The cold water wrapped around me, pulling me deeper into its dark depths. I tried to move, tried to scream, but my body felt numb. Everything was blurry, and the world above seemed so far away. My arms flailed, but the water was too strong. It swallowed me whole, dragging me down, down, down.
My lungs burned. My chest felt tight. I opened my mouth, but only bubbles escaped. My vision darkened. My heart pounded in my ears, but then, suddenly—nothing. Just silence.
Then, out of nowhere, a strange sensation washed over me—like a jolt of electricity. It was as if the water wasn't just pulling me under but also lifting me up. My whole body tingled, my mind spinning. I felt weightless, as if floating between two worlds.
For a moment, I couldn't breathe. And then, without warning, the darkness swallowed me again.
I awoke with a start.
The sharp scent of antiseptic filled the air, making my nose sting. My head throbbed, and my whole body felt… wrong. Blinking, I tried to focus. The bright lights above me made my eyes water. The steady beeping of machines echoed in the quiet room.
I was in a hospital.
Slowly, I sat up. My body felt different. Heavier. Unfamiliar. A wave of dizziness hit me, and I gripped the bedsheets. Something wasn't right.
I looked down at my hands. My breath caught in my throat. These weren't my hands. They were smaller, the nails neatly painted a soft pink. My heart pounded. I raised a shaky hand to my face. My fingers trembled as they brushed over smooth skin, a different nose, unfamiliar lips.
I swallowed hard and turned to the mirror across the room.
The reflection staring back at me wasn't mine.
It was Mimi's.
A scream built up in my chest, but it got stuck in my throat. No. No, no, no. This couldn't be real. It had to be a dream. I squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself to wake up. But when I opened them again, the truth remained.
I was in Mimi's body.
Panic surged through me. My hands shook as I swung my legs over the bed. I had to find my body. I had to wake up from this nightmare.
With each unsteady step, my heart pounded harder. I walked down the hospital corridor, ignoring the strange looks from passing nurses and doctors. My legs felt weak, like they weren't mine.
Then, I saw it.
My body.
I stood frozen, staring at myself lying in a hospital bed. My real body—Bella's body—was unconscious, hooked up to machines. The steady beeping filled the room. My face was pale, my lips slightly parted, as if I were just sleeping.
I gasped.
"Mimi?"
The voice made me turn. Kelvin stood near the bed, his hands in his pockets. His eyes darted around the room, his expression guarded.
"Let's be discreet, okay?" he whispered, stepping closer. "We don't want anyone to suspect anything."
His words hit me like a slap. He thought I was Mimi. He thought he was talking to his lover. He had no idea it was me—his wife—trapped inside this body.
I wanted to scream, to tell him the truth. But the words wouldn't come. A lump formed in my throat as realization sank in.
Kelvin didn't love me.
Not really.
If he did, he wouldn't be standing here, whispering secrets to the woman he betrayed me with.
Tears burned my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Instead, I turned and walked away, each step heavier than the last. My chest ached, my mind spinning with too many emotions.
As I tried to leave the ward, I felt worse and, at one point, lost consciousness.
I woke up back in the hospital bed. My head pounded. My mouth felt dry. I blinked slowly, trying to focus.
A familiar voice broke through the haze.
"You're awake."
I turned my head. Simon sat beside me, his face full of concern.
Simon.
Mimi's boyfriend.
I swallowed hard, my mind racing. He thought I was Mimi too.
His smile faltered when I didn't respond. He looked away for a moment, then said, "You're going to be fine. Don't worry."
I didn't feel fine. But what could I say? How could I explain something even I didn't understand?
A nurse came in, checking my vitals. She smiled politely before leaving, and Simon turned back to me.
"I'll take care of everything, Mimi," he said softly. "I'll make sure you have what you need."
My stomach twisted. He had no idea. He truly believed I was Mimi.
I was trapped.
Later, I was discharged from the hospital. Simon insisted on taking me to his house. I didn't argue. I had nowhere else to go.
The house was massive. Elegant furniture filled the space, polished floors gleaming under soft lighting. But as I walked through, something felt… off.
I glanced around, noticing tiny cameras hidden in corners, on bookshelves, even near the ceiling.
I looked around, confused, until I finally understood. Simon and Mimi weren't just pretending to be in love. They were pretending to have a perfect life. It was all a show.
Simon's voice broke my thoughts. "Are you okay?"
I forced a nod. "Yeah."
That night, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Sleep wouldn't come. My mind raced with questions. Why had this happened? How had I ended up in Mimi's body?
And most importantly—how could I get my life back?
I needed answers.
The next morning, I convinced Simon to take me back to the hospital for a checkup. But the truth was, I just wanted to see my real body again.
As we passed through the hospital, I spotted a crowd outside. Reporters. And in the middle of them—Kelvin.
I stopped, watching as he spoke into the microphones.
"I love my wife," he said, his voice smooth, practiced. "I will always be by her side, no matter what."
Liar.
His words made my stomach turn. He was putting on a show. For the cameras. For the world. But I knew the truth.
He didn't love me.
Not really.
Not enough to stay faithful. Not enough to see the real me.
I turned away, fighting the sting in my eyes.
Back at Simon's house, things felt even stranger. I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.
And then came the worst part—meeting Mimi's family.
They arrived in the evening, their faces filled with worry and relief.
Mimi's mother pulled me into a hug. "Oh, sweetheart, we were so worried."
I stiffened. I didn't know how to respond.
Her father patted my shoulder. "You gave us a scare."
I forced a nod, staying silent as they talked around me.
I felt like a prisoner in someone else's life
Trapped.
Pretending.
Alone.
And there was nothing I could do.
Not yet.
But I wasn't giving up.
No matter what, I would find a way back.
I had to.