The Honey Moon Night Mare

[ MIRA’S POV ]

"Will you calm down, Mira? Today is our wedding day, and we shouldn’t be standing here arguing about something completely irrelevant."

"Irrelevant?" I gasped, my voice shaking as I stared at him in disbelief. "Did you just call this irrelevant, David? That little boy called you daddy. I heard it clearly. Everyone in that hall heard it!"

David groaned, rubbing his face in frustration before grabbing my shoulders. "And I am telling you, his mom and I were just schoolmates back in the village. I am like an uncle to that boy. He’s just excited to be at a wedding, Mira. He saw me in a nice suit and got confused."

I stared into his eyes, my chest heaving.

In that exact moment, my mind flashed back to the morning. I remembered my mother’s pale face in the bridal suite, her shaky voice warning me about David and my cousin Sarah. The red flags were suddenly screaming at me from every corner.

But I kicked the thoughts away. I forced them down, deep into the dark spaces of my mind.

I looked at my handsome husband standing in front of me. I needed to believe him. If I didn't believe my own husband on our wedding day, who else was I supposed to believe?

"Okay," I whispered, forcing a tight smile onto my face as I swallowed the giant lump of doubt in my throat. "Let’s just focus on us. It’s our big day."

"Now you’re talking," David said, a relieved smile breaking across his handsome face.

He reached out and dragged me against his body. I landed softly against his broad chest, the warmth of him instantly making me forget the chaos from the reception. A breathless giggle escaped my lips when his hands slipped down to firmly squeeze my waist and pull me closer.

"You’re the only one for me, Mira," he murmured against my ear, his voice deep and sending a shiver down my spine. "You always will be."

"I love you, hubby," I whispered back, completely melting into his touch.

David didn't say another word. He scooped me up into his arms, lifting me off my feet. I shrieked happily, throwing my arms around his neck and wrapping my legs tightly around his waist as he carried me over to the massive bridal bed.

He playfully tossed me onto the mattress. I bounced softly against the silk sheets, laughing out loud, before he immediately jumped on top of me, trapping me beneath his weight. Looking up at his smiling face, I locked my fingers in his hair, determined to let his touch wash away every single doubt.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The private screen in front of us showed our flight path. It was just a tiny digital airplane slowly moving across a vast blue ocean toward Dubai. But I wasn't looking at the screen. I was looking at David.

He was fast asleep in the first-class seat next to me, his head tilted slightly to the side. The soft blue light of the cabin hit the sharp line of his jaw and his long eyelashes. He looked so peaceful. So innocent. In his sleep, he looked exactly like the man I had fallen in love with three years ago, the man who promised to hold my world together.

I reached across the armrest and gently placed my hand over his. His fingers moved out of habit, automatically wrapping around mine even while he was sleeping. A soft, warm smile came to my face.

See? I told the stubborn, quiet voice inside my head. He loves you. Everything is fine.

The bumps from the flight earlier were completely gone now. The plane was moving through the clouds as smooth as silk. I leaned my head back against the soft leather pillow, letting the sound of the engines wash away the last bit of stress from my shoulders. The drama at the wedding party felt like it happened a lifetime ago in a completely different world. It was just a misunderstanding. A crazy village girl trying to make a scene. David had explained it, and I had chosen to believe him. That was what a good wife was supposed to do. We were on our way to paradise now. Nothing else mattered.

A few hours later, David woke up. He blinked against the bright morning light coming through the window. He turned his head, saw me watching him, and gave me that lazy, beautiful smile that always made my heart skip a beat.

"Morning, wifey," he mumbled, his voice deep and rough from sleep. He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it gently. "Did you sleep well?"

"Like a baby," I replied, leaning closer to him. "Are we almost there?"

He looked out the window, his eyes lighting up. "Look down. We’re landing."

I pressed my face against the cool glass. The view took my breath away. Rising out of the golden desert sands like a beautiful dream was the skyline of Dubai. Huge glass buildings poked into the bright blue sky, and the ocean below looked like millions of shiny diamonds under the morning sun. It was beautiful. It was perfect.

"It’s incredible, David," I whispered, my eyes wide.

"Only the best for my queen," he said. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me tightly to his side. "This week is going to be unforgettable, Mira. Just you and me. No distractions. No family drama. Just us."

"Just us," I repeated, burying my face in his neck and breathing in his familiar, comforting smell. I felt so safe.

The heat hit us the moment we walked out of the cool airport terminal. It was a thick, warm air that smelled like expensive perfume and the ocean. David had arranged a private luxury car to pick us up. The shiny white car was waiting at the curb, and the driver bowed politely as he took our bags.

I stood by the open passenger door for a second, refusing to get in just yet. I wanted to look around. The street was full of life. Fast sports cars were zooming past, palm trees lined the clean road, and the tall buildings reflected the bright sunshine.

"Come on, beautiful," David laughed from inside the car, holding his hand out to me. "Let’s get to the hotel so we can change and start exploring."

"Just give me a second, David," I laughed, spinning around slowly on the sidewalk. "I want to look around. I can't believe we’re finally here."

I smiled, my eyes moving across the busy, wide road to the opposite sidewalk. There was a big luxury shopping mall directly across from us, with crowds of tourists and locals walking in and out of the huge glass doors.

My eyes scanned the crowd casually, enjoying the bright colors of the city.

Then, my breath caught in my throat.

The air in my lungs turned to ice. The busy noises of Dubai’s traffic suddenly faded away until everything sounded quiet.

Standing on the opposite sidewalk, right under the shade of a big palm tree, was a woman. She was wearing a loose summer dress this time, with a large sun hat on her head. But I would know that face anywhere.

It was her. The woman from the wedding reception.

And right beside her, holding her hand and jumping up and down excitedly, was the little boy.

My eyes went wide. My vision tunneled until the only thing I could see was the two of them across the road. The boy pointed toward an ice cream cart, laughing. The woman smiled, reaching down to wipe his cheek.

My hand began to shake violently against the car door. My heart slammed against my ribs so hard it felt like it was going to break through.

No. No, no, no. This is impossible. This is a nightmare. I’m imagining things.

"Mira?" David’s voice called out from inside the car, sounding very far away. "Honey, what’s wrong? Why are you just standing there?"

I couldn't move. I couldn't blink. I kept staring across the road, silently begging the universe to let it be a mistake. Let it be a stranger who just looked like her.

But then, as if feeling me looking at her, the woman turned her head. She looked right across the busy road, through all the passing cars, and her eyes locked instantly onto mine.

She didn't look shocked to see me. She didn't look confused.

Slowly, the woman raised her free hand and gave me a small, creepy wave. Beside her, the little boy turned too, his small eyes finding my face.

"Mira!" David’s hand suddenly touched my waist, pulling me out of my trance. He had stepped out of the car, his eyebrows bunched together with real worry. "You’re completely pale. Are you feeling sick from the flight?"

I slowly turned my head to look at my husband. My tongue felt heavy inside my mouth, like lead.

"David..." I whispered, my voice breaking into a tiny, broken sound. I pointed a shaking finger toward the opposite side of the road. "Look."

David frowned, turning his head to look where I was pointing.

The moment his eyes landed on the woman and the little boy, I felt his entire body go completely stiff. The warm, loving husband from the airplane vanished. His jaw tightened so hard the bones clicked, and all the color drained from his face.

"David," I choked out, the small doubt in my chest exploding into pure terror. "Why are they here?"