WARNING: This story contains material that might be triggering to some viewers! Adult content! Proceed with caution!
Chapter Three - Shooting Star
There comes a time when certain moments in a human's life determine what kind of individual they become. Perhaps it is an abusive family member, being robbed at gun point, a car accident that leaves them in a comatose state, a disease that forces the doctors to amputate their legs, a lover humiliating them, or a sudden death they were not prepared for. Moments like these seem to change people.
They are usually faced with two choices: to heal or to hide. They can either embrace the cards they were dealt or cheat their way through the game. Others do a bit of gambling in both. Stuck in an endless loop of trying to heal, only to be torn back down by the disappointing reality they live in.
Watching her lover and lifelong friend shrink into that despicable baby blue hospital gown was that moment for Joan. The abuse didn't do it, the poverty didn't, the hunger, the humiliation, no. The decisive moment that determined everything after was seeing the strongest man she knew die. Listening to his muffled cries when he thought she was not there.
Have you ever loved someone so much that you become nauseous at the mere thought of them in pain? Joan sacrificed everything in her life to protect him. Everything material and metaphorical, and she did it with emotional ease. Nothing mattered; the world was bland without him. Kinon was the most valuable person in the world. She knew that it was wrong for her to do that to him, to force him to live for her even when he was suffering so much, but for the first time in her life, she dared to ask for something selfish.
Dared fate to wish him to stay around a little longer.
She understood what to expect; the cancer was spreading too fast, and he had been fighting it for three years by that time. It was inevitable, and yet, she refused to prepare her heart and mind to the idea of accepting his passing. Like a stubborn child, Joan refused to address her hurt, and she allowed it to consume her until fate ripped him out of her hands.
Joan stretched her arm out towards the black canopy of the bed, her wide eyes studying the anatomy of her bruised fingertips.
After a week-long "reeducation" with her sweet and only friend, the head maid, she was sent back to her quarters. Tucked away in a dusty area of the manor, and littered with dark furniture. No further instruction was given to her, and after two days, she realized that the servants did not care if she were alive or dead as long as she was quiet. A lousy cup of milk and a stale bun were left on the floor behind her door at 1 pm every three days.
A long sigh came out of her as her arm fell over her eyes. Accepting this new reality and the mess she fell into was no easy feat. How can any sane, normal human welcome the idea of reincarnating into someone else's- a child's- body? Joan could hardly stand her previous one, let alone becoming comfortable with this vessel.
The girl hopped off the edge of the bed and tiptoed her way towards the mirror resting on the floral wallpaper of the wall. Her curious eyes sparkled with interest.
"Wow..."
Her voice was barely audible as she reached out towards her reflection.
"You look like a doll..."
Joan bit back further compliments as she touched her impeccably clear skin, her fingers dancing around her body in awe. How could anyone dare to hurt art like this? She tilted her head and gathered her slick hair to her right shoulder. Was this really her new identity? Is it okay to shamelessly admire this new beauty? She still felt like a foreigner invading someone else's life.
A few silent moments in thought passed before Joan fell onto her knees and groaned in despair.
"This- This just doesn't make sense whatsoever." Her forehead bumped against the dark planks of the floor as she intertwined her fingers behind her head, as if that could stabilize the thoughts racing around her head.
"I am going to go crazy. How is this possible..." She squeezed her eyes shut and lightly tapped her feet on the ground.
"Let's think this through..." She stretched her body back up and made her way towards a desk in the corner. She pushed away mountains of blankets and debris.
As she explored around the drawers of the writing desk, she finally landed herself a stack of tea-stained paper sheets and a quill with ink. Joan scooted over a chair from the en-suite bathroom and climbed into it. Her right hand held the writing device tightly as she began outlining her thoughts properly.
'The Lotus Saves Villareal, a romance story that follows the entertaining life of a stunning socialite, our female lead, Ezel Ifan, until she meets her charming knight, the cold-blooded Adonis Villareal.'
Her hand stopped moving as the ink smeared. Adonis Villareal. She shivered at the name as she recalled the way he treated everyone but his lover. A man of unknown origins, he was only made relevant when the author needed someone to save the damsel in distress.
'Our heroine grew up in a quaint middle-class family full of love and happiness. Due to her upbringing on a herb farm, she quickly became famous for her floral arrangements among noble ladies. She was recognized and acknowledged by the upper class for her beauty and talent, and the lucky girl was soon sponsored by one...'
Joan creased her brows together at the grim recollection of what happened next.
'Elaine Vaughan was impressed by Ezel at a tea party she hosted and decided to befriend her. The two quickly grew inseparable, and not long after, Ezel's family passed away in an unfortunate accident. Elain decided to officially sponsor Ezel after that tragedy, in fear that she would be sold into slavery.
Adonis Villareal comes into power once his father passes away from old age. Returning from another victorious battle, a grand ball was held for both his military success and his coronation as the sole sovereign of the empire.
Elain naturally brings Ezel along to the ball. It is there that the two love birds meet. Ezel is mocked by a snobby duchess and runs off to the balcony to weep.
What a boring trope.
Adonis walks in and is astonished by her beauty, instantly falling in love at the sight of her.
A crying angel sent from the gods!
If only it ended there...
Elaine had been secretly betrothed to Adonis and was madly in love with him. Their friendship soon grew bitter, and Elaine was killed off for her part in an attempted assassination. The two love birds lived happily ever after, the end.'
Joan lifted her eyes from the paper and looked out the arched window that faced her. The sun was setting behind the oak trees on the property, and warm shades of orange and red were washed across the sky, as if some giant finger painted all the pretty colors into each other. Her face slumped into her hands as she watched the world darken around her. Everything was eerily silent save for the chirping birds.
'This body is yours now, please take care of it.'
Joan sighed for the millionth time and pushed herself away from the desk, causing the chair to make an unpleasant squeaking noise.
"What a burden..."
Yet, it did not feel that way. Some part of her, some secret, peculiar part of Joan was relieved by this second chance that she was thrown into. The method of her reincarnation was puzzling to her, but she soon came to accept the fact that there was nothing to do about it now. She was given a new life, another opportunity, and she was going to live it for that child's sake.
Maybe this was her way of honoring her promise to Kinon, to live well even when he was gone. Her heart seemed to ache again.
She bit the flesh of her lower lip and returned to the mirror once more. The beauty with the cosmic eyes stared back at her.
"Thank you... Thank you so much...and I am so sorry..."
Tears quietly landed on the floor as she touched the mirror. She was sorry for the abused girl to have died that way, at the kick of her father's boot. She was so incredibly sorry that such an innocent and small child had to deal with so much hatred from the people around her. Yet, Joan continued to thank her, thanking her for letting her have her body, for giving her another chance.
For the first time, someone had wept for Emoria with pure empathy.
The malnourished girl slowly stepped away.
"Emoria..." She toyed with the name.
"I am Emoria Vaughan, and I swear that I am going to live a good life this time." Her lips pressed together, thus sealing her fate.
That night, the stars were impeccably bright, jewels that littered the dragon's lair. Out of the corner of her eyes, Emoria caught sight of a shooting star.
That's right, from this moment onward- Joan was dead. Joan had died the moment he passed away, or rather, the moment he stopped being conscious of her presence next to him. There was nothing left for her in that world, and she decided to lock up that broken woman in a small chest and to toss her into the sea of her memories.
"I am Emoria Vaughan, and I will survive this time."
Author's Note:
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