The Dying Flower

- I am sorry, Mrs. Black, but it seems you have six months left to live.

That's what the doctor told her and what she was thinking about while brushing her silky black hair. The idea of death was strange, gloomy, and frightening. Yet, for some reason, she felt pity too.

Pity for herself.

To begin with, she had no reason to be scared of death since she had never been alive! She was only seven when her mother died from a broken heart, some weeks after her father married his mistress. The stepmother made the life of little Flora a living hell.

Although Flora tried fruitlessly to get the attention of her father, Her half-sister Bianca was the only child he loved. It was times he forgot her existence. And he was even persuaded by his second wife to sell his older daughter to Jack Black, the Boss of the largest Mafia group in the city. Flora was only twenty one. She thought this may be her opportunity to live as a decent human being, but she was wrong.

So here she is! Two days after knowing about her stomach cancer, she wore the sexiest nightgown she had. Tonight she will try one last time to seduce her wicked husband, instead of getting hospitalized. Her stomach was aching greatly, but she managed to prepare herself perfectly for their first night. Yes, they are married for almost two years, yet she is still a virgin.

Jack came home around eleven p.m that night. He was drunk and not alone. He brought home his mistress Bianca, the shameless sister of Flora !

In the dim bedroom, he stood for a moment. He looked at Flora with disgust:

- Who allowed you into my bedroom s**? , roared Jack. Get out, you filthy thing!

For a moment, Flora stood up speechless. Her welcoming smile disappeared gradually. Instead of it, there was a shocked grimace:

It is supposed to be my bedroom too, she murmured.

- What have you just said s**t ?

Jack yelled and slapped her with huge force, and she fell to the ground. When she tried to stand up, there was a trace of blood and bitterness on the tip of her tongue. He gripped her chin tightly:

- You own nothing in this house! Jack shouted angrily. I own this room, this estate, and you too! You are just the slave that I bought with my money.

Flora gritted her teeth and shed some tears:

- But I am your wife, my beloved Jack! I am your woman! And I love you! I love you more than I even love myself !

- Guess what? I do not give a sh*t.

He flung her onto the cold floor. The back of her head hit the foot of the bed. She cried in pain. Her half-sister watched her agony smiling. She said to Jack:

- Please get that disgusting thing out of here ! My eyes can't stand looking at her.

- As you wish, baby girl!

Despair spread in Flora's heart. Her sister took everything from her: her father, her family, and now her husband ! She knew he was cheating on her. But never had she guessed that it would be with her sister !

- Why? Just why?! What did I do wrong to earn all this hate?

Flora cried hopelessly. Jack replied:

- How come you don't know the reason ?! compared to Bianca, You are a giant piece of garbage ! You do not possess half of her beauty nor her shining character. You are merely a lowly woman !

- If that's your opinion of me, then why did you marry me ?!, shouted Flora

- That's none of your business ! Get out of here !

He ended up kicking her out of their room so he can start enjoying his night with his mistress. Unable to believe what just happened, Flora sat by the door crying. She hoped all of that was just a hideous nightmare. She wanted to believe that Jack would open the door and tell her it was just a nasty prank. Instead of that, she kept hearing their moans and waves of laughter while making love. Flora felt cold inside. She never comes to understand why Jack wed her if he didn't want her in the first place.

"I believe it's Bianca who he wanted to marry. Yet Father wasn't able to give up on his beloved child to that criminal. So he sacrificed me instead", Flora assumed.

"Oh stop Jacky! Not there! It tickles!"

"How sexy you are Beauty"

"Am I prettier than your wife?"

"That stupid thing is nothing compared to you my muse!"

Flora felt a sharp wave of pain floating through her insides. She rushed to the bathroom and vomited black blood. And while vomiting she made her mind: She will run away from this abusive family and live her last days peacefully and happily.