The sound of the water dripping from her hair broke through the shock, and Bella's vision blurred as she tried to make sense of everything. But then, everything went dark. She closed her eyes, only to feel a sudden splash of cold water again.
Bella groggily opened her eyes, feeling the cool splash of water on her face as her mother leaned over her, having just poured a glass of water. Bella wiped her face and looked around in confusion, muttering,
"Where is the priest? Where is the beach? Where are my white roses?"
Her mind swirled with disorientation as she tried to grasp the reality around her. Had it all been a dream? She looked down and realized she was in her pajamas, not the wedding gown. Slowly, the pieces fell into place. It had all been a nightmare.
"Get up, little one," her mother's concerned voice broke through her haze. "You've been sleeping all morning. You need to take your responsibilities seriously." Bella had grown used to hearing that.
"You're 28 now, and still daydreaming like a child," her mother added.
Bella furrowed her brows, rubbing her temples as she sat up.
"So what? I'm not daydreaming at your expense, Mom."
Sophia sighed and continued, "At 28, I already had three children. I was busy starting a family and taking responsibility."
"Who says we need to have three children by this age?" Bella shot back without thinking.
"Well, back then, it was a societal expectation. And I felt ready for it. But that's not the point. I'm just worried about you," her mother replied in a concerned tone.
Bella leaned back, looking at her mother. "What is there to worry about?"
Sophia's expression softened. "Bella, I'm worried that you isolate yourself. You spend so much time alone, reading books, creating those silly cartoons, and hardly go out to meet friends. I just want to make sure you're happy, that you're not lonely."
Bella smiled gently at her mother. "Mom, it's not that I'm unhappy. I just enjoy being alone. I have so many things I love doing, like drawing and creating my cartoons."
Sophia's tone shifted, becoming sweet. "But Bella, my child... you should start thinking about marriage. All your friends are already married and have children. It's time for you to settle down."
"I knew it," Bella groaned. "I told you not to bring up this topic, Mom. I'm not ready for marriage."
Sophia sighed deeply, sitting at the edge of the bed. "If you don't want to get married, at least find a proper job."
Bella blinked, still groggy. "Mom, what are you talking about? I have a job. I'm a famous webtoon artist."
Her mother sat down beside her with a weary look. "Bella, you can't make a living drawing those silly cartoons. You need a stable job. A real career."
Bella's heart sank at her mother's lack of understanding. "First of all, it's not 'silly cartoons,' it's called webtoons. And the top three trending webtoons right now are created by me. I'm making double what you consider a 'stable career' would pay."
Her mother smiled lovingly but still had concerns. "I'm proud of you, Bella. I am. But remember, it's important to socialize with people."
Bella frowned. "Is it really that important, Mom? I can just publish my webtoons online and interact with my readers."
Sophia gently stroked her daughter's hair. "Socializing is important because it helps you grow outside of your own world. By interacting with others, you can gain new perspectives, find inspiration, and gather experiences that you wouldn't otherwise get."
Bella sighed. "I have Lala, my friend, you know."
Sophia nodded. "Yes, but you only have one friend. One human in your circle."
Bella was silent. She realized her mother was right. She had buried herself so deeply in grief and loneliness after Hanley left her that she had let go of all other connections. Even Lala, her only friend, had been kept at a distance.
She had withdrawn into herself, avoiding contact with others. The loneliness had crept in quietly, and she hadn't even noticed how it had settled in her heart. The pain from the breakup was so intense that she had become afraid of opening up to anyone again.
It was hard for Bella to accept that the person she loved most in the world, Hanley, had simply left without a trace. How could he forget her? How could he move on so easily when she was still trapped in the memories of their love?
Each day, as the sun rose, the pain in her heart felt like it would never fade. The thought that someone could so easily forget the love they had shared was unfathomable to her. Had all the love she gave really meant nothing?
Months passed, and the pain lingered. She tried to distract herself with new hobbies, but nothing filled the void Hanley had left. Her heart remained shattered, and she couldn't bring herself to trust anyone again. How could she open up to love again when it had disappeared so suddenly?
Lala, her only friend, told her that time would heal all wounds, but Bella couldn't see how time could ease the pain when the memories were so strong, so vivid. How could she forget when her heart still clung to someone who had once meant everything to her?
Years passed, and while the sharp sting of her grief began to fade, the memories of Hanley remained. Bella came to understand that healing wasn't about forgetting him or moving on as others had. It was about how she learned to cope with her loss. The heartbreak had transformed her. Once a social butterfly, she had become an introvert, staying in her home and turning down invitations for years.
During this time, she found solace in her passion for drawing and became a well-known webtoon artist, working from the comfort of her own space. But Bella was deeply rooted in her comfort zone, and the memories and habits of her past held her captive. The pain of the breakup made her doubt her decisions, her future, and her ability to move forward.
She didn't know what was holding her back from stepping out of her circle, but it seemed like something invisible kept her trapped. There were days when she tried to take a step forward, but she always found a reason to cancel or put it off. The thought of change terrified her, and the world beyond her walls felt distant and unreal.
"I hope you understand, Bella," her mother said softly. "You only have so much time left to live the life you want. I want to see you happy before I die."
Bella felt a deep sadness at her mother's words. Her complaints had become her reality, and she felt as though she were leading an anti-social life, shut off from the world.
With a heavy sigh, Bella jumped up and rushed to her study. She put on her glasses and checked the ratings for her newly uploaded webtoon in her computer. As expected, the ratings had steadily declined over the past year.
Frustration bubbled up inside her. The feedback had criticized the lack of innovation. But how could she innovate if she wasn't experiencing anything new?
She knew she had been trapped in a routine for far too long. Every day seemed the same, and nothing inspired her anymore. Bella longed for new experiences that could reignite her creativity.
Her mother's words echoed in her mind: "You can't force innovation, Bella. Sometimes, you have to try new things and take unconventional paths to spark your creativity."
Those words struck a chord within her. It was time for Bella to break free from her comfort zone and seek new experiences. She rifled through her desk drawer and found a stack of unopened letters, many from her fans, along with gifts sent in appreciation. She pushed them aside and picked up the job offers from top entertainment companies—offers she had never opened.
After staring at them for a long moment, Bella made a decision. She knew who could help her now. The time had come to leave her insecurities behind and embrace a new direction in life.