Book 365 Days Novels & Stories

The weather has matched his mood perfectly for twenty-three days now. Twenty-three days. Twenty-three days since Flora's demise. Twenty-three days of this purgatory, watching her breathe but not live. "I brought you a good book you are gonna like," Lucas says, reaching into his messenger bag. He pulls out a dog-eared copy of *Pride and Prejudice*, its spine cracked from frequent reading. "I thought I might read to you again today. The nurses say that's good—that you might be able to hear me." He opens to where the bookmark indicates his progress and clears his throat.

He bends over a drawer, and after a while, he straightens up and begins to walk in my direction with a file in his hand. He extends it towards me, saying nothing to give me a clue of what is inside. I hastily take the file, fueled by curiosity. I tear the folder open and flip through the pages, stopping at a page that catches my attention. "365 days as Don Nikolai Rider's bride?" I mutter and look at him. "Yes…" he steps closer, his hands in his pockets. He brings out one of his hands and part my hair slowly, causing shivers to rush down my spine.

I asked, nodding to the six books in the rack. " Yes. That one you're holding I have read three times. " " I'm not much of a reader. " " Yes, I still remember that! It's a shame though. " " I don't want to read. I want my phone. " I cried out, ignoring whatever he meant by that. " You do know it's not gonna work. " " Please." "You're wasting your time." " I can't continue living like this. " " How about we make a deal? You finish one book in the next three days then you'll get access to the internet? "

The contract was still sitting on the hotel desk. It hadn’t moved in hours. But it felt heavier every time I looked at it—like it was absorbing the weight of the decision I still hadn’t made. I had read it again. And again. Highlighted sections. Dog-eared pages. Searched the margins for hidden threats. But it remained exactly what Dominic said it was. Clean. Precise. Deceptively simple. A one-hundred-and-nine-day marriage. No emotional ties.

The landlord's voice echoed in her head like a bad dream. "Three days , Jessica . If you don't pay, you and your junk are out". Jessica tightened her grip on the cracked envelope in her hand . Another bill. Another threat. Another reminder that no matter how many shifts she worked or how many meals she skipped, she was never going to be enough. The flourescent lights of the diner buzzed above her. She stood behind the counter in her worn uniform, her apron stained with coffee and stress. A customer snapped his fingers impatiently, but her vision blurred. Her finger trembled.

"Be with me, Holly. I'll build a good life for us!" … I switched on my phone and saw 17 unread texts, with the latest one from five minutes ago. "Holly, I'm at the city hall, by the main entrance. When are you getting here?" I stared at the screen, and a laugh slipped out of me. How ironic. After 27 days of begging, all he offered was a promise to marry me in three days. Those three days came and went, and I couldn't even find the strength to call that lie out.

I have been to the hospital and am back home now, and I'm currently recuperating. Please bear with me! Consistent daily uploads will resume again starting tomorrow. And you can vote with gems to give the book more exposure. I look forward to your engagement everyday, and it keeps me going. Thank you for your understanding, and have a lovely day everyone!

And today I learned engaged feels like Day 1 but warmer. Day 1 I cried. Day 204 I cried too. But different tears. Day 1 tears: scared. Day 204 tears: safe. We are not closing book. We are writing new chapter. With straight lights. And $22. And ring. And balcony. And forever.

Not even slightly. This man, I shook my head slowly, moving further inside with my arms tucked close, not touching anything. This is actually stunning. A desk sat clear in the center — except for a lamp, a pen holder with pens arranged by height, by HEIGHT, and a small neat stack of books to the right side. I drifted toward them naturally. Business. Economics. Architecture. And then— I stopped. Picked it up. A woman on the cover wearing thin panties. Long legs. Strappy bra. The kind of cover that needed absolutely no explanation about what was inside.