Outside the ICU , Mark ran his hands over his face , praying .
He looked at a patch of blood on the ground .
Lying next to it was a knife .
It looked so familiar .
I must have dropped it when he carried me in .
His heart jumped .
He walked over and picked up the knife .
It was the gift hed given me for my birthday .
He thought of the box Id pulled out yesterday , and his heart dropped .
Was that what Id been thinking all along ? Why ? Had the engagement party hurt me so bad that I wanted to kill myself ? But if Ashley was right , and I was just some floozy who didnt care about anything , how could this happen ? The emergency room got busier and busier .
Mark felt like he was losing his mind .
Finally , a nurse came out .
Mark rushed to her .
Does she need blood ? Im a match ! The nurse just shook her head sadly .
Im L sorry , sir .
The woman inside has passed away .
Marks head felt like it was going to explode .
Passed away ? Willow ? Dead ? The knife was so sharp , but it hadnt gone in too deep , right ? Why hadnt they been able to save her ? He ran to the room and saw the white sheet .
He fell to his knees .
Why had he let this happen ? A doctor sighed .
Are you her family ? Youll need to sign some papers .
Mark took the death certificate .
It had to be a dream .
The Willow hed grown up with was dead .
The doctor sighed again .
Her body showed signs of abuse that had gone on for five years , plus organ failure .
Youre her family .
Didnt you know ? Marks head jerked up .
What ? < The doctor looked confused .
She was severely abused .
The knife wound wasnt fatal , but she had given up .
With her condition , it was amazing that she had made it this far .
His world was falling apart .
He couldnt hear anything .
There were marks from whips , bruises , burns , and breaks .
Its like she had been living in some terrible situation .
Mark realized what that meant .
He ran .
He drove to the club .
As he got there , he heard Ashley : I told them to make things harder for her .
Did you see her yesterday , when she saw the truth ? She just fainted! Did you not make things hard enough ? The slut is still alive .
Ive never been able to stand her .
She always thought she was better than me because Mark loved her .
Now , shes dirty .
Lets see if Mark still cares ! L I dont know why Mark was so interested in her anyway .
Even now , he took her home .
She irritates me so much ! Before she could finish , Mark kicked her to the ground .
Who are you calling dirty ? Ashleys face went pale .
M Mark ? What are you doing here ? Marks eyes were red , and he was about to lose it .
Say that again .
What did you say about Willow ? Ashley was shaking with fear .
Mark turned to the manager .
I pay you all this money to take care of her , and this is how you treated her ? The manager dropped to his knees .
It wasnt my fault , Mark ! Ashley told us what to do ! She said if we made Willow suffer , wed get double the money .
You told us not to worry about her , so we thought it was ok … Mark remembered what hed said to them .
His heart sank .
Had he been the one to hurt < Willow ? How much had she suffered ? And instead of believing her , hed been against her .
How could she possibly want to live ? Ashley tried to get up .
She had it coming , Mark ! She was a whore .
She must have liked it .
Shes never been a good person .
She never deserved you anyway … وو Mark grabbed her by the throat .
You think you can speak about her like that ? Youre ten times worse than she ever was ! Youre the one who is filthy ! Ashley passed out .
Mark went back to the hospital and kneeled next to Willows body .
He held her cold hand , whispering .
Willow , wake up .
I know now .
I was wrong .
Wake up , and Ill make you my princess again .
But Willow was gone .
He was all alone , trembling .
< I floated in the air , and I saw Mark , kneeling by my body , and I felt a complicated mix of emotions .
I didnt know why , but my spirit didnt go anywhere .
I stayed with him .
I watched him , kneeling and crying .
He would faint , and theyd drag him away .
When he woke up , he ran to where they burned the bodies .
How can you burn her ? Willow is not dead ! I watched him , once so composed , now completely broken .
And I felt … calm .
His feelings were too late to mean anything .
He took my ashes home , locked himself in my room and stayed there for days .
Everyone thought he was crazy .
After days of this , he went back to normal , doing his work , and planning his wedding with Ashley .
I watched , saying nothing .
On the wedding day , Mark was dressed in a suit , and he walked Ashley down the aisle .
Ashley was all smiles , convinced that Mark was over me .
She whispered in his ear .
You know , Willow always had a thing for you .
She was going to confess on her birthday ! Its all because of me that she never did .
Im glad that whore is dead ! Mark didnt respond .
I watched his jaw tighten , and his hands clench into fists .
Ashley went home with him .
He locked the door and dragged her to the basement .
He tortured her .
He whispered in her ear .
Youre the one who killed her .
You need to feel what she felt .
Ashley screamed , but the basement was soundproof .
He tortured her every day .
He kept her trapped there , all the while , holding my ashes , whispering to me .
He found the letters I had written him , locked in my drawer .
Thats how he found out that I < had loved him .
He realized that he had loved me too .
Hed sent me away because he couldnt take seeing me every day .
Hed been fighting what he felt .
But it was too late .
We had both been in love , but that day at my party , we were ruined .
He read them all , crying and falling apart .

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Then hed pull himself together .
Ill fix this , Willow .
When Im done , Ill come be with you .
When Ashley was near death , he took my ashes back to my room .
He made it all warm and cozy , filling it with all the things I loved .
He smiled , like he used to when he gave me presents .
He poured gasoline all over the house .
He lit a match .
As he was dying , he looked at me through the flames .
Willow , can you forgive me ? I looked at him , and shook my head .
Mark , even in death , Ill never forgive you .
His face went dark , and he burned with the fire .
And then , just like that , I was born again .
My parents were smiling at me , and they were healthy and whole .
They held my hand and I felt the warmth I had missed , and I cried .
This time , my parents were alive , and I wouldnt meet him again .
The End