3 years ago
Noah:
You are my starlight on my darkest days…
You are my darling in every way
You are everything I've ever dreamed of.
Adalyn:
You are my sunrise after endless night.
You are my comfort, my guiding light.
You are the treasure I've sought in sight.
I still hear his voice, even after hearing that he's with another woman. Zara Monroe. Somehow, her name sounds slightly familiar. In an instant, my vision darkens. My mind starts to spin at the sudden realization as I recall a distant memory.
Ten years ago:
"Zara, slow down!!" I yell, as she swerves the car to the left. "Can't you have some fun in your life, Ada?" she says. Her crimson hair blew in the breeze coming in through the open window. "It's fine, the road's empty," she adds, before turning the radio up. Harmonic tunes reverberate against the sides of the car as she hummed along to the music. "I'm so excited–" Zara says, the moment before I'm blinded by the bright headlights of the upcoming truck, it clashes against Zara's side. My head is thrown back against my seat. The metal crushes against my side as we're thrown off the road. Suddenly, my vision slowly starts to darken as I feel sparks of pain radiate through me.
A few minutes later…
"Zara?!" I look to my left and tears begin to form in the corners of my eyes. Blood streams down her face, she has a cut on the right side of her face. I try to wake her up so many times, but she remains unconscious. "No, no!!" I say, while dialing 9-1-1. My best friend, the one who's been with me in every step of my journey, is unconscious, (if only I was the one driving, if only she slowed down…) I wonder, as an ambulance arrives.
The paramedics lift me up and out of the car, sending sharp stabs of pain through my arms. I watch as two other paramedics open the door and lift Zara onto a stretcher, rushing to take her inside the ambulance. Something glints in the corner of my eye, her ruby bracelet. Immediately, I lunge inside the car, in an attempt to grab it as someone pulls me back. "Please, let go of me!" I say as I escape the person's grasp and grab Zara's ruby bracelet out of the car. Its gemstones shone brightly in the sunlight. The paramedics lift me onto a stretcher and into the ambulance. The pain in my back remains constant as I gaze at Zara, her hair streaked with blood. With a tender voice, I say, "I have your ruby bracelet" knowing how much it means to her.
Present: A week later…
Young woman found in critical condition after suffering abuse from her husband.
NTA News
I'm running through the hallway of the hospital, searching for room #329. My sister, suffering, barely surviving in the midst of pain. If only I listened to her voice in my head when she kept on calling for help. If only I went to her when she continuously cried out in pain. Suddenly, her voice echoes from the room next to me. "Mariana?" I say, my voice cracking at the end. Gauze dressings are placed on both of her arms, along with an IV. "Adalyn?" her voice is barely a whisper, as she attempts to sit up. "I'm so sorry Mari, I should've been there for you, I should've –" my voice cracks as I look at her. Her curly hair is rumpled and there are light purple bruises under her eyes. "Why did I marry him?" she asks, her voice is filled with a mixture of despondence and pain. "You never knew he would turn out like this," I say, as I brush strands of hair away from her face. "Nobody knew."
I stay by Mariana's side for what feels like an eternity. Someone knocks on the door, a slight yet subtle sound that awakes me from my trance. It's Zara.