Chapter 2
1458 Words
“Why is she acting scary?” Ivan tried to sound calm but his voice cracked.
Father looked at me without blinking.
“If you think you can refuse then, prepare to leave this family with the only clothes on your back and I’ll also ask the hospital to stop treating Anna’s mother.”
Since her father died by suicide, Anna's mother hadn't left the hospital. The house felt emptier and quieter than before. Anna sat beside her mother's bed, holding her hand as if she were afraid to let go.
Anna was my best friend. She was the only one who understood the thing I couldn't even say out loud.
Whenever she looked at me with that tired and hopeful smile, I remembered the promise I had made to stand by her and do everything I could so she could see her mom walk out of the hospital healthy again.
“Fine. I'll do it,” I whispered. I swallowed my next word, and turned to walk down the hallway until I slammed the door behind me. The sound shook the frame.
My legs gave in and I fell on the bed.
I dragged my legs to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. My body folded in half as my forehead pressed against my knees.
Inhale,
Exhale.
A loud knock banged on the door.
I stopped breathing for a second, my hands tightened around my legs.
Another knock.
I forced myself up and walked towards the door. When I opened the door, Dominic stood there. I quickly jumped on him, wrapped my arms around him, and finally I broke into a big smile.
“Big bro, how have you been?” The muscles in my cheeks felt tight. He gently held my hands and led me into the room.
I pulled a chair from beneath the table and placed it in front of him.
He grabbed the chair, and finally he sat down. I couldn't stop smiling until I climbed the bed to face him, and tucked my feet under my body.
“How was your trip?” I asked.
He looked at me without saying a word. Those eyes reminded me of the day he told me he was traveling. I couldn't let go of him. He had been the only one on my side, seeing him makes me happy again.
No one spoke in the room, I fixed my eyes on his shoes until he finally broke the silence.
“Let’s forget about my trip,” he said.
“How are you, Yulia?” The question sat gently on my soul. My eyes scanned the wall in my room, as I tried to calm myself down from the memories of the past.
I sniffed. “Dominic, please stay with me,” I cried out.
He stood up and sat beside me. He pulled me closer to him, his hands moved slowly across my back. His touch became slow and steady.
He squeezed my shoulder. “I'm here now.”
I inhaled sharply as I gently raised my head, my left hand wiped away my tears.
“What will I do?” I tried to control my tone yet it cracked.
His hands moved to my cheek. They were soft and cold.
“I heard about everything,” he said. “You took a bold decision to protect your name in family history.”
I gave a gentle smile without realizing it. He reached into his pocket as it vibrated against his leg and headed outside.
I sat on my bed, listening to the thought in my head. Footsteps tapped against the floor, Elena stepped inside as she scanned every corner in the room before she stared at my face.
“There is no need to shed tears,” she said.
“By the time Nikolai finds out you are not me, you will be dead.”
I gripped the edge of the mattress, my hands became sweaty.
“Or you choose to walk away,” she continued.
My knee shook as I slowly pushed myself to my feet.
“Walk away?” I asked. I turned to point at the family picture on the wall.
“Where would I go if I walked away? This is my family, Elena. I was their daughter too, and I couldn’t leave the family I built.”
She took a few steps closer.
“They aren't your family, you don't belong here, you were just a stranger that stole my life and home.”
She stopped a few inches from me. I could smell her perfume, it was the same scent I wore everyday.
“You are a loser, Yulia.” Her hands hit my shoulder, and I fell backwards, the room echoed in sharp sound, slowly I hit the floor.
I stretched my hands out, tried to call for help, my mouth opened but no words came out.
I gasped for air the moment I noticed my lungs refused to open. I saw her boots. I saw her shadow on the floor.
“Stop pretending,” she said,
“I knew you are pretending”
Dominic came back and saw me on the floor struggling to gasp. I couldn't see clearly, everything turned grey at the edges.
“Elena, what have you done?” Dominic asked. He rushed to me, lowered his back to lift me up, I felt his hands on my shoulder.
“Why isn't she responding?” Elena's voice shook.
“Elena, what did you do to her?” he yelled.
“I tried to have a conversation with her,” Elena kept biting her lip.
“Check if she is still breathing,” she whispered.
He held his finger under my nose.
“Dominic, is she dead?” She whispered.
My eyes began to close slowly, I couldn't fight it and I let my eyes close.
- Writer
