章節 1: The Day Everything Changed
I woke up to the sound of rain tapping against the window, a dreary start to another day in a life that felt like a cage. The room was dimly lit, the heavy curtains drawn tight to keep out the morning light.
I lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, trying to muster the strength to face another day. The bed beside me was empty. Not surprising. Daniel, my husband, hadn't come home last night. Again.
I sighed and pushed myself out of bed. My reflection in the mirror greeted me with a tired, hollow look. At 21, I should have been in the prime of my life, but my eyes told a different story—one of exhaustion and resignation.
I brushed my hair and pinned it back, making myself as presentable as possible. There was no point in trying to look glamorous; it would only attract unwanted attention from Daniel and his cruel remarks.
Downstairs, I found a note on the kitchen table in Daniel's hasty scrawl: "Gone for a few days. Don't wait up." I crumpled it in my fist, the anger and frustration boiling just beneath the surface. I knew where he was—probably with my sister, Clara. The thought made my stomach turn. My own sister, and he had no shame.
I left the house, stepping into the chilly rain, and walked to the bus stop. The rain soaked through my thin coat, but I didn't care. It was almost a relief, the cold reminding me that I was still alive, still capable of feeling something. The bus ride to Grand State Buildings was uneventful, a blur of grey streets and faceless commuters.
The office was a towering structure of glass and steel, a stark contrast to the drabness of my life. Inside, everything was sleek and modern. I worked as a secretary, a job I had once been proud of.
Now, it was just another reminder of how far my life had deviated from my dreams. I clocked in and made my way to my desk, avoiding eye contact with my colleagues. I knew what they thought of me—pity mixed with disdain.
The highlight of my day, if I could call it that, was seeing our CEO, Carmen Steele. She was everything I was not—confident, powerful, and utterly captivating. Carmen never wore dresses or skirts.
She always dressed in impeccably tailored suits, complete with a tie, exuding an aura of authority and elegance. Her dark hair was styled in a sharp bob, and her piercing green eyes seemed to look right through you.
She moved through the office with a grace that commanded attention, and whenever she spoke, people listened. She was a reminder of the world I had once wanted to be a part of, the world of fashion and glamour.
Today, Carmen was in a charcoal grey suit with a crisp white shirt and a black tie. As she passed by my desk, I caught a whiff of her subtle, intoxicating perfume. She glanced my way, and for a moment, our eyes met.
There was something in her gaze—an intensity, a recognition that made my heart skip a beat. But then she was gone, striding into her office, leaving me with the fleeting warmth of her presence.
The hours dragged on, punctuated by the incessant ringing of phones and the clatter of keyboards. I busied myself with paperwork, trying to drown out the thoughts of Daniel and Clara.
Lunch was a solitary affair, a sandwich eaten in the break room while I pretended to read a magazine. The other employees chatted around me, their lives full of plans and dreams, a stark contrast to my reality.
By mid-afternoon, I could feel the weight of everything pressing down on me. The anger, the sadness, the helplessness—it was all too much. I needed a moment to breathe, to escape. I made my way to the restroom, splashing cold water on my face. The woman staring back at me from the mirror looked defeated, but I couldn't let her give up. Not yet.
I returned to my desk and noticed an email from Carmen's office. My heart leapt. It was probably a routine request, but any interaction with her was a welcome distraction. I opened the email, and my suspicions were confirmed—it was a request for some files. I gathered the documents and headed to her office.
Standing outside her door, I took a deep breath and knocked. Her voice, firm and composed, invited me in. I stepped into the room, the air filled with her presence. She looked up from her desk, her eyes locking onto mine.
"Ms. Vargas, thank you for bringing these so promptly," she said, her voice smooth and authoritative.
"Of course, Ms. Steele," I replied, my voice steady despite the fluttering in my chest. I placed the files on her desk, my fingers brushing against the polished wood. She leaned back in her chair, studying me for a moment.
"Is everything alright, Elena?" she asked, a hint of concern in her eyes.
I was taken aback. It was the first time she had ever addressed me by my first name. "Yes, everything's fine," I lied, forcing a smile.
She nodded, but I could tell she wasn't convinced. "If you ever need to talk, my door is always open."
"Thank you, Ms. Steele," I said, my heart aching with a mixture of gratitude and longing. I turned and left her office, the warmth of her words lingering with me.
The rest of the day passed in a haze. As I made my way home, the rain had stopped, but the sky was still overcast. I felt a heaviness in my chest, an overwhelming sense of despair. I couldn't shake the image of Daniel and Clara, their betrayal a constant torment.
I entered the house, the silence oppressive. I wandered through the empty rooms, each one a reminder of the life I was trapped in. I found myself in the bedroom, staring at the note Daniel had left. The anger I had been suppressing all day bubbled to the surface, and I tore the note to shreds, the pieces falling like confetti around me.
I needed to get out. I grabbed my coat and left the house, my feet carrying me aimlessly through the streets. The city lights blurred around me as I walked, my mind racing. I ended up at a small park, the darkness broken only by the faint glow of street lamps. I sat on a bench, the cool air biting through my coat.
As I sat there, the reality of my situation crashed over me. My husband was cheating on me with my sister. My family treated me with contempt. My life was a series of unending disappointments. Tears streamed down my face, and I let them. There was no one here to see, no one to judge.
In that moment of despair, I saw a car speeding towards me. The driver must have lost control, the vehicle skidding on the wet pavement. I didn't move, frozen by a strange sense of calm. It was as if the universe had decided that this was my end.
The impact was sudden and brutal. Pain exploded through my body, and I was thrown to the ground. I lay there, the world fading around me. My vision blurred, and I could feel the life draining from me.
As I lay there, broken and bleeding, a single thought burned in my mind: I wished I could go back. Back to before all of this happened. Back to a time when I still had hope. If I had a second chance, I would make them all pay—Daniel, Clara, my mother. I would take control of my destiny and carve out the life I deserved.
With that final, desperate wish, darkness claimed me. The pain faded, and the world went silent. My last breath was a whisper of defiance, a vow to rewrite my fate.
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