Bound by Forbidden Vows

MEMORIES TURNED NIGHTMARE!

Ella’s mind was swimming in a strange mix of memories and pain. In her mind, she saw Fred’s face, his warm smile as he put a beautiful pendant around her neck. He’d looked at her with that familiar gaze, saying, “Wow… just wow, Ella. You’re so beautiful.”

“Say ‘wow’ again,” she had teased, her voice light and happy. He’d grinned, moving behind her to clasp the pendant around her neck.

“Wow,” he whispered, his hands lingering on her shoulders. “There’s nothing in the world more beautiful than you, Ella. Nothing.”

She’d laughed, touching the pendant that sparkled against her skin. “Thank you so much, babe. It’s beautiful… I love it. And I love you.”

“I love you too,” he’d said, wrapping his arms around her.

The memory faded, and suddenly Ella felt something warm on her cheek—a tear. But it didn’t feel like just a tear; it felt like a deep sadness. Her heart ached, and a sharp pain shot through her shoulder. She tried to open her eyes, struggling against the fog in her mind. Slowly, her eyes opened, and she found herself staring at a white ceiling, bright lights, and soft beeping sounds around her.

She was in a hospital. She could feel the stiffness in her arm, the dull ache in her body, and a terrible, burning pain in her shoulder.

How… how did I end up here? she thought, her mind still trying to piece things together.

Her shoulder throbbed as she tried to sit up, and she winced in pain. Oh my God, my shoulder… it hurts so much. She looked around, confused. This wasn’t a regular hospital room. It looked almost like a hotel suite, with soft lighting, elegant furniture, and a large window.

“Where… where am I?” she murmured, trying to understand.

Just then, a doctor rushed into the room, her face a mix of worry and relief. She gave Ella a kind smile, moving closer to check on her.

“Ella, you’re awake! How are you feeling?” the doctor asked gently, her voice soft.

Ella blinked, trying to process everything. “I… I don’t know. My shoulder… it hurts. What… what happened to me?” Her voice was weak, shaky.

“You were in an accident,” the doctor explained, her tone calm but serious. “You were hit by a car. You had some injuries, but we were able to treat them. Your shoulder… it’s hurt badly, but you’re going to be okay.”

Ella’s heart skipped a beat as memories started to return. She remembered running… running out of Fred’s apartment, the anger, the betrayal, the heartbreak. She remembered the car, the moment it hit her, the pain, and then… nothing.

She felt her throat tighten as the memories of Fred and Laura flooded back. She had trusted them both. Fred, her fiancé, and Laura, her best friend since childhood. And they had betrayed her in the worst way. The thought made her heart ache even more than her shoulder.

The doctor’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Do you need anything, Ella? Are you feeling okay?”

Ella shook her head slightly, still feeling dazed. “No… I just… I don’t understand how this happened.” Her voice was barely a whisper. She stared down at her hands, her mind clouded with pain, confusion, and a deep sadness.

The doctor watched her closely, concern in her eyes. “You’ve been through a lot, Ella. It’s normal to feel this way. But remember, you’re safe here. You’re in a private suite, and you have a team looking after you.”

Ella nodded slowly, trying to take it all in. Her heart felt heavy, and a tear slipped down her cheek. How did everything go so wrong? she thought. Just hours ago, she’d been ready to surprise Fred, to celebrate with him. And now… now she was lying in a hospital bed, broken and betrayed.

The doctor touched her arm gently. “Try to rest, Ella. It’s going to take some time, but you’ll heal. Physically, at least.”

Ella swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice steady. “Thank you, doctor,” she whispered.

The doctor gave her a reassuring smile and left the room, leaving Ella alone with her thoughts.

As the door closed, Ella stared at the ceiling, her heart filled with a painful emptiness. She thought of Fred’s promises, his words of love, and how quickly they had all fallen apart. She thought of Laura, the friend she had trusted like a sister.

Her shoulder hurt, her body ached, but none of it compared to the pain in her heart. She lay there, silent tears slipping down her cheeks, feeling like her world had shattered.

If this is the end of that chapter of my life, she thought, then maybe… maybe it’s time to start a new one.