The Red Bride

Chapter 2: My Own Brand of Heroine

    People say that life is a big bunch of gamble, that everyone who plans to win for something must learn how to bet everything. Life is somewhat ironic for me, my life before gave everthing I wanted, but now it seems that life is taking them all back. But when I met this guy I started to believe that life is offering another chapter after the death of my boyfriend. He is my medicine after the heartache. He is my tranquilizer when I have my weariness. And he is my own brand of heroine.

*****

"Karl, you will go to the mall today. Come on, get up." ,it is another Saturday morning and I am still in bed.

"Mom, can we not push thru with the debut? I think we need to have some other priorities.", I asked mom while brushing my teeth.

"Why? What's the matter dear? Every girl in this town celebrates their 18th birthday with dances and parties, you need to have one too. And besides, everyone in school is waiting for your birthday.", she answered me with so much excitement.

"Why do people wait for my birthday? Am I that popular?",with matching laughter.

"Of course you are darling. You are one of the most popular girls in school. But luckily you are not one of the mean girls like your best friend.", she didn't bother to continue her line.

"Mom, can I ask something?"

"What is that darling?"

"What happened to the case of Markie?"

"It is not proper for you to talk about him anymore, you need to move on.",my mom hates it when I ask her things about my dead boyfriend.

"Mom, I wanna know. Please."

"The case has been closed. They said that it was an animal attack."

"That is too impossible. Can an animal behead its' prey?",I suddenly had that creepy feeling.

"Let us drop this conversation.",she went straight to the door.

"Mom, can you accompany me to the mall. I wanna buy that dress now.", I shouted hoping that she heard it.

"Ok, darling."

************

   Whenever I go oug, people look at me with smile and after walking pass them, they whisper each other some silly things about me after Markie died. It seems that all people are blamimg me for his death.

"Mom, I'll just get the dress."

"Ok."

   It has been a year since the death of Markie, my birthday would much be happier if I prepare with him. Craking jokes, telling stories, kissing and making each other happy. I long for him but I must move on, I must continue living my life.

   As I walk in the corridor towards the dress someone approached me handling me something.

"Take this love, it will suit you. You will be perfect with this dress." he said with a very charming voice.

"I think I saw you somewhere. Never mind. How did you know that my favorite color is red? Are you some kind of a fortune teller? ", I asked him jokingly.

"No love, I am different, very, very different. Take this dress, it has been paid. Take it, this will be our little secret."

When he left that was only the time when I realized that it was the same man who gave me a box of fererro when I was younger. There is no problem in accepting gifts, but what is creey is that he looks the same, he doesn't seem to age! It was so creepy, I tried to follow him but he went straight to the comfort room. I waited for him but I saw my mom looking for me.