Bound Beyond Death

The ringing of the phone jarred Mia awake from her sweet dreams. In her dreams, her boyfriend was about kissing her at the altar. Mia got up grudgingly and picked up her phone. The caller ID revealed it was her boyfriend, calling her, the very same she had just been dreaming of. She picked up the phone in excitement. "Hello, baby." Her boyfriend's deep voice came over the phone. "Sweet morning to us." Mia smiled sweetly, though her boyfriend can't see her. From the glow on her face, it was obvious to anyone watching her that she deeply loved her boyfriend. "Sweet morning to us." Mia echoed. "Guess what day it is?" The boyfriend asked. Mia's smile stretched even more, if that was possible. She was so glad her boyfriend remembered. "Of course! It's our one year anniversary, how can I forget?" Mia squealed. "How are we gonna celebrate it, any ideas?" The boyfriend asked. "Anything you want, baby." Mia replied instantly. "Alright. I've got a shocking surprise for you. Drop over at my place after work and you will get your mind blown off, alright?" Mia squealed again. "What's it?" She inquired breathlessly. "If I told ya, it wouldn't be a surprise no more, would it?" The boyfriend asked. Mia had to agree. "Alright. I'm looking forward to it." "See you then. Love you!" The boyfriend said in a sing song voice and cut the call. Mia had a goofy smile when she came out of the shower some minutes later. And she still had it as she locked the door of her apartment to go to work. She had it as she greeted the neighbors next door, and she still had it as she turned the corner to the express. It dimmed a little then. She needed her full wits about her if she was to get a taxi to her office as soon as possible. But she resumed her fantasies once she was settled into the taxi. She just could not keep her mind off the surprise her boyfriend had mentioned. She wondered what it was. Did he buy that necklace she once showed him when they went shopping? Or maybe, it was a party? Whatever it was, Mia knew it would be good. And she knew it will be doubly good when she reveals her own surprise. But hers, of course, will only work if the grant money comes in today, as she was promised. That was why she didn't mention it to her boyfriend. It was such a huge amount of money, and she wasn't sure she would get it that day. At work, Mia was a little distracted. She kept reminiscing about her life the last few years. It had been a rough ride, filled with heartbreaks from two different boyfriends who had all looked very promising. She never knew she would stay a full year with her current boyfriend. It had seemed very unlikely when they began the relationship. Hence, her joy. Maybe, just maybe, she had finally found love. Mia was wrong, as she would find out later that same evening. But for now, she went about her work cheerfully, oftentimes forgetting herself as she leaned on a desk to fantasise some more. At some point, she got out her phone and called her best friend, May. "Hey, May. You gotten the grant money yet?" She asked. "No. But I got info it will drop in today." "Hey," a voice startled Mia out of the call. She dropped the ceramic dishes she was holding. They fell and broke into a hundred pieces. Mia froze in shock. Slowly, as if paralysed, she looked up to see her boss. He rarely came to the office. And whenever he did, one can be sure of trouble. "So, the reports are true." Mia's boss said, glaring at her. Mia was still in shock and couldn't reply. The boss continued anyway. "I got reports that your productivity have recently reduced. You barely do a day's job in a day. And all these started since we got this last order to deliver three thousand dishes to the hotel downtown." The boss looked at Mia, chewing on his unlighted cigarette stick slowly. He was obviously expecting her to say something. It took a moment for the implications of what her boss said to sink in. Then Mia's eyes widened in shock. "No sir. If you mean I'm sabotaging the company…" "That's what I mean, my dear." Mia's boss cut her off coldly. There was nothing dear about the my dear. "And I would never have believed it. But you just proved it." Mia's boss waved his cigarette stick at the shards of ceramics on the tiled floor. Mia opened her mouth, but no words came out. "That's right. Whatever you wanted to say would have been useless anyway. Because those dishes you broke would have been the last batch we would deliver. I have already decided to fire you. Leave my company now!" Mia stood confused. "I said, you. are. fired." The boss repeated for emphasis. Mechanically, Mia turned on the heels of her flat sandals and walked out of the office. There were tears streaming down her face as she left the company building. She had just lost her only means of livelihood. And her boyfriend did not have a job at the moment. He could hardly hold down a job. If the grant money failed to turn up today, Mia wasn't sure how she was to pay for the dishes. They were damn expensive. And she did not have much in her account. She got out her phone and called May. She needed a comforting voice to sooth her worries. Someone she could share her fears with. May invited her to come over so they can talk about her problems over a cup of coffee. Mia was about to return the phone to her purse when a notification dropped in. The first to do so since the day began, apart from the regular ones that drop in each time she makes a call. With trembling hands, she checked her phone. It was just as she suspected. The grant money has finally arrived. Mia almost jumped up for joy. She decided she wouldn't call May again. She was going to meet May soon anyway. She boarded a taxi to take her to May's apartment building. When she reached May's door on the twenty-second floor, she found out the door was open. Strange. She thought. May never leaves her door open, even if she was in. But she was in for more surprises. May wasn't in the room when Mia walked in. This is even stranger. Mia thought. For some reason, she was getting uncomfortable. "Anybody home?" Mia called. She got no answer. She called out again. Still no answer. Mia got out her phone and called May. She heard May's peculiar ringtone coming from the room. But there was no answer. What is happening? Mia thought to herself. She walked to the room. She was about to knock when she heard it. Two voices she could never forget in her life. That of May, and her boyfriend, Mark. They were groaning, and moaning, obviously in the heat of s*x. The sick thing was, it was her one-year anniversary with Mark.