Chapter 4 Kenny's vows

Kenny feels like he is falling apart. He can sense his body shaking or rather Marianne's body shaking. His mind is in chaos.

“Steven ... Did Steven ... ?

“Am I dead because of him?”

Kenny’s breathing became ragged. The pain in his chest is just too much to endure.

“How could he do this to me?”

“I would give him my everything”

Annie was alarmed after seeing Marianne in a state.

“Breathe!” a loud voice came from Francois which startled Annie. Kenny came around after the loud sound, wondering what it was, but his breathing had regulated.

Remembering the night that he had assumed it was just a nightmare...

It’s like he is facing Steven’s handsome face and is turning ugly.

“I never would have thought that you would be able to do this to me.”

“I had cared and loved you for years.”

“My parents had treated you like their own son. They even gave you the house, which was my brother’s. It’s because you are a member of the family.”

He thought of the night prior to his death.

“We were drinking and I was happily congratulating you on your forthcoming nuptials, you even gave me a brotherly hug. You also told off the boys, for they were being loud because you noticed my discomforts. You knew then that I was having a headache."

"Steven … you’re the only one who truly knows me.”

“So, tell me ... Steven ... tell me that this is all just a nightmare,” Kenny’s thoughts are full of Stevens, while crying inside. The pain is just too much for him.

His breathing becomes fast and it turns into a wheeze.

Annie, who had been watching her friend’s face, is getting emotional. She can tell that her friend is struggling. It’s like she is in so much pain but suppressing it. 

“Just cry Marianne, please ... you’ll be okay, you need to let it out” is what Annie wanted to say, but then Marianne began to hyperventilates.

She was about to press the button to call a nurse, but was taken aback by Francois' movement.

Francois, who had been observing Marianne for a while, pulled the wheelchair towards him, he made sure that  Marianne’s vision would be on him.

“Lady Marianne Williams,” he flatly said with a stern voice.

Kenny comes to his senses and it’s like he is seeing Francois for the first time.

His mind went to Marianne;

“Yes, this body belongs to “Lady Marianne Williams”

“What had become of her?” 

“So, is this like she’s gone and I’m occupying her body …? Or is she around somewhere?”

“If she is gone because I’m here then this is not right! I’d rather die than steal someone else’s body.”

“Oh! Marianne, just come back to your body,” desperately seeking her in his mind.

Francois’ authoritative but soothing voice filled the room which brought Kenny back to his senses.

“Marianne! Pay attention and listen to me. There are thousands of people counting on us. Their livelihood is on the line. I don’t know exactly what is causing your pain and distress, but you need to take a hold of yourself. You’re the only heir of the Williams’ empire - and with you falling apart is hindrance to a lot of people.”

“If you, perhaps, need any help with something, just let me know, we are husband and wife, and I’m bound to protect you,” stated Francois.

Kenny is at loss after hearing Francois’ words. He feels comforted after hearing his speech. 

But, although he is grateful to his kind words, he knows that those vows are for Marianne.

Yet, still he is thankful to him, for he pulled him out from breaking down.

He would have said “thank you” in a response to him, but instead he nodded at him as he felt weird to say that.

After taking a deep breath, he said “Excuse me, I’m going to the loo.”

He needs time to think things through. The toilet area seems to be the only space where he can be alone to think.

He finds this humorous!  

He had heard some stories about girls excusing themselves and spending time in the facilities just to avoid anyone or to be alone.

He had already done this twice! Within less than an hour!

And the reasons are the same as those girls! 

“Life is such a wonder” Never would I have thought that I’ll be the same as them,” Kenny thought.

Kenny is back again staring at the mirror, the beautiful face of the young lady is staring right back at him. He noticed the slight bruises on the sides but it is not a major for a need of a plaster.

He thinks of what Francois had said about the livelihood of a lot of people under the Williams.

Of Francois － the almost humanoid guy … 

He can not feel but he is bound by duties to this world. 

To himself ... To Kenny … what would become of Kenny?

And Marianne …?

After thinking for a while, he pulled himself together. He needs a course to follow, a journey to go through, and the purpose of him in this body.

Kenny’s vow;

“For now, I will live my life as Marianne … Kenny doesn’t exist anymore. If Marianne will appear, then I will gladly leave.”

“I will help Francois on what needs to be done, for those people that are depending on us.”

“I will cherish this second life, though it’ll be a different path and maybe even more difficult, I should still see it through to the end”

And as for Steven … time will tell.”

Kenny knows himself that he wants retribution against Steven, but then, he also knows that he doesn’t have the heart to do it.

And who knows? “Maybe that wasn’t Steven? He might have wronged him! 

“For now, Steven is innocent until he is proven guilty."

"Yes, that’s how it should be,”  Kenny thought.

“As for you, young lady …” Kenny said to Marianne’s face in the mirror.

“I don’t know if your soul is still in this world, but I will lead your life from now on, I will carry your name “Marianne Williams”, and don’t worry as I will uphold it with dignity.”

“I promise that I will give you an outstanding life so that when you come back to your body, I hope that you won't be disappointed. Or, wherever you are, I hope you are content.”

After Kenny swore his solemn oath, he took a deep breath.

“My name is Marianne Williams,” she says.

She smiled to herself in the mirror, checking her appearance, checking what kind of expressions she can make and practicing more smiles.

“I’m Marianne Williams,” she said, then she remembered that she is married.

“Oh my GOSH!! I’m MARRIED!!

“It’s Mrs. Marianne Anderson!! Oh my God! How could I have forgotten that!? She thought.

Francois who had been reading for a while looks up towards the toilet where Marianne is. There are no feelings of concern but her well-being is under his care, especially with her condition.

He heard her mumbling to herself for a while, but he can’t hear any more sounds coming from the room.

"Miss Annie, could you check on her,”  his voice is in a command which he usually used in the military.

Upon hearing Francois, Annie immediately went in to see Marianne. She sees her staring into space, but her complexion is a bit better than earlier. Gone is the painful stricken expression on her face. She seems okay yet she looks worried.

“Marianne, are you okay?” she asked softly.

“Sorry, I had to come in, Francois wants me to check on you.”

Marianne turns her head to her. “Annie, I’m sorry for being rude earlier, I hope you’ll forgive me,” she said.

Annie is simply happy to see the old kind Marianne from her childhood is back.

Marianne told her that she can’t remember any of their past and so she has to fill her in from the past and to help her with the other people that she’d forgotten too.

Francois surveys how Marianne looks as soon as she comes out. “She seemed okay, no distress on her face. She looks nervous upon seeing me, and she is forcing herself to smile. Why? Does she want to ask a favour?” thought Francois.

Marianne doesn’t know how to react upon seeing Francois. This is her husband! She is facing her husband!

What to do?  How to be a wife? ?

It’s only a moment ago that she had acknowledged her new life, accepting to live as a she or her ... and now, also a married woman!! That's too soon!

"Can't I have a breather?"

“Anyone who would be in my shoes wouldn’t know what to do?” she silently moaned.

Clasping her hands tightly, she sees her situation getting out of hand ...

Then she saw the indifference look of Francois … a huge lump of burden has lifted off. She finally started to relax.

"Of course, it's the 'Famous Francois Davidson!' What am I thinking and fussing about!?" she mused.

She suddenly realised the state of her marriage.

" It doesn't seem bad," she thought.

" It can also be a blessing that it is this "Man".

She doesn't want to be involved with anyone.

Being in a platonic relationship with the most capable man is certainly the best in her situation. 

She just needs to behave herself, to do things in an orderly manner or only act with a good judgement in accordance to Francois' view. 

"Life wouldn't be that hard"

While Marianne is seeing things in a positive way, Francois' words made her agitated again!

"I gather from your reactions earlier that you are familiar with Dr. Kenny Jones, I will take you there," he said.

....!! What did he just say?