The Widow's Wealth

Chapter 3

Arriving at the hotel closest to her, Gloria sat parked in its parking lot with her head resting on the steering wheel as she recalled the fact that all three bank accounts she had with her were under her husband's name and she hadn't thought to have her separate one since she wasn't counting on his betrayal. She'd trusted him with her whole life to have thought of an alternative to the life she lived.

"You're so stupid Gloria, so so stupid." She kept slamming her forehead against the steering wheel as tears cascaded down her dark-chocolate skin. With tears blinding her vision Gloria picked up the envelope to read it for the first time that day. Unfolding the A4 paper that came with the plane ticket, she stared at the scribbles that were her late husband's handwriting with blurred vision.

Two drops of tears dropped unto the fair white paper as she remembered the same handwriting having written to her love letters. His handwriting was the neatest she'd ever come across. He also had a way with words that was unmatched by any other man she'd ever spoken to. He always knows the right thing to say to either put a smile on her face or bring tears to her face.

Wiping her tears with the back of her hand, she projected the paper directly below the side window. Inhaling sharply as she tried to control her hiccups, her eyes scrolled through the sheet of paper.

My dear Gloria

How I wished you could've found this out under different circumstances. I know what I did was wrong but I have reasons as to why everything is the way it is.

First of all, I love you and I loved you. Never doubt the love we shared because you were the missing piece to the mystery that conforms my heart. You're the brightest flower in my garden. The very sun that kept my star glowing. The only woman that was selfless enough to sacrifice everything for me. Yet, you don't deserve all that's about to happen to you.

Yes, we were meant to live our love life until we were old and grey. But if I'm dead and you're seeing this letter then I'd like you to listen to our lawyer and do as he instructs you.

Leave the city.

There are people after me and if I'm dead then they've gotten to me before I could complete my mission. I can't say much in this letter but they'll be after you as well and I have given to you everything I know about our enemies. For your safety, I need you to travel to the address on the plane ticket our lawyer has gotten for you. I was able to get you a house on 500 sqm land. It's not much but they will keep you safe.

The chief is a good man and I trust him with your protection.

Everything in the village is a tad different from the city we've both gotten used to but with time you'll get used to it

Gloria my dear, I would have wished that we were allowed to experience our happy ever after but if I'm dead that's because they got to me before I could disperse their souls.

I love you with all my heart and with time you'll understand why I gave my family everything we both walked for.

Take care, my love.

Gloria held the piece of paper tightly as she threatened to tear it into countless pieces. At that moment she felt the utmost need to kill herself or get killed by something. What joke, she'd become an object of his fuckery. Just glaring at the letter she couldn't say she understood anything the letter had to say. Apart from the fact that she would later understand why he handed everything over to his family.

She threw the paper along with the brown envelope on the passenger seat beside her and started the ignition. Driving unto a bridge, she switched the ignition off. Unable to take the burning swell that echoed through her heart from reading the letter, she jumped out of the car with tears leaking from her eyes.

The sky wore orange as birds flew past the retrieving sun. Gloria gritted her teeth as she made her way towards the rails guarding the bridge. Determined to end her life as she ignored the sounds of several vehicles horning behind her.

With sheer effort she slid her legs past the top of the rail, standing in front of it she held the metal behind her tight as she watched the ship moving directly towards her. The water beneath was as dirty as a canal.

Her heart became one with her stomach as she closed her eyes and raised her head against the sky. There was nothing else for her in this accursed world, she had nothing to live for and her problems only seemed to be mounting. She needed that blossom of hope that would never wilt away, but nothing could represent that hope. Elijah was her dream, and her dream was dead so what human could survive without a dream to look forward to every morning?

She leaped forward as the wind swept through her cloth, revealing the skin underneath as she felt the presence of someone behind her but before she could let him touch her she left the rails and held her teeth tight as her heart beat faster than it has ever as she heard the sound of the ship in front of her. Her body leaped into the air, like a fish dangling atop the river. Feeling the air within her escape her lungs as she hits something hard only to feel herself sink into the water beneath her.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
Hey guys, thanks for reading, voting and commenting, I really appreciate it. And Merry Christmas, I hope you're having a blast.