Chapter 2: Free From The Past

The darkness had relinquished its hold, giving way to a golden canopy as the sun rose, blooming like a flower on the horizon. Every shade of charcoal in the sky gradually transformed into vibrant hues, signaling the break of dawn. It was the dawn of endless possibilities, new hopes, and the desire to fulfill dreams that had been left behind the previous night. Under white linen sheets, a tall, slender figure stretched before rolling out of the comfortable bed. She moved to pull back the thick curtains, revealing a pair of light honey-brown eyes that slowly blinked as they took in the sight of the rising sun. This was the sun of a new day, a day she had once believed might never come. She allowed herself to savor the moment, letting the nascent rays of the sun caress her skin and soothe her very soul. There was a tranquility in this moment that filled her with warmth, reminding her once again that she was still alive. As she trudged toward the bathroom, she paused when her gaze fell on the reflection in the mirror beside the closet door. She stepped closer, tucking a strand of her long brown hair behind her ear. The woman staring back at her didn’t look anything like the person she once was. Those honey-brown eyes were a stark contrast to her previous raven ones. The rosy lips, smooth and clear, and the delicate skin of her face were different from the face that had been hidden under layers of makeup for over a decade. They say that after every painful ending, a new beginning is promised. She had never expected to get a second chance at life, but she had been given one when she woke up in this body five years ago. Yet, even after all these years, she couldn’t quite bring herself to call this body her own. However, she was determined to make this life hers. Life had once been a heavy burden, one that she eventually lost the strength to carry. One might think that a shattered heart would weigh lighter, but who knew that each broken piece could weigh down on her soul like a tremendous boulder? It had weighed her down so much that she had eventually let herself fall to her death. Standing under the showerhead, she let the warm water comfort her broken self, washing away the remnants of the past. After her shower, she dressed in a pair of white high-waist sailor bell-bottoms and a beige full-sleeve blouse. She slipped on a pair of elegant pumps and fastened a golden watch on her wrist, matching the gold buttons on her blouse. With her long hair tied up in a professional bun, she picked up her purse and put on her thick-rimmed glasses before leaving her room. The only thought in her mind was, *"Let’s pick up another piece of our heart today and start over. Fighting!"* This had become a routine—reminding herself each day that she needed to start over. To start anew, she had to free herself from the past. And to do that, she had to gather every little piece of her shattered heart. Only by freeing herself could she hope for a better future. Having experienced the pain of death once, she had learned what a happy ending truly was: simply moving on. In the past five years, her only goal had been to move on. But as soon as she entered the living room, a strong stench of alcohol assaulted her senses, making her cough. She looked around, noticing how the once-elegant hall had transformed into a garbage dump. Empty wine bottles littered the floor, along with discarded ice cream containers and various junk food wrappers. She rubbed the space between her brows and sighed, shaking her head. The state of the living room was enough to tell her what had transpired. Placing her purse on the dining table, she walked over to the couch, where she found a beautiful Latina woman sleeping in a very unladylike position, with one leg dangling off the side. She pulled a soft throw blanket that was half-tucked under the woman’s body, causing her to fall with a thump onto the thick carpet below. "Christy! Can’t you wake me up like a normal person?" The gorgeous woman on the floor rubbed her sore butt with a pitiful pout. Her dark chocolate-brown eyes blinked up at Christina like an abandoned kitten. "This is how normal people help their best friends wake up," Christina replied, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "So, my dear Nora, did you enjoy your trip to the heartbreak hotel last night?" The half-American, half-Latin beauty had been the best friend of this body’s original owner. Over the past five years, Christina had come to see her as her own best friend. In her previous life, Christina had never dared to make friends, wary of the scheming entertainment industry she was a part of. But now, she had a best friend she considered family. Nora Cartwright, however, was not amused by her friend’s sarcasm. She huffed, "What kind of best friend are you? Aren’t you supposed to comfort me after a breakup? But here you are, mocking me. Heartless!" Christina busied herself with cleaning up the mess Nora had created the night before, listening to her complaints with amusement. "Nora darling, this was your third breakup this month. I don’t think you need my moral support. The wine and ice cream must have done the job already." Nora wasn’t offended by Christina's comment. Instead, she said, "My darling Christy, no wine and ice cream can replace a single hug from you." She opened her arms wide, blinking her big eyes earnestly. Christina had to give in to her friend’s antics. She hugged her warmly before scrunching up her nose. "Ew!" She pushed Nora away, waving a hand in front of her nose. "Please, go take a shower. You smell awful!" "That was mean!" Nora crossed her arms over her chest, making her already prominent bosom seem even more so. Christina ruffled Nora’s thick, curly hair, turning it into a tangled mess. "Who told you to take relationships so casually?" "Isn’t it obvious?" Nora replied, incredulous. "I haven’t met the one who can make me seriously rethink my approach to relationships. Anyway, let’s not talk about it." She waved her hands dismissively, as she always did when the topic of serious relationships came up. Nora Cartwright would easily chicken out when it came to commitment. "My baby Christy, why do you look so gorgeous this early in the morning?" "I have to leave early today. I won’t be having breakfast with you," Christina replied, glancing at her wristwatch. "No, no, my baby Christy, don’t abandon me. You know I don’t like eating alone," Nora whined, tugging at her arm like a child. "Nora darling, today is the first day for interns. I have to be on time," Christina explained, trying to placate her friend as she picked up her purse. "At least drop the glasses and let your beautiful hair down," Nora suggested, eyeing Christina's cold, uptight appearance. She remembered her best friend as a kind-hearted and warm person, but since Christina's amnesia, Nora could tell that something had changed. It was as if Christina had become a completely different person. "I don’t want people fainting at the sight of my beauty," Christina joked, playing along with Nora’s suggestion, earning a hearty laugh from her friend. "Have a good day, baby Christy!" Nora called after her. "You too, my feisty Latina!" Christina responded, a small smile playing on her lips as she left for the day.