WARNING: This story contains material that might be triggering to some viewers! Adult content! Proceed with caution!
Chapter Three - Shooting Star
There comes a time when certain moments in a human's life determine what kind of individual they become. Perhaps it is an abusive family member, being robbed at gun point, a car accident that leaves them in a comatose state, a disease that forces the doctors to amputate their legs, a lover humiliating them, a sudden death they were not prepared for. Moments like these seem to stick to people until death embraces them.
They are usually faced with two choices, to heal or to pretend to. They can either embrace the cards they were dealt or to cheat their way through the game. Others do a little bit of gambling in both. Stuck in an endless loop of trying to heal only to be torn back down by the disappointing reality they live in. They wonder if they should give up, let it all go and move on. Either the fear of death is too much or there remains a speck of hope that they cling onto with all their body weight.
Watching her lover and lifelong friend fade into the despicable baby blue hospital gown was that triggering moment for Joan. The abuse was not it, the poverty did not do it, the hunger, the humiliation, no. The decisive moment that determined everything after was seeing the strongest man she knew barf his insides out. Listening to his muffled cries when he thought she was not there.
Have you ever loved someone so much that you become nauseous at the mere thought of them in pain? Joan scarified everything in her life to protect him. Everything material and metaphorical, and she did it with ease. Nothing mattered, the world was bland without him. Kinon was the most valuable person in the world. She knew that it was wrong for her to do that to him, to force him to live for her even when he was suffering so much but for the first time in her life- she dared to ask for something selfish. Dared to ask him to stay around a little longer.
She did not know what to expect, the cancer was spreading too fast and he had been fighting it for three years by that time. It was inevitable and yet, she refused to prepare her heart and mind to the idea of accepting his passing. Like a stubborn child, Joan refused to address her hurt and let it consume her until he was ripped out of her hands. In the first place, she had no idea how to deal with her sorrows and traumas. Her parents weren't fit for their role and rarely could she open up to them.
Joan stretched her arm out towards the black canopy of the bed, her wide eyes studying the anatomy of the torn flesh of her fingernails.
After a week long disciplinary "reeducation" lecture with her sweetest friend, the head maid, she was sent back to her quarters. Tucked away in a dusty area of the manor and littered with dark furniture that was not suitable whatsoever for a young human. No further instruction was given to her and after two days she realized that the servants did not care for her existence whatsoever. A lousy cup of milk and a stale bun was left on the floor behind her door at 1 pm every day to make sure she was kept alive for convenience sake.
A long sigh came out her lips as her arm fell over her eyes. Accepting this new reality and the mess she fell into was no easy feat. How can any sane normal human welcome the idea of reincarnating into someone else's body? Joan could hardly stand her previous one let alone becoming comfortable of this child's appearance.
With that thought in mind, the short girl hopped off the edge of the bed and tiptoed her way towards the mirror resting on the floral wallpaper of the wall. Her curious sparkled with interest.
"Wow..."
Her voice was barely audible as she reached out towards her reflection.
"You look like a doll..."
Joan bit back further compliments as she touched her impeccably clear skin, her fingers dancing around her body in awe. How could anyone dare to hurt art like this? She tilted her head and gathered her slick hair to her right shoulder. Was this really her new identity? Is it okay to shamelessly admire this new body? She blushed at that thought and decided to turn away from the mirror. She still felt like a foreigner invading someone else's territory, no matter if that someone in question had given her permission to or not.
A few silent moments in thought passed before Joan fell onto her knees and groaned in despair.
"This- This just doesn't make sense whatsoever." Her forehead bumped against the dark planks of the floor as she intertwined her fingers behind her head, as if that could stabilize the thoughts racing around her head.
"I am going to go crazy. How is this possible..." She squeezed her eyes shut and lightly tapped her feet on the ground.
"Let's think this through..." She stretched her body back up and made her way towards a desk hidden in the corner. She pushed away mountains of blankets that had immigrated there god knows when given the amount of debris coming off of them.
As she explored around the drawers of the writing desk, she finally landed herself a stack of tea stained paper sheets and a quill with ink. Joan scooted over a chair from the on-suite bathroom and climbed into it. Her right hand held the writing device tightly as she began outlining her thoughts properly.
'The Lotus Saves Villareal, a romance story that follows the entertaining life of a pretty female lead, Ezel Ifan, until she meets her charming knight, the cold-blooded Adonis Villareal-.'
Her hand stopped moving as the ink smeared. Adonis Villareal. She shivered at the name as she recalled the way he treated everyone but his lover. A man with unknown origins, he was only made relevant when the author needed someone to come and save the damsel in distress.
'Our heroine grew up in a quaint middle class family full of love and happiness. Due to her upbringing at a herb/medicine farm, she quickly became famous for her floral arrangements among the noble ladies of the world. She was recognized and acknowledged by the upper class for her beauty and talent, and the lucky girl was soon sponsored by one...'
Joan creased her brows together at the grim recollection of what happens next.
'Elain Vaughan, (new twin sister), was impressed by Ezel at a tea party she hosted and decided to befriend her. The two quickly grew inseparable and not long after, Ezel's family passed away in an unfortunate carriage accident. Elain decided to officially sponsor Ezel after that tragedy in fear that she would be sold into slavery. This world is not very kind to widowed, orphaned, or poor women.
Adonis Villareal comes into power once his father passes away from old age. Returning from another victorious battle, a grand ball was held for both his military success and his coronation as the sole sovereign of the empire.
Elain naturally brings Ezel along to said ball. It is there that the two love birds meet. Ezel is mocked by a snobby duchess and runs off to the balcony to weep. What a boring trope. Mr. King Sovereign walks in and is astonished by her beauty, instantly falling in love at the mere sight of her.
A crying angel sent from the gods!
If only it ended there... To everyone's surprise, Elain had been secretly betrothed to Adonis and was madly in love with him. Their friendship soon grew bitter and Elain was killed off for her part in an attempted assassination. The two love birds lived happily ever after, the end.'
Joan lifted her eyes up from the paper and looked out the arched window that faced her. The sun was setting behind the oak trees on the property and warm shades of orange and red were smeared across the sky, as if some giant was finger painting and smudged all the pretty colors into each other. Her face slumped into her hands as she watched the world darken around her. Everything was eerily silent save for the chirping birds calling out for their family members to come home.
'This body is yours now, please take care of it for me.'
Joan sighed for the millionth time that day and pushed herself away from the desk, causing the chair to make an unpleasant squeaking noise.
"What a burden..."
Yet, it did not feel that way. Some part of her, some secret peculiar part of Joan was relieved by this second chance that she was thrown into. The system and the method of her reincarnation was puzzling to her but she soon came to accept the fact that there was nothing to do about it now. She was given a new life, another opportunity and she was going to live it well. She did not want to die again, she just wanted to find her happiness somewhere... anywhere.
Maybe this was her way of honoring her promise to Kinon, to live well even when he was gone. Her heart seemed to ache again.
She bit the flesh of her lower lip and returned to the mirror once more. The beauty with the cosmic plum eyes stared back at her.
"Thank you... Thank you so much...and I am so sorry..." Tears quietly landed on the floor as she touched the mirror. She was sorry for the abused and pained girl to have died that way, at the kick of her father's boot. She was so incredibly sorry that such an innocent and small child had to deal with so much hatred from the people around her. Yet, Joan continued on to thank her, thanking her for letting her have her body, for giving her another chance. For the first time, someone had wept for Emoria from the bottom of their heart.
The malnourished girl slowly gulped before stepping away from the glass. The look on her face was startling as she held her head up high. She looked regal, like a god.
"Emoria..." She toyed with the name with her sweet red tongue.
"I am Emoria Vaughan, and I swear on my soul that I am going to live a good life this time." Her scarlet lips pressed together and thus sealed her fate.
That night, the stars were impeccably bright, jewels that littered the dragons lair. Out the corner of her eyes, Emoria caught sight of a shooting star pass by.
That's right, from this moment onward- Joan was dead. Joan had died the moment he passed away, or rather the moment he stopped being conscious of her presence next to him. There was nothing left for her in that world, and she decided to lock up that broken woman in a small chest and to toss her into the sea of her memories.
"I am Emoria Vaughan, and I will survive this time."
Author's Note:
If you have enjoyed this chapter, please do not forget to show your appreciation by adding to collections, rating, voting, and commenting!
Thank you for your support, it keeps this project alive!