4
1023 Words
Chiara
“Don’t worry. Just like your grandfather, he’ll die soon too. A few months, then you’re free,” Mother whispered, resting her chin on my shoulder as we both stared at my reflection.
I never imagined I’d wear a wedding dress for a stranger. A dying man I’d never even met.
“Come on, smile. You’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen… just like your mom.” She pinched my cheeks gently.
I tried to smile, but it felt fake. After I signed those papers, everything changed. Three whole days of her being sweet. Three days of gifts and hugs and kind words.
But inside, I felt empty.
This white dress came with a price I couldn’t forget.
“Here.” Mother slipped something small into my dress.
I reached for it, but she grabbed my hands. “Not now.” She smiled.
“What is it?” I asked.
“If you can’t stand him, a little of this every day will send him to God faster. You have nothing to lose,” she whispered close to my ear.
My stomach twisted. Shock crashed through me like cold water, but I forced myself to stay calm. I couldn’t make her angry. “Poi… poison?” I asked, hoping she’d laugh and say she was joking.
“It’s just helping him along. They say six months, maybe a year. I’m sure he’s tired of living anyway.” She shrugged as if she were talking about the weather.
Kill him? They forced me to marry him, and now they want me to kill him too?
“I don’t think I need it.” My voice came out shaky as I pulled out the tiny bottle.
Mother pushed my hand back down. “Baby, don’t judge yet. You will need it.” Her voice turned ice cold.
I couldn’t breathe.
Just then, a maid walked in with her head down.
“Speak,” Mother ordered.
“The Vieri family is here, ma’am,” she muttered.
Mother’s whole face lit up. “They’re here. Your husband.” She touched my chin. “Keep smiling. I’ll be right back.” She rushed out the door with the maid following behind.
The second the door slammed, I stood up and walked to the mirror. I touched my face with shaking fingers. The dress, the jewels, none of it mattered. I looked empty and broken. I didn’t know the girl staring back at me.
I hated it. I hated myself. But I hated this family even more.
It was crazy how everything could fall apart in just a few days.
A tear rolled down my cheek and landed on the vanity. “No, you’re ruining your makeup.” I wiped my face with my sleeve, but the makeup just smeared everywhere. I wiped again, but it got worse.
“She’s going to be so angry.” My hands wouldn’t stop shaking. “I have to fix this.”
Then I heard a voice outside. “You know what happens when you betray me, Roy. Don’t you?”
I froze. Who was that?
I tiptoed to the balcony and pressed my back against the wall.
I looked down, and at that exact moment, a gunshot exploded through the air. My whole body jumped before my brain could even understand what happened. My hands went numb and cold. My heart dropped into my stomach.
Maybe I was imagining things. Maybe I was going crazy. There was no way I really heard that.
I crawled to the edge of the balcony, and then I saw him: a man sitting in a wheelchair with a body lying dead in front of him.
I couldn’t see his face clearly, but I could see the gun in his hand.
That shape… I had seen him somewhere before, but where?
Father walked closer and looked down at the dead body for only a second before turning to the man in the wheelchair. “Mr. Vieri, I’m sorry for—”
“Take me in,” he sharply cut Father off.
Mr. Vieri? Wheelchair? Wait! Was this the same man they wanted me to marry? The same weak, dying man who was supposed to be gone in six months?
I peeked down again, and everyone was gone. Even the body. The only proof I wasn’t losing my mind was the dark pool of blood on the ground.
A murderer. That’s who I was supposed to marry. He just killed someone without hesitation, and Father didn’t even care.
No! This wasn’t a life. This was a prison. A death trap. I couldn’t go through with this. They said he was weak and helpless. The man I just saw was anything but weak. They lied to me!
Right then, I did the only thing I could think of.
My heart pounded so hard I thought it would burst. My mind went foggy with fear. I ran back into the room and grabbed the scissors they used to trim my hair. They slipped out of my hands twice because I was shaking so badly.
I couldn’t breathe right. My knees felt like they would give out. I almost collapsed from pure panic.
I couldn’t run in this heavy dress. I had to do something. I cut the gown above my knees, freeing my legs.
I looked insane. My face was ruined with smeared makeup, and my dress was chopped and uneven. Completely crazy.
My heart stopped at the knock on the door. “Chiara, did you lock the door? Open up,” Mother called out.
Dammit! She’s back.
I ran to the balcony. One chance. That’s all I had. One moment before she walked in, and my life was over forever.
Do it now, Chiara. One jump to save yourself is better than a lifetime trapped with a murderer. What if you’re next?
I gripped the balcony railing with both hands. My heart was racing so fast. This was my only option. I was already losing my mind.
I swung one leg over the railing, then the other.
“Chiara?”
I squeezed my eyes shut and jumped.
- Writer
