Self-Seeker

12

Saturday

The sound of the doorbell alerted Jazmine of the surprise awaiting her outside. She threw on her robe and glass slippers (she really was taking the whole Daddy's little 'princess' thing quite literally) and descended the staircase.

"Just a moment!" She called out, though nobody would hear.

As she adjusted her clothing and fluffed her hair a final time, she opened the door with that pearly white smile of hers to find a porch void of human life staring back at her. A confused look embedded her face before she realised something had been left on the ground. She picked it up and brought it inside.

Carrying the basket of gifts, Jazmine continued up the stairs, failing to notice the trail of water leaking from the bouquet onto each step. The glimmer of purple glitter on the envelope caught her attention, it spelled out 'Get Well Soon'. She couldn't understand why someone would send her such a message, she wasn't sick or unwell in any way.

Suddenly, a startling five thunderous knocks on the door led her to jump in fright. More water fell onto the floor without her realising. Before she could compose herself, another five knocks came. Hurriedly, she stepped down to answer the door - rolling her eyes at the person's impatience. However, the slippery surface caused her to lose her footing and she ended up in a tangled heap at the bottom of the staircase.

After several failed attempts to move, Jazmine lay still on the floor, the pain of the fall soon causing her to rest her eyes and mind. She had passed out no longer than two minutes before her husband entered the house, shocked to find his wife sprawled unconscious across the ground.

"Babe? Babe, wake up!" He cried as he shook her body frantically. Pulling out his phone from his back pocket, he dialled 911 and requested an ambulance.

***

Tyler anxiously paced around the hospital room, worried that something terrible had happened to the love of his life. Another ten minutes had passed until Jazmine stirred awake, hissing in pain from where her leg had twisted harshly.

"Oh, thank God. Are you okay? What happened? Why were the stairs all wet?"

Her reply came out as barely a whisper. "Who was at the door?"

"Nobody. I was on the phone in the car right outside when I heard a loud thud come from in the house. When I rushed inside I found you on the floor with a twisted leg."

"The flowers. Check them." She pointed towards a table where a collection of flowers from her friends had already been gathered.

"Which ones? The ones that were already at the house when I reached? What's the deal with that? How would someone know you were going to get injured?" He proceeded to fire a number of unnecessary questions at her.

"Would you just check the card on the damn thing?"

Even in her mangled state, Jazmine still managed to raise her voice irritatingly high and give orders to those around her. Her husband complied, taking the 'Get Well Soon' envelope that he brought from the house and tearing it open to see who signed the card. His brows furrowed, and the corners of his mouth turned down into a frown.

"Well?" She questioned.

"Jaz." He stated in disbelief. "It's from your sister."

Genesis couldn't help but to smile sadistically as she watched the couple from her CDC. She zoomed into Jazmine's face, a mixture of shock and anger creased her flawless skin. Perhaps it was sick that she took pleasure in watching her sister squirm, but what did she care? As far as Genesis was concerned, no amount of suffering would mount to the physical and emotional pain that was inflicted on her because of her sister's selfishness. Jazmine was the one who taught her to get up and fight - so that was exactly what she was doing.