A Week Before

One: Faith

CHAPTER SONG: TREE -- Olafur Arnalds (Youtube music)

FAITH.

“My father who art in heaven—hallowed be thy name—thy kingdom com--- come. Your will should not be done now. Please do not let me die now. I should not die by the hands of sinners. I have lived a saint almost all my life.” Air encumbers my lungs as I wake up to find the ceiling of my bedroom.

My feet on the cold tile and my outfit being the red bra top and translucent maxi skirt tells me I am back to seven days ago. I came back to seven days ago and my phone just confirmed it. The date— it’s not the day after my anniversary, I did not wake up from a coma after days or months. I just woke up in the exact position I slept off while waiting for my husband— I mean ex— I actually mean will now be my ex-husband. That same position I was in seven days ago in the same outfit. It's the fifth hour of the day. I had been worried about him during this same time frame. My instincts told me he was with another woman but I wanted to live in my delusions, especially that he requested— might say instructed me to wear this outfit. I thought we might have one of those crazy nights like we used to have in the first year of our marriage. where he made me come for him at least twice in a row before we both found our way to the bathroom where we had an unplanned quickie before he watched me clean up so I could sleep.

In those early years—- I mean first six months of our marriage I loved the monster he created in me— the bedmatic one— not the rest—

“Wait! What if my legs are not working.” I mutter as I try moving my feet.

This could even be a dream– but it is not. The telephone ringing right now confirms my death was not a dream. I did die and if when I pick up this phone it is his sister who picks the call then this is my second chance to switch up things for myself and not let myself be thrown from the rooftop–

Pedro really left me to die and went to Thea who slit the throat of his wife of three years then proceeded to make my death seem like I unalived myself.

“Faith, I will not be home until midnight. When my mother asks about me, tell her I have been in my room all night and I just do not feel like having a conversation with anyone.” Her words are the same– of course.

“Midnight passed more than four hours ago.” I respond just as I did this time today.

“It means I will not be around throughout today. You are so dumb I always wonder why my brother even married you. Not a wonder as to why he can never let you come with him to the yearly ball of the Don(s).” She responds and rather than give her an apologetic response like I did before, I just end the call.

I need to not be here anymore but I do not need to make myself a suspect.

I do not know what I am going to do to escape this hell hole, a place certain to bring me death in seven days– but I am taking off my clothes now and proceeding to have my bath, I have to dress up and make a way for myself however I can.

A glance at what I look like makes me realize, my eyes are extremely red. I have not even had time to cry. Yes, I am still in so much shock as to how I am getting this second chance to survive even though I have just seven days, or should I say less than seven days because five hours of the first day is gone. Maybe when I finally find my way out of here, I will find the time to cry but not in this moment of extreme confusion.

“I really did die.” I mutter as I run my hand on the scar mark on my neck.

Is this mark a reminder? I do have marks from— but they are never where eyes could see them. My face gives him peace he usually says, it is the body that could not hold a child to bear him an heir that irritates him so much— if only I had known.

“Where do I go?” My soft voice comes out hoarse from extremely held back cries.

I do not know. I have not made a public appearance in three years–

In the moment where I had hiccupped too many times after Leah’s revelation, I felt the liquid trickle down alongside an extremely sharp pain in my tummy. At that moment I realized I was pregnant and I lost the baby but I did not get enough seconds to grief.

I am not the only one who has gotten another chance to make completely different choices, but the one growing in my womb also has a chance to be protected. This is my second chance to save myself and my child.

“Who can be my saving grace?” I mumble as I speed up my bath.

“Rusell companies loses sixty percent of their company stock as their investment in The Royals PLC plummets. The CEO, Tony Rusell, is yet to speak with any of the media. Recently…” The newscaster’s words from the morning of my third-year anniversary replays in my head.

Tony— maybe he is the man for the job. Should not be a maybe. He is the man for the job but he is also known as the most ruthless billionaire in the world. Even Leonardo Rucci is mild compared to him. At least Leo smiles, Tony has never been caught with a smile. Even while signing new deals, he takes it without a smile and when he was asked during an interview, he said there is no need to feel excited about new deals as they are his entitlement since he put in work.

I need that kind of a man on my side, the problem is; How?