A reckon of hope

Alice stood at the window, looking outside at the dim, cold night. Her mind ran with so much agony.

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She couldn't sleep last night; she was tortured by a dreaded nightmare. If only she could change the hands of time.

She woke up panting almost out of breath, sweat trailing down at the back of her neck. How she dreaded that day.

She stretched her hand, moving her wheelchair closer to her bed, and slowly and gently pushed forward into it.

Rolling its wheel till she got to the window, her favorite spot.

The things she fancys a lot have been taken away from her—her freedom and her willpower—now she was just a shadow of herself sucking up in her mystery with no glimmer of hope. She had lost that a long time ago.

It's been a year—six months, four days, and five hours—since the darkness of Alice showed up. She was happy like everyone else, with those butterflies flying through her stomach. Bubbles and agitation filled her up.

It was her big day—the happiest day of her life. Jason, my love, and I are walking down the aisle together. It was a forever journey, and she couldn't wait to be addressed as Mrs. Smith.

The media came along with their parazzi to witness one of the hottest models in Mardi walk down the aisle with her charming prince.

The air was filled with anticipation as the violin began playing. Jason Smith Alice's to-be husband was standing at the altar, clouded with a tuxedo black suit and a bright smile on his face.

"He looks damn gorgeous," Alice whispered to her own hearing as her dad walked her down.

She felt like the luckiest woman on earth; getting married was one of the biggest and smartest decisions she had ever made.

At 26 years of age and being one of the popular models in Mardi, she chose to do life together with her 6-year-old boyfriend. The wedding was grand, and so many celebrities were in attendance to watch her exchange her vows with her sweet heart.

As they both got to the altar, they gazed into each other's eyes, their eyes making their own communication that no one could comprehend. The ritual of the wedding began.

"Do you take Jason Smith as your lovely wedded husband, to be loved, and till death do you walk?" The voice of the priest echoed through the room as everyone agitated for her response.

Without waiting any seconds, she was sure of the man in front of her. She responded.

"Yes, I do."

"Do you take Alice Morgan as your lovely wedded wife to be loved and cherished till death do you path?" The priest recited the verses again.

Jason took some time, and his mind grew with controversy. With lots of deliberation, he responded.

"No, I don't."

Alice flickered her eyes in desperation, hoping this wasn't a joke or a dream she was about to wake up from. The crowd roared.

The worst kind of rejection—what did she do wrong?—She couldn't think of anything that could make Jason act that way.

"Jason," she called, coming closer to him. He distanced himself from her.

"Don't do this to us," she begged with her eyes. She was being disgraced in front of everyone and the world at large. Her career was scrambled to the floor. The next headline in the newspaper.

"I'm sorry, Alice, I can't do this." He turned without expecting anything and walked away from the hall. Alice was left on the altar in her own mystery, her head spinning at what just happened.

She pinched herself several times to be sure she wasn't dreaming. How could she handle this pain she felt inside of her? Her happiest day has turned into her worst.

Nancy, her best friend, held her from behind, dragging her towards the nearest chair. Her mind was messed up already.

Uncontrollably, tears dripped down her face, wetting the floor as the crowd made their way home. Her bodyguards have successfully driven away the media for fear of asking her further questions, messing up her mental health further.

"Is it okay, Alice?" The gentle voice of her friend consoled her, rubbing the back of her hand.

All she felt was pain like a knife stab pierced into her heart.

She couldn't wait any longer; she needed answers. If Jason wasn't interested in marrying her, he would have said so earlier instead of making a mockery of her in front of everyone.

"I warned you of that boy, but you wouldn't listen," the angry voice of her father scolded.

Her legs became in motion as she escaped through the hands that held her in place, with just one goal in her heart: to find Jason.

The long heels couldn't allow her to run faster. Her friend and her mother, including her bodyguards, were shouting behind her to stop, but she didn't heed any of their words.

When she got to the exit, she quickly removed her heels, taking off barefoot. She grabbed the hem of her wedding dress and kept running as fast as she could.

Then she saw someone who walked exactly like Jason crossing over; without much hesitation, she crossed the road without looking out for incoming vehicles and was knocked off.

The sounds of a knock on the door snapped her out of her thoughts.

The door cracked open, and her friend and therapist, Nancy, walked in with a bright smile on her face.

"Good morning, Ali," she greeted, coming closer to her for a peek.

She chose to ignore the greetings rather than ask her utmost desire, "Do you think I can walk again?"

Nancy took her hands into hers; her best friend has changed a lot. Deep down, her heart bleeds for her, but she has to feign strength.
.

"Hope is the ray of our vision, and I want you to know you are going to walk again. Is my positive affirmation to you?" Alice was moved to tears by her strong words. Nancy has been her backbone in going through those trying times, and just then her legs moved.