Rebeca

Trapped in desire

Since I married Courtney, my life began to turn upside down. I was poor, but she helped me and stood by me every step of the way until I achieved success. A year after our marriage, Courtney suddenly fell ill, and the doctors were unable to treat her. I watched her beauty fade day after day. Since I had lost hope, I heard one day about a witch who could help me. I went to her, and she asked me for a strand of Courtney’s hair—but then she disappeared and never returned. Courtney was dying, so I took her to the hospital. She stayed there for a week until she passed away. From that day on, I lost my sanity. My sister took me to many psychiatric clinics, but nothing helped. I had lost the most precious thing I had—the girl I loved, who loved me even though I was poor. Because I loved her so much, I didn’t want the soil to consume her body. I decided to cremate her and keep her ashes, so her memory would remain forever.

My condition worsened day after day. I surrendered myself to alcohol, frequented nightclubs, stayed out late, and spent my money on women.

Through a nightclub, I met an orphan girl named Lucy. I thought she would heal my grief. I treated her like a queen and fulfilled her every need. I decided to marry her—and I wish I hadn’t. How could I marry while the memory of my late wife was killing me? Still, perhaps I could rescue a poor girl from that miserable life, give her a home and safety.

Lucy was happy with me. Our only problem was my drinking and my frequent visits to bars. Although I reduced those habits, they remained my only refuge whenever I remembered Courtney.

Life with Lucy was normal. My company was doing well too. I began to overcome the past and forget it—until that fateful day. We were having dinner at South Road restaurant when, by chance, I met her orphanage friend, Rebecca. I don’t know why, but she had a special charm. When I looked into her eyes, I saw love and passion. She begged me to restore her friendship with Lucy. Lucy never liked her; she had only tolerated her because the orphanage had no other girls besides her and Rebecca. Lucy told me Rebecca was eccentric, her personality changing every day. One evening she even attacked Lucy, then the next morning denied it as if she were someone else. I knew Lucy wasn’t lying, but Rebecca had a strange way that made me agree to her request and insist Lucy rekindle their friendship.

After we met at the restaurant, I asked Lucy to invite her to our home. She came, and everything went well. When Rebecca left, Lucy told me she was very happy and thanked me for my effort. But she asked that we invite Rebecca often, while keeping their relationship casual, fearing her odd behavior.

That’s what happened. Days passed, and we discovered Lucy was pregnant. It was the happiest day of my life—finally, I would become a father. But my joy didn’t last. After we celebrated, memories of Courtney began haunting me strangely. I wanted nothing but to go to the nightclub. I thought, “It’s fine, I’ll sneak out tonight, and it will be the last time. My child doesn’t deserve a drunk father.”

If only I hadn’t gone. If only I had chosen another nightclub. I went to the one where Lucy used to work. I don’t know why, but I felt I had to go there.

—“I see you here, Henry.”

—“Rebecca?”

—“Yes, my dear, welcome…”

—“I’ll leave…”

—“Where to? Our night is long…”

—“What? Nonsense…”

—“Listen, if you don’t do what I want, I’ll tell Lucy you were here. Don’t you care about your baby?”

—“How do you know?”

—“Rebecca knows everything.”

That day I was certain—I had been wrong. Truly, this girl was bizarre.

I don’t want to talk about that night, but what I will say is that I began going to the nightclub three times a week. I don’t know why, but all I wanted was Rebecca!

Thankfully, Lucy didn’t know yet. She was in her seventh month and needed rest—our child was coming.

The strange thing was that I no longer remembered Courtney. I didn’t remember her existence at all.

All I knew was Rebecca. I became obsessed with her.

I remember that cursed Monday. After waiting for Lucy to fall asleep, I went to the nightclub and saw it burning. I ran like a madman, screaming, “Rebecca!! Where are you…”

After two hours, we managed to extinguish the fire. I found Rebecca lying on the ground and took her to the hospital. Her tests were normal. I waited for her to wake.

—“Henry, you’re here?”

—“I came for you, Rebecca…”

She began frantically searching her clothes, and when she felt a small booklet in her pocket, she calmed down.

—“Where will I go now? I couldn’t renew the restaurant contract, so I have nowhere to sleep. I’m an orphan, I have no one…”

—“Nonsense, my love. Tell me what you want.”

—“Let’s run away.”

—“What kind of idea is that? My son? My company?”

—“And what about me?”

—“I’ll buy you a house and visit you there until I open a business for you.”

—“And what do I tell Lucy? Everything burned down. Where will I get money now?”

—“Listen, let’s go to a hotel now. Tomorrow morning, you’ll come and tell Lucy the nightclub burned down and you have nowhere to go. I’ll make you this offer, and you’ll stay with us until I arrange things.”

—“Agreed.”

And that’s what happened. She stayed with us for a month until I arranged everything in her favor. Rebecca now had a house, a job, and a lover.

One day, I returned home after spending time with Rebecca and found Lucy had committed suicide! Lucy and my unborn child lay dead on the bed, blood everywhere.

I found a letter on the floor. I read it, tears filling my eyes:

“Henry, from the first day I saw you, I felt you would be my savior. I never knew you would be the cause of my death. Wasn’t it enough to wound me with Courtney’s memory and your irritating ways of escaping the truth? Do you think I’m foolish, not knowing where you went all those nights? But the last thing I expected was that you would betray me with my friend, whom I always warned you about.

When you come, I will be before you dead—me and our child, who doesn’t deserve a father like you. Do you think I’m stupid? I know all about your relationship with Rebecca, and you’ll never know how I found out.

I hope your life with Rebecca will be happy. I wish you the best, even though you betrayed me. Still, I love you.

Lucy.”

Lucy killed herself, and my child in her womb. All because of me. My guilt drove me insane, made me a strange man.

My only refuge in those dark days was Rebecca.

After cremating my second wife, I placed her urn beside my first. I kept their ashes in the attic and never told Rebecca where they were.

After a year of dating Rebecca, I felt eyes were on me. I had to marry her before my reputation worsened. I loved her like a madman, though I was constantly torn inside.

The last time I saw Rebecca was at South Road restaurant, on a Wednesday. She wore a pink shirt and white pants. Her long black hair and dark eyes stole my heart.

Now I have forgotten Lucy, forgotten Courtney. I have Rebecca—only Rebecca.

I proposed to her with a surprise party, and she accepted. We spent the whole day together, but I never saw her again afterward. My torment of obsession began. I called everyone “Rebecca,” searched for her everywhere, but never found her.

Until one day, I received a message:

“Henry, you fool. I am the witch you came to five years ago. You left with me a strand of your first wife’s hair. Haven’t you wondered why your life has never been right? That old hag is the cause of everything. Now she has taken Rebecca from me, and she will never return her. Where will you find her? Will you tell the police you’re searching for a witch and become a laughingstock?

I will settle for my obsession… I will settle for searching for Rebecca in every woman until I find her.”