"Tomorrow is the beginning of everything!" The man, her fiancé, hugged Cristy tightly.
Cristy rested her head on her fiancé's shoulder and felt the same, happy. They looked at the decorations in the rented hall with pride. At first, they were pessimistic about the wedding plan that was being so hastily put together. It was like chasing something that kept running away.
"I miss my bed now!" Cristy kissed her fiancé on the cheek and he gave her a small smile.
"You're going to be alone in your apartment tonight! I don't think my mom and dad will mind if you sleep with us!" The man stroked Cristy's cheek, teasing her.
But she immediately shook her head. "No! I know what you're thinking, and the answer is no!" She pulled away from her fiancé and shook his hand. She walked out of the hall where the wedding was to take place. Her fiancé followed close behind her.
Cristy's fiancé lived a few blocks from where they were having the party. Her own apartment was one block away. She got out of her fiancé's car and waved up the stairs to the top floor of her apartment.
When she opened the door, she was surprised to see a man sitting on the steps leading to the narrow hallway in front of the stairs.
"Alex?"
The man was her friend's boyfriend. Until two hours ago, they had been at the party. They both went home after finishing their part, complaining of hunger. Right now, things were bad. Alex had scratches on his face and his eyes were red.
"Hi, Cristy!" Alex's voice sounded hoarse.
"Have you been fighting again? What's it about this time?" asked Cristy.
She came over and sat by Alex's side, looking at the exit he had come from.
Cristy's apartment building had three floors. Each floor had its own residents. Cristy herself was on the top floor. And the door was an open room where guests could come and go as they pleased.
"I don't understand. I did everything I wanted to, but it still wasn't enough!" Alex moved a little beside Cristy, probably wiping away tears. It was also possible that he was restless and wanted to leave.
Cristy and Alex's lover weren't good friends, but they couldn't be called enemies either. They helped each other with some things. She also met her future husband through Alex's lover.
"Maybe she's just sensitive!" Cristy soothed. She felt sorry for Alex, who seemed to be trapped in a field of bombs that exploded every time he stepped on them. Unfortunately, there were no specific signs that would let Alex know when his girlfriend had exploded. "Do you want something to drink to make you feel better? I have chocolate and coffee. But no beer!"
Alex looked at Cristy with teary eyes. It was like she was looking at something he adored. That look always made her uncomfortable.
She got up first and climbed the stairs one or two at a time. Alex followed at a slow pace, the man's head bowed as he looked down at his feet.
"Why did you get married so quickly?" Alex asked suddenly.
Cristy unlocked her door. She was silent for three seconds and then answered Alex's question without turning around. "Because I found the right person!"
"Is that so?"
"Yes!" Cristy replied quickly with infinite joy. Then she stopped, remembering what had happened to Alex. "You will find the right person too, Alex. Maybe not Elen, but she'll love you unconditionally, too." She tried to encourage him, but it wasn't necessary.
"No way!"
Cristy's apartment door burst open. "What?" She turned to Alex.
"There won't be anyone like that for me. Because that guy already broke up with her!" Alex stood number two on the stairs from the top, looking at Cristy with eyes that made him uncomfortable. Expectation. "Why do you have to get married?"
"Because I've found someone who accepts me for who I am!" Cristy replied.
"What about me?"
Cristy recoiled in fear. Would it be wrong to help her friend's friend? She was just doing a favor like everyone else.
"You'll find someone like that!" Cristy gave the same answer.
Alex laughed. He stepped up and approached Cristy who was closing the door. Alex stopped the door with his foot and pushed Cristy down. Something glittered in Alex's hand. When did the man pull out the knife?
"Put the knife down, Alex!" Cristy demanded. She pushed down on the floor as hard as she could to get away from Alex. She could feel the wood splinters on the floor hurting her palms.
"Let's die together, Cristy! We'll be together in the next life, if there is one!"
No! Tomorrow was her wedding day. She couldn't die today. She couldn't die with Alex either. The door of her apartment was still open. If she could reach the door and get out, she would be safe.
She stood on shaky legs and grabbed a vase in the hallway as a weapon. Throw it and run, Cristy's brain ordered. She grabbed the neck of the vase and made her move. As planned, she threw the vase at Alex. It hit Alex's shoulder, causing him to stagger. Even before the vase hit Alex, Cristy was running.
Just a little more! Just a little more! Cristy would reach the door and be safe. But she stumbled as her back collar was grabbed and like a weightless doll, Cristy was pulled backwards. Her back hit the floor.
"Cristy, I love you! Elen knows and she's mad! That's why we fought!"
Before she could even answer, she felt the pain as the sharp object pierced her. The hot, radiating pain made her lose control. She felt the knife stabbing her again and again. She could still hear Alex's voice apologizing each time it stabbed her.
You bastard! You think I'll forgive you because you apologized? Cristy thought that for a moment before the darkness engulfed her.
She liked the darkness. Because she didn't have to see Alex anymore. She also didn't feel the burning sensation that spread through her body. Unfortunately, she also wouldn't see her fiancé Andrew again.