CHAPTER 9: SHATTERED

***CRYSTAL'S POV***

The noise from outside seemed to increase the palpitation of my heart, and I felt my blood boiling with difficulty. 

I closed my eyes, trying my best to stop my tears as I crawled down the bed, ignoring the heaviness I felt in me. 

My feet touched the cold floor, and I flinched. Everything was strange. Something wasn't right, but I wasn't able to pinpoint what it was, and that made me nervous. 

I squinted my eyes and forced my body up the bed. I walked slowly toward the door, my body aching with each step and my head feeling like it would explode. 

Opening the door, I saw some maids running toward the dining room, and my eyes twitched. My heart raced faster, and my mouth dried up. I quickly closed the door behind me and followed the maids who were still making their way toward the dining room while wondering what was going on. 

I ignored the weakness in my body and the forceful beating of my heart as something kept telling me to follow the maids. It only took a moment for us to get to the dining room, and we saw many maids gathered around the dining table with tears on their faces. 

In the center was a woman with her eyes closed and a man dressed like a doctor was checking on her. The woman's face was serene. It was almost as if she was smiling, but at the same time, she seemed to be...

"I'm sorry, she's dead." The doctor's voice broke the silence in the room, and everyone gasped. 

I shook my head. No. That couldn't be right. 

I stepped forward, standing right in front of the woman, hoping my eyes weren't seeing right and the person dead at the moment wasn't... Madam Frost. I won't be able to bear it. I couldn't... I couldn't bear it. 

How could she die? She looked so peaceful. It seemed like she even wanted to smile. Could someone die so beautifully? 

"Maybe you are wrong, Doctor?" I pleaded as tears rolled down my face. 

My body felt extremely weak, and my head felt faint. I felt like I could lose consciousness anytime soon, but I decided to hold on. I needed to watch Madam Frost open her eyes again. I needed to hear her call my name again. I needed to see her smile at me again. 

How could she die this way? She was so young and healthy. She was so beautiful and sweet. How could she die?

The doctor sighed and shook his head. "Sorry, Miss. Madam Frost is really dead." He said again, and I staggered forward. 

I went on my knees as I stared at the woman, who had her head resting on the dining table, a peaceful smile on her face as if she was going to open her eyes any moment and smile brightly at me. 

I remembered our conversation last night. Her words to me, her promises, her laughter as she made and laughed at my jokes. She was so lovely, she was so lively, she was so happy and she looked like she was going to live for at least 30 more years. 

"Crystal, do you know? I've liked you since the day I saw you for the first time."

"Crystal, I really wish I had met you earlier..."

"Crystal, will you go to a banquet with me tomorrow night?"

"My friends would be glad to meet you. We look so much alike. I bet they would think you are my daughter."

"Aw, so cute. Our Crystal is so cute."

"Crystal, I think I've become your brain-dead fan."

I closed my eyes as memories flooded my mind, and I felt like I was going crazy. Tears ran down my face unceasingly. "Wake up, please. You promised to be there for me. You told me you would walk me down the aisle."

"Please, wake up." I cried out, squeezing her hand and praying desperately. 

I prayed to any spirit out there that would be able to hear my voice, I prayed to anyone out there who might be able to fulfill my wish. All I wanted... was for Madam Frost to open her eyes and smile at me again. 

What was I supposed to do now? How should I live without her? Where was that smile that served as the only sunshine in my dark world? Where was that warm touch that used to comfort me?

Gone. It was all gone. Madam Frost was gone. 

She left with her kindness, her smile, her laughter, her love, and her presence. 

I would never see her again... No!

I pressed her hand to my chest as I cried bitterly. "Didn't you ask me to call you Mum? I will call you every day. I will sing it like a song every day. I'm sorry, Mum. I'm so sorry. I should have called you that way. What should I do? Please, wake up!" 

Madam Frost... Please...

"Who made this pasta and bacon?" The doctor's voice drifted into my ears amidst my cries, and I raised my eyes slightly to meet his. "They are poisoned." He added.