Chapter 1
The sky wept in unity with Fedora as though it felt the ache buried deep within her chest. She pulled her hoodie lower over her forehead and adjusted her face mask hiding the tremble of her lips. Her fingers tightened around her umbrella until her knuckles paled. A tear slipped past anyway.
How could they?
How could they do this to me?
I fell so hard,
Her fingers trembled.
Loved him,
She clenched her fists.
Trusted them.
The rain soaked her shoes as she marched forward, each step heavier than the last.
This is the third man…the third .
Tears filled her eyes.
A sudden honk
The sound ripped through the storm. Fedora froze. Headlights blazed too closed -blinding, overwhelming. The world tilted, her breath caught.
Everything went dark.
A sharp scent of antiseptic filled her nose. Her eyelids fluttered. The rain was gone. Instead, there was a soft beeping…steady, mechanical.
Her body felt heavy -like she had been pulled from deep water.
“She’s awake.” Said an unfamiliar soft voice.
Slowly, Fedora’s gaze settled on the woman’s face. Her lips parted.
“Where…am I?” Fedora managed to ask.
“This is a hospital. You’re safe ma.”
The nurse calmly checked her pulse. “Can you tell me your name?”
“F…Fedora”
“Good. You fainted, but now you are stable.”
The nurse stepped aside and that’s when Fedora noticed a woman sitting stiffly in a corner.
“Are you related to the patient?”
“No” replied the woman “She fainted when I almost nocked her down.”
Well you should have…so I can leave this hell of a world.
“I am so, so sorry. I didn’t see you until you stepped forward….”
“You didn’t hit me,” she said hoarsely. “I wasn’t paying attention.”
After a series of checks, Fedora signed discharged papers, received a prescription, collected her phone and walked out of the hospital.
The woman had paid the hospital bills and left new clothes for her because the previous ones were dirty. Her pace was slow and steady.
She had barely left the hospital when that same woman walked up to her.
“Fedora,” She began with a worried face. “Do you mind if I give you a ride home?”
“Yes, I do. You’ve done more than enough. I’m grateful.” Said Fedora with a numb face.
“Gloria,” She offered her hand in greeting.” CEO of Glow Couture.”
“Fedora,” she shook her hand “data clerk.”
“Interesting.” Gloria smiled “Please, do let me give you a ride.”
Fedora looked into her eyes for a moment. She let out a sigh and nodded.
Gloria smiled brighter as she walked towards her car with Fedora, her almond skin glowing in the sun.
Fedora who was slightly behind her looked at her walnut skin, then back at Gloria and let out a faint smile.
Her skin glows like that of Alice.
Why should I even blame Derrick?
They both entered the car.
“Where do you live?” Gloria glanced at her.
“Just drop me at the train station” Fedora faced the window.
“What?” Gloria looked at her shocked “You don’t live in this town?”
“Please,” Fedora covered her face with her right palm “I don’t want to talk about this.”
Gloria looked at her with gentle eyes and back at the steering.
On the way, Gloria bought her a bag of pastries and some juice and insisted she should take it.
After half an hour of driving, they arrived at the train station
She exchanged contacts with Fedora, paid her ticket and waved at her from the window.
Fedora waved back.
