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THE ALARM CLOCK BUZZED, breaking the silence. She bolted upright from the bed. Sweat covered her body; the sheets were damp from it. Her breath came in shallow pants as her gaze swept across the room.
She slammed her hand down on the alarm clock, silencing it. Lying back down, she tried to banish the dream from her mind. The dream replayed night after night, tormenting her.
Why did he betray her the way he did? Why must they all betray her? His voice haunted her; his laughter grated on her nerves.
Her body shook with anger, rage shot through her. She wanted to go after him, punish him for the pain he had caused her. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop herself from reliving him leaving her life forever. Humiliation cut through her like a knife.
She threw her pillow down and sat up in bed. She headed for the bathroom; a cold shower would help calm her. Bracing her hands on the marble of the vanity, she welcomed the coolness of the tile. She glared at her reflection in the mirror, despising what she saw.
She thought the dreams were a long ago memory, until just recently when they started surfacing again. Now they invaded her sleep at least once a week. No matter what she tried to tell herself, his betrayal altered her course in life, a life she could never get back. Life for her would be forever empty until she could find another man to love her and make her whole.
Her life’s path was set that fateful day, as well as the wicked course that it would follow. If she found a true love, maybe the weight of total despair that she felt would be lifted. Maybe then the passion for vengeance would be satisfied.
She picked up the box of gold rings and recalled all of those who have hurt her. All of their faces blended into one. She felt no remorse for their deaths. They each deserved their fate. The time to find her true love drew near once again.
Her hands shook in anticipation. Her heart ached for what it didn’t have. Her need to be loved was too immense.