SHADOWS OF BETRAYAL

Jasmine. I cast a last glance at Jethro prison's gate, cleaned a droplet of tears rolling down my face with the back of my left hand, and offered a sardonic smile. Five years ago, I sacrificed my name, freedom, and sanity for the man I love. And today, we will be reuniting to reap the rewards of my sacrifice together. 'I can't wait to melt in your broad chest as you crush my lips with yours,' I muttered to myself, my eyes scanning the visitors' car park in search of Jackson who was supposed to be here today, and my face cringed with anger when I did not see him. Did something happen to him? He couldn't have gotten sick, could he? Maybe something important came up unexpectedly. Something that made him forget his promise for the first time since I got locked up here. He always came whenever he promised, and he made sure that I didn't lack anything. So today's absence is pardonable. After all, he wasn't aware that I would be getting out. I wasn't either. It came as a shock to me when I was told that my name is among those pardoned by the president to celebrate Democracy Day. And till now, I still believe it's a kind dream, and I will be walking up soon. "Hey, Taxi -, I'm going to number 23, Almond Creek." "Hop in, ma'am." The driver was talkative and filled me with some useful pieces of information about the changes that occurred during my absence. Like the governor's and some ministers' names and some of their recent scandals, the hottest celebrities in town, and where you can eat the best pizza in the whole city of Deadwood. And when he told me about the amount I may end up paying as my transportation fee, my eyes nearly burst out of their sockets. Five hundred dollars for a place where the highest I can pay for ordering for Uber is not up to a hundred dollars before. The economy has truly experienced hyperinflation since I got arrested. That's the worst thing about prison, your inability to know what is happening in the real world. The prison is your only world and your reality, outside is just a fantasy. To get updated, you either beg the new inmate for information or wait for the talebearer's fashion of it. "We are in your destination, ma'am." The voice of the taxi driver jolted me back to reality, and my eyes immediately darted around the environment which now looked new to me. Almost all the houses have new paint, and most of our neighbors have changed their fences from bricks to iron and now have the same lovely, green grass with purple flowers around their houses. "I bet you like it here. It's a place meant for the rich and super-rich, and I sometimes carry passengers down here simply because I want to feel the fresh breeze from the nearby sea." I counted his fee and nodded in agreement to his speech. I got married to a billionaire, live among super rich, and owned this amazing brown-coated duplex that is standing in my front right now. Unlike the other houses that now had brighter colors, our house has remained the same since I got into prison. I remember he once told me that he wanted everything to remain the way I left it, and he is not moving on without me. That day, we both put our palms and heads on the glass that separates us, longing for the intimate moment that we missed so much, and weeping like kids deprived of their favorite toys. Climbing the steps leading to the door, a smile spread on my face at the remembrance of such an emotional moment. "Whoof... Whoof." "Oh, Peggy... You look like a chopping stick." Peggy was once full of flesh and life. But today, I can see its ribs poking out of the tiny flesh on its body as it shook its tail. It raced towards me, leaped, and began to lick my outstretched arms. And I promptly picked it up and we had a long moment of bear hug. "I missed you so much, Peggy, and I can see you missed me too." I was pulled out of the blissful moment when the door opened and a young boy of around four years old with a smart look, red hair, and blue eyes stepped out and gawked at me. "Hello. Did you know Peggy?" "Yes, dear. Peggy is my dog. And who are you?" "Jake is my name and this is our house. And Peggy is my Dad's dog." "Jake Orleans?" I asked back. "Yes, ma'am. "And where is your Dad?" "He left with Mom some hours ago and left me all alone in the house." "Did you know where they went to ?" "Yes. Brighton parish. Everyone is invited except me." "Any idea of what is going on in Brighton parish?" "Yeah, Dad and Mom are getting married." I released the breath I wasn't aware of holding and gawked at the young boy in front of me. Jackson had not only had a son but would be getting married to the mother of his son in a few minutes. Jackson. After checking his wristwatch for the tenth time, my best man tilted toward me and asked in a whisper, "Why is the bride not here yet? She is almost an hour late. I peeked at the faces of the two angry-looking priests and immediately removed my eyes. "I don't know, bro. I called, but her line was switched off. Did you call her?" Joel who seems not to be bothered by the priest's hot gazes replied in a whisper, "Yes, I did, but got the same reply. Don't worry, she will be here in a few minutes. it took her another thirty minutes before she finally arrived along with her entourage. "What happened? I'm almost going crazy with absurd thinking." "I'm sorry, darling. The Lamborghini broke down and I had to wait until the mechanic fixed it." "And you can't come in another car?" "We only have one white car and it's the Lamborghini that broke down. Did you expect me to come in a car that doesn't match my wedding gown?" "Can we start now, please?" One of the priests asked. And when we both nodded back in response, he picked up a Bible and gestured to us to step closer. I tried to swallow my anger as the priests commenced the program but couldn't help but glare at Emily who kept smiling back at me. "If there is anyone with a reason why this wedding should not take place, let him or her signify or remain silent forever," the senior priest's voice boomed in the silent parish and was followed by a grunt and some footsteps. "Who is that motherfucker-," The words froze in my mouth when I turned and saw the last person I expected to see at my wedding.