Space Between Us

Chapter 1

Her POV

Summer is the time where everyone travels everywhere just to become happy. Meanwhile, I am only glued to my chair since I need to quickly finish the documents I must pass to my colleagues. This is me; a workaholic girl who doesn’t even mind others’ opinions and regards. I just shrug my shoulders every time someone tells me that I don’t look good and I will never have a boyfriend since I have no time for myself. Why would I even bother listening to them? This is my life after all.

My purpose in life is maybe not to make my life better but to make sure that my family will live the best lives they are dreaming for. I am the breadwinner of the family and I am always ready to do everything just to put smiles on their faces. There is no single thing which can stop me from achieving my goals. Falling in love is not a problem for me because I know that it will only happen in fairy tales. I am not a princess but rather a pauper so I won’t definitely fall in love.

Princesses are also boring. Why would they always cry when they couldn’t find their princes? Is it even a big deal? I am greatly insecure of them because the only problem they have is finding princes and chasing love. They lived as if love is the most important thing in the world. I mean having a prince doesn’t mean you’re lucky. Do you think Cinderella lived happily ever after just because she got married? How could you trust someone after meeting them for just a night? My trust issues can’t relate. I would just rather protect myself than let someone save me from any miserable situations. Why would I become a princess who’s longing for a prince if I can be a queen without a king? A woman like me doesn’t need a man because I am strong enough to build my own empire.

Sometimes, I thought about quitting because I’m so tired of being the only one in the family who will do all kinds of jobs just to provide for their needs. To be honest, I want to stop. But if I give up, what will happen to them? I know I’m not special to them since they always think of me as their ATM if they need money. It is so foolish for me to give everything they asked for easily. But, if I won’t do that, I don’t know if they will still love me.

I breathe deeply as I watch the sun in the sky. How does it feel to not think of any problems? Can I be a princess for a day where I will just wake up and my maids will serve my meals immediately? I wish I could be like them because the only problem they have is to make sure that they look good on any occasions. I want to go outside and be like them who only think of happiness. I wish I had a time for myself where I wouldn't worry about anything.

“Hey Margo, where is the manuscript that I need?” he shouted at me. I flinched when I hear his deep angry voice.

“Sir,” I called him. I looked at him with a neutral face so that he will not be angry at my reactions.

“I said I need the manuscript at 12 noon sharp. Look at the time it’s already 12:30,” he told me. I bowed as a sign of respect

“I’m sorry sir, I will pass it to you right away. It's just that my computer is not working fine,” I explained.

“Then that’s not my problem anymore,” he shouted, “I told you to pass the manuscript at 12 noon sharp. It must be earlier at 12 noon so there will be no problem.”

I bowed again. “Yes, sir. It will never happen again.”

“Try to work hard on this, stupid,” he said before he left. I breathed deeply and closed my eyes to  achieve a peace of mind. I know I need to respect him but sometimes his words are below the belt. I didn’t even know why he's angry at me.

“Hey, are you alright?” James asked me. I smiled at him and nodded as a response to his question.

“If you need help, I’m here to help you,” he insisted. I just shook my head and smiled at him.

“No need I can do it on my own,” I said, “Just go back to your work.” I sat down on my chair and started to go back to work again.

After a minute of working, I sent the manuscript to my manager so that he could check it. I stretch my body to ease my back pain as a result of slouching too much.

“Hey, Margo. Do you want to eat outside tonight?” James asked me, “It’s our payday today and our colleagues are in,” he said. I shook my head as a response.

“I have some business to do. I also don’t want to spend some money for the things that I don’t actually need. I've already created a budget plan just so you know,” I said.

“No, I will treat you. Besides, you need to release the stress due to the pile of work that we have finished,” he said gradually.

“No, it’s fine. I’m eating with my family at home,” I said, “But thanks for the offer.” I took my bag and walked outside our area. While I’m walking along the hallway of the building, I observed that all employees in this company have a big circle of friends; but in my case, I have no one to turn to nor to say everything I feel.

I shook my head and continued to walk until I arrived at the ATM. I took my wallet in my bag to get my ATM card. I withdraw all the salary. When the money came out from the ATM, I checked if it's the right amount.

“This is all I need so I could be loved by my family,” I whispered. I smiled and put the money in my bag but I stopped when someone behind me aimed at me using a knife.

“Give me the money,” he whispered. I started to become nervous because of what he said.

“B-but I-I n-need the money,” I stuttered.

“Give it to me if you want to live,” I shook my head in response.

“Please, my family needs this money.” but he didn’t listen to what I said, instead he forced me to give my bag to him. I faced him and pushed him hard so I could escape freely. But when I ran to escape, I stopped when I felt something in my back which pierced me inside. I coughed hard and I was shocked when I saw blood coming out from my mouth.

I bent my knees down to the floor. I heard his evil laugh back at me. I knew at any moment my life would be gone. I thought he only had a knife, but he also had a gun with him. Because of the shot from the gun, I fell to the floor and my eyesight started to blur.

I don’t want to die at that moment. I want to live to help my family. But, is that really the purpose of my life? To give what they need every day? How about myself? There is nothing left for me because all the hard work I gave is for their own sake. But, what about me?

I want to be alive because I want to fulfill my duties in life. I didn’t also have the chance to experience the happiness that everyone has felt. But, how can I do that if my life is about to reach its end?

I grabbed my bag to protect the salary that I had worked hard for but he snatched it from me and ran as nothing happened. I started to cry because I felt all the pain that had happened in my life.

I started to have trouble breathing. I wanted to shout for help but I couldn't.

My eyes started to close since I wanted to rest, but I’m still fighting because maybe someone will save me. But, I am so hopeless because no one could hear me shouting for help. Maybe this is the life that is actually destined for me - a miserable one. No one cares about me. I couldn't also get a simple gratitude from all the help I have given them.

If reincarnation is true, I wish to have a better life. I hope that I won't encounter all of the misfortunes I had experienced throughout this cruel journey. I have given so much to everyone that I forgot that I need some help too. I think all the sacrifices I have given in this life were enough. I hope someday I can also feel real happiness. I want to experience the feeling of being loved for being who I am and being appreciated for my efforts and hard work.

Maybe, the story of Margo Elle Samson has now reached its ending.

---

For a moment, I knew that I had lost my life. But in a minute, I could feel that I’m very alive but not as strong as before. I knew this was weird but it felt like nothing happened to me. I slowly opened my eyes to know if I’m still alive but I was shocked when I saw a different place.

I was just outside of the building where I was working. But, where am I now? What is this weird place?

I wanted to say something but my body refused it. I could only create a murmuring sound. I decided to stand up but my body couldn’t stand up on its own. It's like my body didn’t know how to stand up.

“Hey my baby,” someone spoke. I’m confused because I didn’t even know whose voice it was.

“Ahh, Mom is here. Don’t worry,” she said. I was shocked when I saw her facing me at the cradle. I know it’s weird but why am I in this cradle in the first place. I don’t even know what this place is, to begin with. Is this what they called a purgatory? But, it’s not like that.

“Ugh, my baby looks so confused. Let me lift you for a second,” she said. I was shocked when she easily lifted me.

‘Wait for a second-‘ I stopped murmuring when I saw two little hands which were following what my mind was thinking. I opened and closed it again to assure if that is really my doing.

“Ahh, want to play close open with Mom?” she said. She immediately hugged me and tapped my back. I suddenly felt a warm feeling when she did that to me. It’s like I felt all the love I was craving when I was alive.

I started to cry because of the warmth I felt when she hugged me.

“Why are you crying baby?” she asked but I couldn’t even utter the words that I wanted to say due to my situation.

“Do you want some milk?” she asked. She looked at me and smiled at me.

“Did you miss Mom already?” she asked again. She wiped the tears falling from my cheeks and smiled at me again.

“You’re so beautiful my baby,” she said, “even though we are not that wealthy, I will give you everything you need.” She happily said.

“Sorry because you need to experience this. I know that I became selfish because I took you away from your father but I know that is the best for us.” She started to cry while she’s holding me. I looked at her and smiled even though I didn’t know what was happening to us.

“I love you,” she smiled. I touched her face while I’m smiling at her.

“I promised that I will protect you from him, okay?” she said.

She placed me in my cradle and smiled at me.

“I will give you your milk, okay?” She walked away from me and went somewhere else. I breathed deeply and lay down on my small bed while I looked at the door.

I’m clueless regarding this place but maybe this is not the afterlife. I still have my emotions so I considered it as another life but I am not sure why it is happening to me. Maybe, this is a gift because of all the hard work I have done when I was alive.

“Please, my daughter is not here!” she shouted. I was shocked when I heard the voice outside of the room.

“Where is she?!” I heard the shout of a guy.

“You said that you don’t want to have a daughter because you only like a son! Why do you need to take my daughter?!” I heard what she said.

“It’s none of your business,” he said angrily. I started to close my eyes and cover my ears due to the fear I have felt.

“If you won’t give back my daughter, I will kill you,” he said aggressively.

“Even though you’re the emperor, you still don’t have permission to enter this house,” she said, “You didn’t love me at all. You just chose me to become your shield from your parents when you made a mistake.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I never loved you since you’re only a filthy commoner. I won’t let you go because you have the thing that I own and that is my daughter,” he shouted.

“You have the ability to see what’s behind the wall, right? I know that you don’t see anything, only me,” she calmly said, “that child isn’t your daughter at all because if I know that I’ll raise a child with your blood, I’ll definitely abort it.” she said aggressively.

“I know you're just hiding her from me,” he said, “after all, I sensed that there is one person inside this house which has the same ability as mine.” I slowly opened my eyes and I was shocked when I saw both of them arguing in front of me even though there is a wall. Also, I saw many people holding torches outside the house.

“I know you used the potion that you bought from the Thalis Empire to hide the identity of my child. But in my case, I can sense her because of the same blood that flows into our veins. So, give me my daughter right now!” he yelled.

“No! I will not give her to you,” she said, “she’s my child too! So leave this village as soon as possible before I do something bad!”

“Do you think you can scare me?” he asked, “I’m the emperor of this empire, Leonard Artemius. I am powerful and I can execute you for a second if I want to, so give me the child right now!”

“You will go through my corpse first before you get here,” she said. I saw him laughing because of what she said.

“That’s what I liked about you Loraine, you're brave. But, sorry. Your braveness won’t protect her,” he said before he stabbed her with his sword. I was shocked when I saw the only woman who gave me love even though we just met was dying in front of me.

I started to cry because I felt the loneliness again. I don’t want to experience that suffering I’ve had in my previous life but it feels like happening again in this world where no one knows me.

“Remove this corpse out of my sight and give me the potion,” he said, “I know my child saw all those things because of her ability.” I wanted to stop crying but I couldn't. I saw him walk towards me; I was so scared because I don’t know if he wwouldkill me too after hkillingmy mother in this world.

I don’t know what’s happening. Why did he kill her? She seems nice. Did they have a relationship back then? Is he a bad guy? Is he my father in this world? I’m literally clueless but I must protect this another chance of mine to live my life comfortably.

“Lesley Marionette Artemius,” he exclaimed. I stopped crying and looked at him because of what he said.

“Yeah, I know that you’re my daughter; my only child who possesses the ability of Artemius,” he said. He lifted me and looked at me.

“You need to forget what happened today. From now on, you will not remember the mother who gave birth to you,” he told me. I started to cry because of what he said. I don’t want to forget her. She is the only person I trust here. Why do I need to forget her? You’re a coward for making me forget her because you know that you’ll never replace her in my heart.

“Stop crying or Dad will be angry at you,” he said seriously. I immediately stopped crying as if my body was following the order of this cowardly guy who was holding me. I only need to do one thing and it is to protect myself because no one can help me here. Even though I despised him, I need to give in since I’m not in my right body right now. But, trust me. If IIhave enough power and strength soon, I’ll definitely avenge that woman wou just killed.

“You can finally sleep and when you wake up, you will never remember the mother you once knew.” I started to feel drowsy because of what he made me drink. I wanted to stay awake however my body refused to.

“Good girl-“