Chapter 3

Harper.

Beep Beep Beep,

Groaning lightly I gently reached out to my bedside alarm and turned it off, immediately my hands touched the alarm clocked I jolted awake into full consciousness and sat up on the bed.

W-w-wait what?!! I thought they said the dead doesn’t have any relationship with earthly things again, why the hell did I feel the alarm clock beneath my hands.

My heart began to pound in my chest, with shaky hand I reached out again, immediately I brushed my fingertips against the cold metal surface, I recoiled instinctively as if burnt, shivers shot down my spine as I glanced around nervously, my breath coming in sharp and ragged intakes.

Where the hell was I?! I mean I know I’m in my room but why the hell am I in my room?! I fucking died! Is this my after life?! Why can I still feel my body without any scratch or pain, what the -, the loud blaring of my phone intercepts my thoughts, my heart hadn’t stop racing a bit, infact it’s rate increased with every passing second, with shaky hands I slowly reached for my phone, “ NOVAN” was written boldly on the screen, I shakily swiped down on the answer button and picked up the call, I slowly raised it to my ear trying to keep my grip on the phone steady.

“God Dammit Harper!” He yelled into my ear immediately I picked up the call, I couldn’t even bring myself to say anything at that moment, I just listened to him speak with my mouth hung open.

“Are you trying to embarrass me right now?! Why are you ignoring my calls! Have you forgotten my parents and your parents are meeting today?! Everyone is seated waiting for you!” He yelled, my eyes dimmed and I slowly rose up to my feet, his parent is meeting my parents?! That happened one year ago, how can his parents be meeting with my parents now?!

“I-m I’m s-sorry, I’m feeling a little bit under the weather, c-can I speak to you later” I stuttered, finally regaining my ability to speak, he huffed loudly on the phone and I could tell he was already pacing angrily, it’s what he does when he is getting angry,

“Under the weather?! I asked you to come with me to my house! You Insisted on going to have a nap at your place and now you feel under the weather?! Whether you like it or not, we’re pushing through with this wedding,”

“So get your silly ass up and get here immediately!” He yelled and ended the call, I slowly removed the phone from my ear and looked in my phone, my gaze fell on what I dreaded the most.

July 13th 2023, 4:30pm. I went back in time one year!

I shook my head aggressively as my hands flung to my mouth, tears began to drop from my face, No! No! How is this possible, 2023?! How did I get back here?! Just when I thought I had finally escaped and found eternal peace, I was transported back to my horrid past?! Can I know exactly what my offense is?!

My phone beeped and I looked down at it, it was a message from Michelle.

-“Sis, are you having cold feet?! That’s normal, you don’t have to be nervous, Take your time, we’re all waiting. Xoxo- The message read,

I carelessly threw my phone on the bed, In a fit of frustration, I raked my fingers through my hair, scattering the strands in all directions as I let out an exasperated sigh. Each tug a release of pent-up frustration, Back to this old messy life.

I blew a frustrated puff of air towards my face, attempting to atleast see through the hair scattered on my face, as soon as I did that my gaze landed on an umbrella tucked in the corner of my room, my body stilled, I swallowed hard as I raised my hands to my hair and combed it backwards immediately, I gingerly walked towards it and slowly squatted in front it, I lifted the umbrella up turning it in my hands staring at it, it’s faded colors and worn handle stood out to me,

*”In a world where there’s so many voices, you should be strong willed enough to find your own voice,”

“Go home,”

“Tomorrow is a new day, Don't let the darkness of today overshadow the brightness of tomorrow."*

I dropped the umbrella on the floor immediately and covered my mouth with both of my palms, My eyes went tightly shut as all of the memories came rushing back, if the umbrella is here does that mean the jacket is here too?! My eyes flapped opened immediately but there wasn’t any jacket in sign, I stood up and dashed towards my wardrobe, I grabbed the handle and pulled it open, my eyes went wide, there it was in its pristine state, the army green tuxedo jacket that shielded me in the Bleakest moment of my life.

My phone beeped again, my head snapped towards it, I let go of the handle, walked back to my bed and picked up my phone, it was a text from Novan.

-Don’t make me march over to that place to get you! You won’t like it!- The text read.

“The perfect opportunity to find your voice will always come, make sure you never despise it” The taxi man’s words from the night of my death echoed in my head, my eyes still glued on the text message Novan sent me, This is it! This is the opportunity! This! Is! My! Opportunity!.

I slowly turned to look into my wardrobe, my eyes rummaging it from where I stood, These wouldn’t quite cut it!

8:00 pm ….

I pushed the huge mahogany doors in my parents house open, all heads turned to entrance of the, they all had an irritated look on their face but immediately their gaze landed on me it changed, predominantly into shock.

I stepped into the living room and the doors went shut behind me, my porcelain skin illuminated by just the right amount of makeup – a subtle smoky eye complemented by a rosy blush on my cheeks and a hint of pink gloss on my lips. My eyes, framed by long, thick lashes, sparkled as I forced a small smile.

I styled my hair into loose waves that cascaded down my back like a cascade of silk. Each strand of my hair seemed to catch the light, shimmering with a touch of golden highlights.

I wore a sleek and tailored white bootcut pantsuit that accentuated my figure perfectly,

My shoes were a statement in themselves – a pair of red stiletto heels that clicked against the floor, my grip on my bag tightened as I took small confident steps towards them.

I looked extremely different and they were stunned, this was a significant deviation from my previous pathetic style. They had barely seen me in make up and they were so shameless in expressing their shock.

I stopped walking and stood a few meters from the table, my gaze swept over the room, meeting each and everyone of their eyes shortly, immediately my eyes landed on Novan my heart skipped a beat, I saw his grip on my hair slamming it hardly on the door replaying right before my eyes again, my heart was pounding heavily in my chest with shaky and sweaty hands but I held myself down in place, I did not spend hours painting my face to come here and wilt under their intense and evil gaze.

“What are you trying to do?!” Novan demanded, his voice breaking the ice cold silence, my lips stretched into a smile, I knew if I speak too soon my lips would quiver and my voice would break and I would break down in tears.

I simply smiled as I made my way into their midst and took my seat on the same chair as Novan but at a safe distance.

“You do know it’s rude to keep elders waiting,” Novan’s Father chided, his voice dripping with annoyance, well I didn’t know I was this important, I had all these people wait for four hours for me, wow, what a discovery.

I slowly turned to look at him where he was seated at my right and nodded slowly,

“Oh my apologies, I didn’t think you’d pass for that,” I whispered my voice coming out smooth and confident, I slowly crossed my legs and placed my hands on the arms rest,

“Harper! That’s my dad!” Novan chided immediately, I lazily lifted my gaze from his parent and turned to him,

“So?!” I asked raising my brows at him, Mother interrupted him just as he wanted to reply,

“Uhmm, that’s alright everybody, let’s just get started, we’ve wasted a lot of time already,” she said, she slowly met my gaze across the room and glared at me sternly.

“We’ll focus on the wedding planning,” she continued taking her gaze off me clearing her throat. She uncrossed her legs and turned towards Novan’s parent.

“We should do the wedding as soon as possible,” Novan’s mother inserted, Mother slowly turned to look at her with a slight hint of irritation,

“Harper is taking a course, she won’t be getting married until it’s done,” Mother simply replied, I scoffed my smile not leaving my lips as I watched them both decide for me like I wasn’t there,

“In fifteen months,” she added.

“Fifteen month is too…” Novan’s father tried to protest but she cut him off immediately,

“The wedding will happen next year!” She asserted firmly, this was exactly how it happened in my last life, except that I just sat timidly in the corner and ran with their decision, Not anymore, I didn’t go to the ends of hell and come back to earth to keep on being controlled, Hell’s fire has refined me!

“Except that there won’t be any wedding!” I finally said, all their heads snapped in my direction, my smile widened, wow, so this was how it felt to be the center of attraction, interesting!

I reached for my bag with a small exhale and got up to my feet,

“As fifty percent of this union, I say I’m putting an end to this! I’m no longer interested,” I added, Novan got up immediately and within split seconds he covered the distance between us, he raised his hands to me, my eyes went tightly shut, my heart began to beat fast in my chest as the whole memory of how I died by his hands began to play in my head all over again, I waited for a while but I didn’t feel his touch on me, my eyes went open to see him dropping his hands seething angrily, I swallowed hard as I stepped back and turned to the rest of them,

“These are the issues,” I muttered with a deep exhale, my grip on my bag tightened as I tried to collect my thoughts.

“This wedding is over!” I announced more clearly this time and with that I spun around and began to make my way out,

“Where the hell are you going!” Mother yelled standing up to her feet as she slammed her legs on the floor, I paused in my tracks and slowly turned to her.

“To find my voice!” Without waiting for her reply I turned around and stormed out of the house, shutting the door with an heavy thud!

Died a dunce, definitely resurrected a sage!