New Life (Book 4)

Chapter 16

The room around me was filled with familiar faces of family and friends, all gathered around the table I sat at with a beautifully decorated cake that had Happy 22nd Birthday written on it. The familiar faces sang their song to me with looks of joy and praise in their eyes as the candles shown beautifully in the dim lit room. Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday to you... a feeling of warmth in my soul took over as the cheerful tune echoed in the room. I closed my eyes momentarily to blow out the candles then suddenly things went quiet. As the smoke from the candles evaporated into thin air so did the life around me. The room became pitch black and the once familiar faces of friends and family suddenly vanished, only to be replaced with cold and empty looks of anger and hatred... what's going on? The warm feeling inside was stripped away and torn from existence. It felt cold all around as an intense shiver began to creep up my spine. Fatima? You there? The words echoed for miles yet the angry faces just continued to stare. Disgrace... worthless... unloved. I could feel my heartbeat begin to slow down, a harsh clutch on my lungs making it impossible for me to move. That's not true! IT'S NOT TRUE! The words sounded quieter than the room around me. And right... in the midst of all the angry faces was the love of my life, staring at me with a deep frown of sadness. I reached out for her but nothing seemed to get me any closer to her... Fatima? No words escaped her lips. The look of shame weighed heavily on her face like she was begging for the burdened weight to be lifted... Please, Fatima... don't go. No matter how far I reached out with my arms I wasn't getting any closer to her as she seemed to turn around and walk off in the distance, fading to black just as the room around me went completely dead. She's not yours anymore... she doesn't need you. I recognized the spiteful voice yet I couldn't find the source of it anywhere. Zachariah... my heart shivered and my hands trembled with an ever growing fear... You will never see her again. The angry voice whispered in my ear as I fell to my knees feeling a warm oozing sensation drip down my face. I put my hand to my face to find my hands coated in blood... my blood. Why did this happen? The moment I looked back up I was met with a look of pure hatred as Zachariah drove his fist directly into my face, causing me to jump in my bed as I awoke in fright, gasping for air with sweat dripping all down my forehead.

What the fuck! – I cursed to myself.

I looked to the right in desperate search of the one thing that matters most to me, and there she lay... sound asleep on our bed, exactly where I want her to be always... right by my side.

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Main Street

Friday, 10 October

14.23hrs

'No, I think that one looks better on you,' said Fatima pointing to the dark green shirt I held in my right hand.

'Really?' I replied raising a brow. 'Because I think this one looks just as good,' I insisted, holding the hanger in my left hand out supporting the light yellow shirt.

Fatima's face towards the colour gave strong hints of detest to the thought of actually seeing it on me. I could tell she wouldn't dare risk being seen anywhere near me wearing this on.

'Babe, I've never been one to tell you what to wear, but for the love of all that is good in the universe, please... don't pick that.'

I sent an amused chuckle her way as she glared at me in response.

Giving one last look at the dark green shirt in the mirror held up against my chest from my hand, I had to admit I could see why Fatima liked me in dark colours so much. It did a good job of bringing out the blue in my eyes.