I stood frozen at the stern of the yacht off Virginia beach , the salty sea air blown through my hair as my eyes locked on Liam's hard face
"How did you get those documents, Rachel? How did you get them and why is it in your bag?" He demanded.
"I...I don't know what you're talking about, Liam." My voice trembled.
Liam's face hardened further. "Don't lie to me, Rachel. I know you have my files. How did you get them?"
"I didn't mean to...I was just trying to..."
Liam cut me off, his voice cold and unforgiving. "Trying to what? Betray me?
" No, Liam". Tears flowed down my cheeks, tracing every path of sorrow and fear as I searched for understanding in Liam's eyes. But all I found was a cold, hard determination that made my blood stop flowing.
My phone buzzed. Liam's hand shot out, snatching the phone from my hand, he glanced at the screen, his gaze stayed on the name that flashed across it – " Detective Raymond".
Then, with a swift, merciless motion, he threw the phone into the sea.
"Why would you do that Liam?" I asked him but he didn't respond.
"Now you're speaking with the detective, you were actually going to turn me over".
His voice cut through the silence, showing the hardness in his eyes.
"Detective Raymond is just a friend and he wants to help," I explained to him.
"I'm sorry, Rachel, my love, but you've given me no choice." His voice cracked. "I have to do this. I love you, but I won't let you destroy everything I have built."
"Do what Liam? , listen to me; you have to surrender to the police and trust me, I'll…"
"Keep quiet"… he said harshly.
Fear clawed at my heart, its icy fingers wrapping around my soul.
"You really think I brought you here to let you walk out of here and then what? Report me to the police? No, no," he said, shaking his head. "You won't be doing that."
I felt trapped, like I was caught in a web of his making, with no way out.
As my eyes locked onto the leather gloves on his hand, my mind panicked and tried to piece together the reality.
I thought I knew the man standing before me, a man I have shared my life with, my fiance, but at that moment he was a stranger.
I had hoped to reach out to him, to guide him back to sanity, but before I could utter a word, Liam's arms wrapped around me.
"I'm so sorry for lying to you, I didn't mean to kill the man" Liam whispered, his voice low against my shoulder. "I truly know you want to help me, and I know how much you love me."
"Everything will be fine, yeah, everything will be fine. I'll be here for you." I assured him.
My initial instinct was to push him away, but something about his grip felt warm.
I hesitated, unsure what his intentions were. Was this a sign that he'd finally come to his senses and was willing to face the truth? I returned the hug.
"I'll stand by you, okay. We'll face it together." I encouraged him.
"Emily will soon wake up, I need to go and overboard her just like you are going to sleep forever; forgive me Rachel. He whispered to me, his grip tightened.
But before I could process what was happening, a sharp pain shot through my neck.
My hands went limp, my knees weakening beneath me. I gazed up at Liam, and saw him holding a syringe. The rope he'd used to drag me across the floor seemed to materialize out of nowhere. Panic set in as he bound my wrists and ankles, securing me to a heavy object beside him.
My eyes were the only thing open, and they were moving with panic. I heard the distant hum of another boat, maybe I was going to be rescued; but he looked up immediately, his expression moving into one of fear.
He rushed inside the boat and emerged a few seconds later, dragging Emily's lifeless body. My mind screamed 'Oh no, is she dead?' as he heartlessly pushed her into the water. He began moving towards me, and I felt my body weaken in response as he pushed me.
The salty water covered me, a suffocating shroud that dragged me down. As I sank, I couldn't struggle or move. My eyes were open, I felt the water entering every part of my body, the weight anchoring me to the depths, as Liam's face faded into the distance, a mask of indifference.
worried
~I slowly opened my eyes, I saw Liam standing by the door side, but something was off. He looked strangely calm, as if nothing had happened, while his best friend sat beside me, tears streaming down his face.
His voice softened the air, "Oh my goodness, she's finally awake! Emily, Emily!"
"Why would he call me Em…Emily?
I tried to focus, but everything around me was blurry and a bit dark. I attempted to speak, but my voice was barely audible. A gentle voice guided me, and a tall doctor with a smiley face appeared beside me. He helped me sit up and handed me an oxygen mask, instructing me to breathe deeply.
As the oxygen flowed, images began to replay : I woke up underwater, feeling weak but struggling to swim with every last bit of strength. I swam out, and the last image I recalled was a group of people on the beach pressing my stomach hard as I coughed out water and passed out.
But why couldn't I piece it all together? Something was totally off.
I couldn't even remember how yesterday was.
I tapped on the bed to get the doctor's attention.
The doctor noticed my tapping on the bed and looked at me with understanding. He helped me adjust the oxygen mask, and I breathed a sigh of relief as it was lifted slightly, allowing me to speak more easily.
"I need to call my mother," I told him, my voice still weak. "Can I use the telephone?"
"You can't stand up right now, but you can use my phone," he said, handing me his phone.
I took the phone, and as I gazed at the screen, I saw a reflection that made my heart skip a beat. The face staring back at me wasn't mine. Confusion and panic set in, and I threw the phone onto the bed. The doctor's expression turned from calm to concerned.
Walker looked at me worriedly.
I picked up the phone again, my heart racing. The reflection on the screen confirmed my worst fears – that face wasn't me. I felt a wave of disorientation. Just then; Walker, My fiance best friend held my hands and kissed my forehead. His presence only added to my confusion.
"Is everything okay? Sweetheart you don't need to call anyone, I'm here for you and soon your parents will be here okay!" he said, concern appearing on his face. His voice was gentle, as he took a step more closer to me.
"Emily, I'm happy you're alive. How are you feeling now?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.
I was even more confused; hearing him calling me "Emily and sweetheart" shocked me.
Emily was his girlfriend, she was with me in the boat.
My mind was a mess of mixed thoughts and memories.
The doctor's concerned expression deepened, his eyes darting between me and Walker.
"Miss Emily, is everything okay?" he asked again, his voice soft but questioning.
"Please calm down. Take a deep breath. You're safe now. Can you tell me what's going on? Why did seeing your reflection on the phone upset you?"
I shook my head, still trying to process everything.
Walker, who had called me Emily, added. "Emily, you're safe alright. We thank God you survived."
"What! ". I looked at them, still feeling confused and scared. "Who...who am I?…
I was about starring back where Liam was standing.
Within a blink of an eye, he disappeared.
I searched for answers, yet felt trapped.
I couldn't even breath well and everything seemed dark at that moment.
~Just then, the doctor's voice was coupled with a mix of urgency and concern as he pleaded with Walker.
"Please sir, you need to wait outside, she will be okay".
"Promise me doctor". Walker eyes welled up with tears.
"I promise you sir", the doctor assured him. His eyes locking onto mine for a brief moment before darting towards the nurse.
"Nurse, please bring the ECG monitor and the other oxygen saturation device," he called out, his words punctuating the sterile silence of the hospital room.
As the nurse hurried to comply, I felt my head start aching, a dull panic pain that seemed flow with the beeping of the medical equipment surrounding me - the ventilator's gentle whoosh, the steady hum of the cardiac monitor, and the soft beeps of the infusion pump. A fever spike coursed through my body, leaving me feeling weak and disoriented.
The nurses moved with practiced efficiency, their movements swift and precise as they followed the doctor's directives. Within minutes, the gentle hiss of oxygen flowed into the room, and I felt my eyelids growing heavy. The doctor's voice became a distant murmur, and I slipped into a fitful sleep, the medical equipment continuing its steady rhythm, a reassuring presence in the midst of uncertainty.
~ When I woke up, I felt unsteady and I was thirsty. I saw Walker sleeping beside me. As I reached for the water bottle on the table, I saw my reflection again on the silver steel flask beside the water bottle, 'This is Emily's body, oh no'. I muttered. The water bottle fell, and Walker suddenly awoke.
"Oh, sweetheart, you're awake," he said softly, picking up the bottle. "Are you thirsty?" he asked, and I nodded. He opened the bottle and helped me sit up, positioning the pillows behind my back.
"Please, drink a little," he said, offering me water gently. "I brought some fruits," he added, pulling them out from a plastic bag. I gazed at him, still unable to speak to him.
"The doctor said you'll need to stay here for a few days until they are sure that you are okay," he explained, giving me some fruit. It wasn't until he asked, "How are you feeling, sweetheart?" that I managed to stammer out a response:
"I... I'm feeling a little better." Walker looked relieved.
"That's good news, sweetheart. Everyone's been worried, especially me." His expression turned concerned. "I don't know why you left with Rachel without telling me; she's been missing for three days now." I realized I'd been hospitalized for three days.
Just as I was processing this, my mother burst in, her face twisted in anger and pain.
"You evil woman, where's my daughter?" she demanded, tears streaming down her face. "Where have you hidden her?"
I thought to myself, 'She doesn't recognize me, of course she wouldn't.' I didn't expect her to, anyway. Walker approached her, speaking softly, probably trying to reassure her that everything would be okay.
When my mother turned to leave, tears flooded my eyes. I couldn't speak; I was still trying to process everything. Walker sat down beside me, trying to comfort me.
He wiped away my tears, but I told him I needed to use the restroom. He helped me stand up and walked me to the toilet, but I insisted he wait outside:
"No, please, I can handle it myself.
"I'm not leaving your sight, I need to make sure you don't slip or fall". He hesitated, but eventually agreed to wait outside the door.
As I entered the toilet, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and my heart sank. The reflection staring back wasn't me - it was Emily's.
My headache returned. I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. Walker's voice came from outside.
"Are you okay in there?" He asked.
"Yes, I'm fine", I managed to respond.
When I emerged, he was waiting, he washed my hands and took my hand, walking me back to the bed. I sat down, feeling sad.
▫️▫️▫️
THE FOLLOWING DAY
The doctor walked in with a warm smile, holding some papers.
"Miss Emily, how are you feeling today?" he asked.
I smiled back and answered, "I'm feeling alive."
The doctor's face lit up.
"I'm glad to hear that. Well, you'll be going home today, and I'm sure you're happy to hear that."
He wrote some notes on the papers.
And just then, the door swung open, and Emily's family entered. Her mother, Mrs Josephine William carried a bouquet of flowers, while her father, Mr William approached me with a compassionate smile.
"How are you doing, my angel?" he asked, embracing me warmly. "Oh, is she ready to go home?" he asked the doctor."
"100% okay to go home, sir," the doctor confirmed.
I wasn't comfortable having them as my family because they never liked me. They stayed in the room, and I reminded myself that they were there to support Emily.
Gloria, Emily's sister, kissed my forehead and hugged me tightly.
"I'm so happy you're okay, sis. I really missed you," she exclaimed smiling.
Despite my confusion and panic, I knew I had to play along.
"We were so worried about you, Emily," her mother said.
I forced a smile, feeling restless and unsure what to say. I wondered how they'd react if I told them the truth – that I wasn't Emily, but Rachel. They'd probably think I'm crazy or losing my mind.
Instead, I just smiled.
"What exactly happened?' Emily's mother asked. I shrugged, trying to escape the question.
"I don't really remember." , I answered her.
Her voice was laced with concern.
"Rachel's fiance has been pointing fingers at you,where Rachel is."
I shook my head weakly, "I don't remember anything."
Mr. William intervened, he gave her a break, his tone calm and reassuring.
"Please, allow her to rest. She's still recovering, and I believe she has nothing to do with Rachel's disappearance. I trust our daughter".
Mrs William looked at me worried.