The Price of a Secret

2 | A SUMMER DREAM

6 hours before...

The color white suited her well. Elizabeth took a good look at her reflection in the mirror and saw that she was ready for the big day... the day when she would start a new life.

She walked slowly over the rose petals scattered on the floor.

Her thoughts, however, couldn't stay in the present. They insisted on wandering through the past. She found herself remembering him... remembering the first time she saw him...

——

Two years before...

Her feet ran desperately towards nowhere or somewhere where all of it would end. It was as if running could exorcise all the demons that imprisoned her or simply take her to another world. A world where there were no dinners, balls, parties, dresses, etiquette, what to do, what not to do, what not to eat, what not to say, in short, what not to live. She felt suffocated by her own life. But was it really her life? She didn't know, but if it were, she had at least the right to end it.

She felt the sea breeze hitting her face with each desperate step. The moon bathed the sea and reflected all its loneliness in her eyes. Her feet, however, did not falter before the merciless and majestic moon, which insisted on catching her in this moment of despair.

A chill ran through her body, a sign that the water was getting closer. Just a few more steps, and it would all be over.

Tears streamed down her face, leaving a salty trail on her skin, which would soon merge with the saltiness of the sea, leaving no trace of her despair.

She ran as fast as she could, not caring about the blisters that her high-heeled shoes insisted on creating. And finally, she threw herself off the pier.

The sea was merciless that night. The full moon attracted the tides, which danced violently to get her attention. From the pier, almost nothing remained, as the waves were already almost covering it.

When her body touched the water, a shock ran through her, bringing sanity back to the surface. But there was no more time, no more escape. She felt the waves engulfing her and the water filling her body. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't swim. She could only sink. And soon, the resplendent brightness of the moon bid her good night, and there was nothing left to be seen. It was over.

But this wouldn't be the moment when death would finally say hello. She would have to wait.

In a matter of seconds, Elizabeth's lifeless body was grabbed by strong arms and taken to the beach. Already lifeless, the young man with black hair and eyes as dark as the night massaged her chest and performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. It wasn't working, and desperation overcame him. He had trained so hard. He was the best in his class. How could he not save her? And without giving up, he continued the cardiac resuscitation maneuver until, at last, the water was expelled from the beautiful girl's body. He felt her heartbeat and saw her take her first breath. It was as if an angel were sleeping. He understood why the sea wanted to take such beauty for itself. After seeing her, it would be impossible to forget her, let alone live without her.

Still unconscious, the handsome young man carried Elizabeth in his arms and took her to his home. He needed to warm her up. He wouldn't be defeated by the cold and dark night.

In his cabin, he lit the fire and watched over her body. He couldn't let her die.

Two hours passed until Elizabeth could open her eyes. When she woke up, she was startled by the place. She didn't remember exactly what had happened, only a vague dream where an angel was pulling her by the hands.

When she looked around, she was surprised not to be alone. Who was he? By her side, sitting on the floor and leaning against the bed, a young man was sleeping.