The villa was quiet, except for the soft hum of the air conditioner and the occasional rustle of silk sheets. Outside the city lights twinkled like a million tiny stars, but inside Elena Marquez's room, the air felt heavy, almost suffocating. Tomorrow was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. Tomorrow, she would marry Adrian Vale, the man everyone said was perfect for her. The man she had smiled at in public, laughed with in private, the man she had promised herself to.
And yet, Elena couldn't sleep.
She sat on the edge of the bed, her wedding gown lying neatly on the chair beside her. It was beautiful and pure white, delicate lace, embroidered with tiny crystals that caught the light. She had dreamed of this gown for months, maybe years. But now, it felt like a cage. Every stitch, every pearl, every fold reminded her of a life she wasn't sure she wanted.
Her phone buzzed. It was a message from her mother: "Sweetheart, are you excited? Tomorrow is your big day. Sleep early." She said.
Elena stared at the screen, her thumb hovering over the keyboard. She wanted to reply, wanted to say something comforting, something reassuring. But she couldn't and Not yet, Because inside her chest, a storm was raging, wild and unrelenting.
She remembered the first time she met Adrian. Charming, confident, endlessly patient. He had pursued her with the kind of attention that most women dream of. And at first, she had believed she wanted him, needed him. But as the weeks passed, as the wedding drew closer, she realized something terrifying about him she didn't love him the way she thought she did before.
The truth was raw and ugly. She had agreed to this marriage because of expectations of her family's pressure, Adrian's wealth and status, society's whispers about what a "perfect match" should look like. But love, real love, had quietly slipped through her fingers, leaving behind only fear and doubt in her.
Elena stood and walked to the window. The moonlight spilled over the gardens below, illuminating the fountain and the chairs arranged for the ceremony. She could see the flowers, the ribbons, the perfect stage for a life she wasn't ready to live.
Her phone buzzed again. This time, it was Adrian who texted.
"I can't wait to see you tomorrow. Sleep well, my love." He said.
Elena's fingers tightened around the phone "Love". Did he really understand what that word meant? Did he understand her heart or did he only see what he wanted to see?.
She set the phone down and paced the room. Her heart raced faster with every step. She felt trapped, caught between duty and desire, between expectation and fear. And the more she thought, the more she realized she couldn't go through with it, Not tomorrow and Not ever.
Her mind raced with questions. How could she leave without hurting everyone? How could she vanish and not destroy Adrian's world, the world that had already decided she was his?.
She glanced at the window again, the city lights like distant stars she could never reach. And then, almost without realizing it, she made a choice. A terrifying, impossible choice. She would disappear. She would vanish before the wedding, leaving behind everything she had known, everything that had been decided for her.
Her hands shook as she packed a small bag just the essentials. Money, ID, a change of clothes. Nothing more. Nothing that would leave a trace of her. She needed to be gone before dawn.
She paused, looking at the wedding gown. It was beautiful. She had dreamed of wearing it since she was a child. But dreams sometimes lied. This gown wasn't a promise of happiness either it was a trap. A reminder that her life was not her own.
Just as she zipped her bag, a knock sounded at her door. Her heart leapt. Who could it be at this hour? She wasn't expecting anyone.
"Elena?" a familiar voice called softly.
It was Adrian. His voice was calm, gentle, loving, even in the darkness of the night.
She froze with the bag in hand. Panic surged through her. "Adrian? What are you doing here?" She asked.
"I… I just wanted to see you," he said, stepping into the room. His eyes softened as they landed on her. "Tomorrow is our day. I wanted to make sure you were okay."
Elena swallowed hard. Every instinct screamed at her to run, to vanish, or to escape. Was part of her,she still felt the pull of his gaze, and the warmth of his presence.
"I'm fine," she whispered, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Just… can't sleep."
Adrian took a step closer. "You don't have to be nervous. Everything is ready. You'll see, it will be perfect."
But Elena felt a coldness in her stomach. Perfect? For whom? For her or for everyone else who had planned this life for her?
Her hand tightened on the bag. She had made her decision. She couldn't say it out loud not yet but the plan was set and She would leave, Disappear. And she knew that by morning, nothing would ever be the same.
Adrian reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I love you, Elena. I promise, tomorrow will be the start of everything we dreamed of."
Her heart twisted. She wanted to scream, to cry, to tell him the truth. But the words wouldn't come. She couldn't do that,Not tonight.
Instead, she nodded softly, just enough to keep the lie alive, just enough to keep him from suspecting. And then, she waited for the darkness to swallow her courage, waiting for the perfect moment to vanish without a trace.
The clock ticked past midnight. Every second brought her closer to the impossible. Her pulse raced. She could hear the city breathing, alive, indifferent. And then a noise,a sound outside the window.
She froze. Footsteps? Someone is moving in the garden? Or was it her imagination, the fear twisting into reality?
Her bag was ready and Her heart was ready. But the world outside her door was not silent anymore. Someone or something was coming.
Elena's breath caught. She clutched her bag, pressed herself against the wall, and listened.
And then, just as a shadow fell across the room, the front door creaked.
Elena knew, with a chill running down her spine, that her life would never be the same. Not tomorrow or ever again.