Prologue

“You are the reason why my son is gone! You ruined our family! You took away my son and now you have the audacity to show yourself in front of us?!” Mama shouted loudly before dragging me out of their house.

“Mama, I had nothing to do with what happened. Please let me be with my husband even at his final resting place.” I pleaded while crying.

It hasn't been a month since Elliott and I got married. His mother never liked me. Her disgust towards me escalated when Elliott announced our marriage.

We were in a relationship for almost two years. In those two years, Mama never treated me properly. She intended to show her hatred for me. Even when Elliott was there, she didn’t hesitate to belittle me.

Elliott was a mama’s boy. He was very dependent on his mom. Every plan in our life had to be consulted with his mother first. Despite all that, I never complained. I accepted the hurtful words Mama said. I loved Elliott so much that I turned a blind eye to his mother.

Before our wedding, I noticed a change in Elliott’s body. He seemed to be losing weight and weakening. At first, we ignored it, as he reassured me that he was okay. Until our wedding day came. The planned beach wedding didn’t push through. So Elliott and I got married in the Mayor’s office. I didn’t care that our wedding wasn’t grand. I loved Elliott so much that I would marry him even in our room.

I was very happy on that day. But Elliott felt the opposite. His family wasn’t even there to support our wedding. It made Elliott think of all sorts of things. He became paranoid, thinking that he wasn’t loved by his family.

A week after our wedding, I started to notice something unusual. Elliott always wanted to be alone. There were times when I saw him staring blankly with a furrowed brow. I always asked him what the problem was, but he never answered.

Then one day when I came home from school, I suddenly saw a lot of people at the house. There were some police officers outside. Many cars and people were gathered. At first, I didn’t bother to ask what was happening, thinking that maybe the reason for the crowd was something related to the neighbors. But I was wrong.

I was shocked when Mama slapped me. My cheek almost went numb because of the force. My world literally stopped when I saw them bringing down a body from the second floor of our house.

It was Elliott.

“No…” I whispered weakly as I tried to break free from Mama’s hold, preventing me from approaching my husband. At that moment, I wanted to erupt and accuse her. But I couldn’t. I got scared. I was scared.

I received another strong slap, this time from Estella; Elliott’s eldest sister.

“I told you that nothing good would come from Elliott marrying you! You are the one who killed my brother!” she angrily exclaimed, earning disapproving looks from the people offering their condolences.

“Estella…”

“Elliott is dead, Dalha. You have no right in our family. You ruined this family! All the men in this family are gone because of you! Now leave or I’ll call the cops.” Her cold words made me cry even more.

While I may not have rights in their family, I do have rights over my husband’s remains!

But as before, I didn’t voice that out. With heavy shoulders, I left. My tears kept flowing. Now, I felt more alone.

I have no family, but when Elliott came, everything changed. He became my whole world. He was the only family I had. But sadly, he left me without saying goodbye.

I closed my eyes as I felt the raindrops on my face. I couldn’t help but smile bitterly because it felt like time was comforting me.

Perhaps I am truly unlucky as Estella always told me. Their father died when he helped me get out of the strong current in the river on their farm. Renato was a good man. He treated me like his own child. Estella often resented me for that. So when Renato drowned, they blamed me.

Second is Cace. The eldest among the siblings. He left without a word. Until now, he hasn’t returned. They blame me for it because I became close to Cace. We’re not just friends, we’re more than that.

And Elliott.

There might be some sort of misfortune associated with my name and identity.

I released a harsh breath before heading to where my car was parked. I deliberately parked it far away because I felt embarrassed, afraid that Mama might belittle it.

As I walked in the darkness, the rain slowly intensified, causing me to pause. The rain embraced my body, followed by the cold brought by the strong wind.

I was about to continue walking when a hand stopped me. It firmly held my arm. I was about to turn around when, without a word, it draped its jacket over me.

“You’ll get sick, Dalha…”

I felt a shiver upon hearing that familiar voice.

I forgot everything when I heard him sigh. He was the only one who would often sigh when he was with me.

Why is he showing up now? Why now that I’m married to his brother?

“I don’t want to get sick either. Let’s go…” he said seriously before pulling me towards the black car next to my old and sputtering vehicle.

The freezing rain and wind filled the stillness as I entered Cace's car.

"Cace..."

"Rest, save your energy. You're getting thinner, Dalha."

"I'm okay, I just want-."

"You're not okay!" He snapped.

I couldn't help but shed tears once again. He was still the same as before.

I gently closed my eyes. It was only then that I felt the fatigue.

"Why did you come back?"

"Why did you get married?"

I bit my lower lip forcefully. "You left me! You abandoned me in the midst of your judgmental and accusatory family! Elliott was the only one who stayed! He made me feel things that should have come from you! He loved me more than anyone else!"

Cace let out a forceful gust of wind. "If my brother truly loved you, he wouldn't have left you now! If his feelings were real, he wouldn't have succumbed to depression! He should have fought for you!"

I was stunned.

Why didn't Elliott do that? Why did he choose to be consumed by depression instead of facing it with me?

"Then why are you here?! Why did you come back?!"

"I told you I would come back, that I would return for you. But you chose Elliott over me. You didn't hold onto my promise, Dalha."

"I hate you, Cace."

“I hate you too,” he said coldly, causing me to avert my gaze. “I’ll take you home. I’ll just have your car picked up here tomorrow.”

And that’s how our argument ended. He did indeed take me home.

I couldn’t escape his scrutinizing gaze as he looked at the house Elliott left for me. It was only a brief moment before he left me.

I quietly entered the house. I turned on the lights in the living room and slowly made my way to the couch.

I was about to lay down on the couch when I suddenly realized; I still had his jacket. I forgot to return it.

I stared at it intently. Then, unable to help myself, I hugged it tightly.

I let sleep envelop me and drown me in memories of the past.