t worry, he’ll—” A rustling noise at the door interrupts her, and my stepmother, Mary, walks in with a tight smile. The mockery behind it is almost palpable.

“Aria, hope you’re doing better now?” she asks, her voice laced with condescension.

“I’m fine,” I respond, giving her a bright, almost forced smile. She’s never been the mother I wanted. I tried for years to make her happy, but I stopped pretending a long time ago.

“It’s good to see you didn’t completely ruin your life... with your own hands.” Her voice is soft, but it carries a cold bite.

Evon’s stare freezes her. “She’s just recovering, Mary. Maybe now’s not the time to lecture her.”

Mary laughs loudly, the sound sending chills down my spine. “Evon, sweetheart, you’re still the only one who doesn’t see it. Beyond those scars, she’s going to spend the rest of her life in prison.”

“What are you talking about? I shoot her a sharp look “She doesn’t need to know anything now,” Evon says quickly, stepping in front of me. “Let her heal first.”

“And who told you the police are going to let her do that?” Mary’s words hit like a punch to the gut.

“What did I do wrong? Why would they arrest me?” Panic rises in my chest.

“You’re a murderer. You killed people.” Mary’s words drop like a bomb, leaving silence in their wake. I can’t help but laugh. Was I killing in my sleep? Had I done it during my coma?

“But wh—” My voice cuts off when the door swings open. Two police officers enter.

“Sorry to disturb you, Miss Aria,” one of them says, his tone stiff. “But we have some questions.”

“I’d rather you address me as Mrs. Aria,” I respond, trying to keep my composure.

“Alright, Mrs. Aria. The hospital found alcohol in your system. You were intoxicated, and you drove recklessly. You’re being charged with murder and reckless driving.”

My mind races, struggling to process what he’s saying. “What do you mean? I wasn’t the one driving. Ethan was. I don’t even drink! This has to be a mistake.” I glance at Evon, searching her face for answers.

“Ma’am, I mean, Mrs. Aria,” the officer says, flipping through his notes, “the hospital gave us your test results. You were found drunk while driving.”

“I wasn’t the one driving. Where is Ethan?” The panic rises in my throat, choking me.

“Ethan said he wasn’t in the car with you. He asked the driver to take you to the hotel, and the driver said you asked him for the keys.”

“That’s a lie!” My voice cracks as tears flood my eyes. How could they believe this?

“So, Mrs. Aria, you’re under arrest for murder and reckless driving. You’re not allowed to leave the hospital or go anywhere else.”

I freeze. The words hit like a blow to the chest. Arrested? For something I didn’t do? My heart pounds in disbelief.