Alexia writes in her journals of her past life as Arabella in a world of lies and deceit. Arabella escapes from the dungeon and her execution with help from her love. Everything unravels before Arabella, as she discovers everyone around her holds a secret, including her. Her granddaughter finds the journals years later, which opens to a world of dreams about another life or delusions from a deranged woman.
I had the dream again last night. I felt his touch on my face and his hand sliding down my cheek. His rough hands pulled me into the shadows as the horses galloped behind me. I was scared to turn around. The man called me by another name. The daze of the stranger has always trapped me in the dreams. Over the last two months, this stranger has saved me every night. It must be this summer heat, for the fans are not doing justice, and my subconscious is on overload.
* * *
The steam engulfs the small bathroom, and condensation covers the mirror. The heat of the shower embraces my body for several minutes before I turn off the shower. I open the bathroom door to allow the steam to escape. As I am drying off, I see bruises on my arms resembling a handprint of the stranger. The realism of the dreams has started to emerge into reality, bringing bruises, smells, and feelings into the present.
READ MOREI hurry quickly back to the bedroom to notice that I have less than an hour to get to my office, and the commute will take thirty minutes.
I grab the cell phone calling my law office.
“Hey, Suzie, this is Alexia. I overslept.” Suzie explains there are clients in the office. “Shit, I forgot about the early meeting. Let Justin take over the clients. I know he will be delighted for extra tasks. I owe him a steak dinner.”
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