Sara's pov
A new day. Let's start. First drink a coffe, open your laptop, open a blank page and then just stare at it. Appreciate yourself by writing the novel name. What its gonna be. Ok, I gonna name it "My marraige bureau system".
Elaine's POV
"Yes, my charming lovely dear, I want to eat ice cream, and then I also want to go shopping with you. Today is going to be fun! I'll try new dresses, jewelry, makeup, and perfumes. Oh my god, hurry up! I can't wait much longer."
"Okay, dear. Just let me change, and I'll be back in 30 minutes. I have some work to finish," he said.
Elaine was very happy. This was the first time in four months of her marriage that her husband was taking her out shopping. This was the first time he was going to spend money on her.
Elaine was so excited that she got to spend time with her trophy husband. As always, he was busy with his 9-to-5 job, never skipping a day. He didn't have much time to give her.
But today was her day.
"Oh, I'm so excited!" Elaine said joyfully while brushing her hair and putting on mascara.
"I want to look like the real deal today. Today is my lucky day," she thought.
Today was Tuesday, December 27, 2024. This was the day she first got a position in her school exams when she was in the 9th grade. It was the only distinction she ever got in her whole life.
Nothing else extraordinary had happened to her—except her marriage. But she didn't count it as something extraordinary.
"This is the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to me," she thought.
Growing up with no parents, just some relatives on her father's and mother's side, she never received any love or affection. That just about defined her whole life.
She had to leave her graduation midway because she couldn't afford her college fees.
Her parents had left her some property, but it was in her relatives' hands now.
"I know I can't just simply claim it," she thought. "I don't even have enough money to buy a shirt from a thrift store, so how could I arrange for a lawyer?"
Elaine shook her head.
"Why am I suddenly thinking about all this while taking a shower? Why do people get weird thoughts during hot showers?"
Oh, how she loved hot showers—just sitting in the broken tub for hours until her feet turned crumpled from the water.
"I don't care about anything now—not my past, not my future, not even my present. I'm just happy I got a charming husband, a friend, a partner who is only mine and takes care of me. I can't thank God enough for giving me a real friend now.
"It's just been four months, but I can't wait to share my weird thoughts with him, cook for him, and do all those wifely things."
Elaine turned off the rusty shower knob, but some drops kept dripping.
"We really need to get a new knob for this. This one's becoming loose," she muttered.
She dried herself with a towel, tied it around her hair, and clamped it with a pin.
"I hope it dries quickly. I wish I at least had a hairdryer. This is an everyday struggle. Winters are coming, so I should start saving up for one."
Elaine dressed quickly. She wore her reddish skirt with black rose patterns and green roots beneath them.
"This is my favorite dress. I'm going to wear it today," she thought.
The dress was plain red when she bought it. She had sewn the roses and roots herself.
"I know how to make simple things special. Just you wait—I'll do the same with my ordinary, dull life."
She hurried to get ready, knowing her husband would be back any minute.
"Goddamn these heels," she muttered.
Knock, knock.
"Coming!" Elaine called, walking awkwardly on one leg with the other heel in her hand.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Can't you wait? Stop banging on the door like police officers!"
Suddenly, five men barged in, pushing Elaine aside.
One of them grabbed her hair and threw her across the room, her arm hitting a nail protruding from the wall.
"My arm!" Elaine cried, wincing as she pulled the nail out.
The men began searching her small house, checking every corner, drawer, and even the boxes in the kitchen.
"Please, stop! Identify yourselves, or I'll call the police!" Elaine screamed.
One of the men grabbed her phone and smashed it against the old TV. The sound of glass shattering filled the room.
Dishes clattered and broke in the kitchen as the men continued their rampage.
"Please, I said stop!"
"Shut up, lady, or you'll get yourself in big trouble," one of them barked.
They tied her arms and legs with rope and gagged her with a wet, dirty cloth. One of them snatched her only pendant, leaving red marks on her neck.
After what felt like hours of chaos, they removed the cloth from her mouth.
"Speak, lady. Where is your husband? We need to talk to him," one demanded.
"I... I don't know. He said he'd be back in 30 minutes," Elaine stammered.
"Look, ma'am, we're not here to hurt you, but your husband is in serious trouble. Now, tell us—where's the cash and jewelry?"
"I don't have any cash or jewelry. You've already taken everything I own!" Elaine pleaded.
"I promise I'll talk to my husband and make him fix this if you just leave now."
"Sorry, lady. Your husband should've added that to the contract when he begged us for a loan," one of them sneered.
"Take her with us," their leader ordered. "Tie her up tight—the roads are bumpy."
"No! It's not my fault! You can't do this!" Elaine resisted, but they overpowered her.
"Tape her mouth," the boss commanded.
They struck her on the head, and everything went dark.