Fractured Loyalty, Rekindled Desire

After hanging up the phone, I removed the diamond ring from my finger. It seemed like a harsh, jagged stone at that moment, hurting my eyes.

The clock was about to strike midnight.

“I’m ready,” I said to the system, my voice barely a whisper. “Take me away.”

“Host, please try a little harder,” the system urged. “I can buy you some time. Go find him and bring him back.”

But that hope faded when I saw Althea's post on social media.

She had written, [I casually mentioned it and Darius drove over thirty kilometers to buy me a mango cake.]

Even through the screen, Darius's comment oozed affection. [Fool, as long as you like it, no distance is too far for me.]

Darius was allergic to mangoes and cream. Even the smell made him uncomfortable, so I never brought them into our home despite how much I craved them. My past care and consideration now seemed like a cruel joke.

I took a selfie and posted it on social media with the caption, [Goodbye to those who loved me.]

The clock’s hand finally passed midnight.

I instructed the system to do its work, slipped into my favorite dress and lay quietly on the bed. We prepared the bridal chamber two years ago.

The light from the ceiling cast soft patterns over me. I could feel my life slowly slipping away, like sinking into the unknown. I heard my breathing, the wind, the water and the cicadas chirping.

Everything seemed to be growing, aging, dying and being reborn at an astonishing speed.

Then I heard a familiar knock on the door, which only Darius had been used to doing.

He had forgotten his keys again. But I could no longer get up.

My phone rang repeatedly, but I had no strength to answer it. Eventually, he opened the door.

I heard his hurried footsteps rushing into the bedroom.

He said, "Vera, why didn’t you answer my calls? What did you mean by that post?”

When I didn’t respond, his breathing grew heavier.

He hated it when I stayed silent during arguments.

I thought he had surely come closer to find out what was happening.

Then he saw that I was dying.

"Darius, come on, come closer," I thought.

But the next moment, he seemed to calm down.

His tone became more measured, almost like he was negotiating.

"Vera, if you’re just trying to get my attention," he said, "I won’t be fooled. I’m not playing games with you."

It wasn’t a negotiation. It was a discussion.

“Vera,” he said. “You know Althea is my teacher’s only daughter. Before her death, my teacher’s wife asked me to take care of her.”

He continued, “But now she’s gravely ill, about to die. Her last wish is to have a wedding. I promise there’s nothing inappropriate between us. I mean, it’s just a formality.”

His voice gradually faded as he spoke and I could no longer hear the rest of what he said.

My soul seemed to drift out and float in the air at that moment. I saw Darius clearly, wearing a suit and frowning as if waiting for my response.

But I couldn’t respond.

“Darius Williams, I’ve already died,” I thought. “I died right in front of you.”