Ray

II

I sit on my bed crying. I look in the mirror and frown at what I see. My eyes are red and puffy and the tears have ran down my face. My hair is still perfectly done, still with its curls pinned carefully in place.

How could he possibly do this? She was the sweetest most lively person in the world and he shamed her. She had ten times the character he'll eve have. And I'll never see her again. He forbade it. And if I disobey him, he'll leave me and then my family. My family, I miss them so much. I just need to get away. And then a plan forms in my head.

...

"Oh darling, I know now you were right. I guess the presence of the moment put me out of my head. I wasn't trying to ruin you."

I smile innocently at him. I've planned this whole thing. The apology. I'm wearing the dress he bought me and is always formally asking me to wear. It's a pale yellow with white lace at the collar. Then I had my hair twisted into a knot at the nape of my neck. and to top it off I am wearing the official engagement jewelry set he bought me. The ring, necklace, and bracelet. I am his vision of me.

He smiles at me and for a small moment I almost think he might actually care for me. He's growing on me, I admit. And I can barely breathe when he reaches out and pulls me into an embrace.

"I was starting to worry where you were. Don't ever leave me again." he whispers in my ear.

And every plan I had made to escape just ran out the window. I just can't anymore. I don't understand why. I just can't even think of leaving now.

We have a fantastic evening. Bow that we've both cooled off, we finally have a nice time. Dinner. I am happy when I go to my room for the night.

I slowly undress because I'm thinking about Matthew. I unpin my hair and watch as the curls fall down my back and hit my waist. I pull a nightdress out and slip it over my head. I sit by my vanity and comb my hair. Then I just sit on my bed for several minutes. It's so strange it never comes when I'm happy. Eventually I drift off into a deep sleep.

When I wake, I am still in a blissful state. I slide out of bed and look in the mirror. I can't exactly make out my face yet because I have that weird things where everything is blurry. When my sight finally clears, I look at my reflection and scream.