Beneath The Surface

Chapter Two: A Stranger's Life

After Julie was done with her meal, the man gathered everything she had used, put it back on the tray and left the room after making sure Julie was comfortable. As she heard the sound of the door close, Star_ sitted on the edge of the bed_ gave out a shaky sign of relief, her mind swirling with confusion and fear. She glanced down at her hands again, her fingers adorned with a simple yet elegant wedding ring. The reality of her situation making her heart race.

Her eyes drifted to the wall, where a large wedding photo hung in a gilded, golden frame. The caption read "Julie and Dave Smith." The couple in the picture looked blissfully happy, their smiles radiating love and joy. Julie looked like a movie princess in her pure white wedding dress, each contour, ornament and highlight complementing her perfectly, and Dave was no exception in his charming black suit_his eyes filled with the same warmth and affection she had seen moments ago.

Looking on at the picture, Star's head throbbed with a mix of memories—some her own, some foreign and fragmented. She got up from the bed, the weight of her new reality pressing down on her, and walked over to the dresser. A collection of perfumes, jewelry, and makeup lay neatly arranged, items she had never seen before but felt an odd familiarity with. She tried to put herself together for the day, not going overboard with the makeup as she usually would. Finding the perfect dress to suit her new host, Star got dressed, and went out of the room.

As she worked in the hallway, she couldn't help but marvel at all the pictures and paintings that hung on the walls. From family portraits to flowers, everything just screamed perfect. On one of the portraits, she saw Julie playing in the sand with a cute baby boy most likely a year old. Going closer to get a better view, star was caught in her tracks as the original Julie's memories came in sporadic flashes, offering glimpses into her past. She saw Julie and Dave laughing together, their fingers intertwined as they walked on a beach. She saw herself—or rather, Julie—cooking dinner in the kitchen, humming a tune she now knew by heart. These memories were vivid, almost overpowering, yet they left her feeling like a stranger in her own body.

"What happened?" Dave asked, as he found her frozen in place infront of the portrait. Julie looked reassuringly at him, his presence both comforting and terrifying. He headed towards her, his eyes searching hers for any sign of distress, and placing a kiss on her cheek said, "You should have called me if you need anything, there was no need to stress yourself" _his voice gentle. Julie forced a smile. "It is... alright," she replied, trying to sound convincing. She was still grappling with the knowledge that this man, her husband, was also her assailant. His intentions remained a mystery, and she couldn't shake the fear that lingered in the back of her mind. Dave helped Julie go down the stairs, and settled her in the living room, a simple yet stylish space with a mature and childish theme. He handed her the remote control, and informed her that as it was his day off all she had to do was rest and he would handle the household chores. Apparently, Dave's plans for the day where for her to relax and when he finished up he was to join her.

Over the next few days, she meticulously observed him, looking for any signs of deceit or danger. Dave was attentive and caring, always making sure she was comfortable and happy, nothing like the cold eyed man she saw before all this. He seemed genuinely concerned about her well-being, but Star couldn't let her guard down. She needed to understand his motives, to figure out why he had shot her and how she ended up in Julie's body.

The original Julie's memories continued to surface, offering fragmented insights into not only their life together overall, but also little things like what to cook, how to do the laundry, and how to properly clean the house, things otherwise she wouldn't have know as the rich only child_Star. She remembered Julie and Dave's first date, a candlelit dinner at a cozy restaurant where they had talked for hours. She also recalled their honeymoon in Paris, the way Dave had held her close as they watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night. These memories were bittersweet, a stark contrast to the fear and confusion she felt now.

One afternoon, while Dave was at work, Star decided to explore the house. She needed to piece together more of Julie's life, to understand the person she had become. The house was filled with photographs and mementos, each one telling a story of love and happiness. There were pictures of family gatherings, vacations, and intimate moments that painted a picture of a perfect marriage.

In the study, she found Julie's diary. Hesitant at first, she opened it and began to read. The entries detailed her thoughts and feelings, her hopes and dreams. Julie had loved Dave deeply, and he had seemed to love her just as much. But there were also hints of something darker, moments of doubt and fear that Julie had confided in her diary.

As Star read, the pieces of the puzzle slowly started to come together. She saw the cracks in their perfect life, the secrets that had been hidden behind their smiles. She learned that Julie had been worried about Dave's increasingly erratic behavior, his sudden mood swings, and unexplained absences. Julie had suspected that something was wrong, but she hadn't known what to do. Star continued looking for more clues and found Julie's old college album. Wanting to learn as much as she could about her, she opened it. As she looked through all the pictures of what seemed like Julie's friend's, she couldn't believe what she saw. A photo of Julie and Star along with two other girls that she could clearly identify as her_Star's_ friends. Not comprehending what she saw, she took the photo  along with the diary back to her room for later analysis.

Star's own memories of the shooting were still hazy, but she was beginning to understand the depth of the mystery she was entangled in. She knew Dave's name from the wedding photo and the diary, but his intentions remained a puzzle. He had shot her, yet he seemed to care deeply for Julie. Why had he done it? What was he hiding?

Determined to find answers, Star continued to navigate her new life as Julie. She played the part of the loving wife, all the while keeping her eyes and ears open for any clues. The original Julie's memories came more frequently now, blending with her own until it was hard to distinguish one from the other.

She was living a double life, caught between two identities. As the days passed, Star grew more adept at pretending to be Julie, but the questions never left her mind. She had to uncover the truth, to find out why she had been shot and how she had ended up in this strange, twisted reality.

And most importantly, she needed to decide what to do once she did.