Chapter 2

"Honey. Do you feel uncomfortable with your dress?" Lewis is holding her hand as speaking, gently caressing her back. His well-defined jaw juts stubbornly forward.

A chill shiver ripples over her skin; Christa appears not to know what is happening, why it feels like the unreasonable desire to tear him apart possesses her. Looking at all the accusing faces, she feels a sudden urge to run away.

It is the perfect time to call off the wedding. There is nothing wrong with it.

"I am fine. Honey, I can’t wait for you to marry me." Every time she tries to tell them she wants to cancel the wedding, the words come out differently.

Christa tries, again and again, to tell them what she really wants. Only they could not hear it. It is not a while until she realizes that even if she goes back into a time machine, Christa can’t change anything that has already happened. 

It seems to the universe is playing with the poor lady; Christa is in a no-win situation.

There are more rules about the Reborn she needs to know.

Christa Taylor would take things as they come. All she has to do-think a little hard and plan a new solution. Since it doomed her to become Mrs. Morrie, Christa would like to have a good time. 

Anyone would have cracked up if she had not allowed herself some fun. She could remember every trivial incident in great detail about the wedding in her previous life; once she had been burning for the happiest day of her life.

Everything was perfect for the big day, just like she had always dreamed.

The ceremony was on the private beach within the hotel a few yards owned by the Morrie family; guests from the beach or the hotel could watch the event. The beach was as quiet and romantic as it might appear in the movies, and the ceremony would end about an hour before sunset; it would be good timing to get amazing photos.

Christa quails at the thought.

"What is it? Christa." Her mum is speaking with a smile.

She is under the watchful eye of her mother Savanna Taylor and Louisa. Christa asks her mum to bring some food for her; she is trying to send Savanna away; so Savanna doesn’t have to hear the conversation between Christa and Louisa.

As the maid of honor, Louisa wears an apricot and white organza to go along with the bride’s dress designed by the most popular designer in town, who also designs the wedding ring.

Christa used to confide all her secrets to Louisa; Louisa had been like a sister. Christa is staring at Louisa with cold eyes.

"Spill it out. Christa. What’s the matter? You don’t look very cheerful; it was supposed to be your big day."

"Louisa, are you sleeping with Lewis? "

"Are you out of mind? I would never do it to you. I swear to God. What is this about?"

Louisa says heatedly, and her anger is so real. Suddenly, it came back to Christa-Lewis would take advantage of Louisa tonight; it doesn’t happen yet.

She couldn’t change what had happened to herself in the following year. What if she could make a difference to others? She is dying to know the outcome, and her somewhat irritable expression softens.

"I am sorry, Louisa. I got a call before the wedding; she said Lewis was cheating on me with my best friend. I need to know; I am afraid I have cold feet."

"That’s all right. Congratulations. You look beyond great." Louisa gives her a big warm hug; it comforts Christa to feel her arms around her. And Christa also gets something else in mind right now.

"Thank you. Could you please promise me something? It’s extremely important. I can’t prove it- you’ll have to take my word for it."

"You are scaring me. What is it?"

"I want you to promise me you’ll leave the hotel tonight once the ceremony is over, and go straight home, then stay there for the entire night. I will tell you everything tomorrow. Could you please do that for me?"

They stop talking when Savanna is back in with a piece of cake in her hand; Christa relaxes her grip on Louisa’s arm. Louisa rubs her arm; she finds that the change in Christa is unreadable, but she nods. Christa still feels anxious; she can only relax when she knows Louisa stays at home the whole night.

In a moment, the ceremony is starting, and everyone should be in position.

Christa floats up the aisle on her father’s arm; she seems awed by the presence of too many famous people; half of the town is there to celebrate the day.

Lewis looks stunning in his suit; waiting at the end of the aisle is above the sea; nothing is to prevent him from becoming the richest and happiest man in the world.

The Morrie family was the wealthiest people in Gosselich; the family business was best known for its properties throughout the city, including shopping centers, hotels, and cinemas.

Lewis’s father -Alfred Morrie built this business from scratch; this was nothing short of a miracle. Few knew that the Greenwish hospital and the Hissruop university belonged to the Morrie family. Christa’s father -Dean Taylor is the principal of the university. 

The waves glide against the shore; a gentle breeze rustles through her hair; Christa used to think it was romantic, but today it is so annoying. The birds are chirping; the soft instrumental music she chose specifically for this moment is too noisy. And she thought that the guests wanted her to look foolish and laughed.

Be careful with what you wish.

When her Dad hands her to Lewis, she trips and falls into Lewis deliberately. She did a rough calculation; if he losses his balance; and staggers back against the rail, both could fall back into the ocean.

The crowd almost takes the roof off if there is one when they watch the groom and bride tumble into the seawater; Christa wants to open a bottle of champagne to celebrate her victory.

It must be the most memorable wedding for all of them. After coming out of the sea, they lay on the beach; and then Lewis throws back his head and roars with laughter.

"Honey, do you want to run and ditch them? " Lewis is holding her left hand.

"You are crazy, but I like it." She is intoxicated.

The wet wedding dress is so ruined and heavy; they cast off their clothes and run along the beach. Christa strips down to her underwear, leaving the dress on the beach like it is worthless.

She takes a last look at it – it used to be her beloved private collection and worth a fortune, but she does not care for it now.

They walk back to their suite to clean up; after they finish changing clothes, their parents ask them to go to the aisle to finish the ceremony. Lewis and Christa have to follow the instructions. 

Assembled guests stand silent for the forty-minute service; there is a great round of applause when they pronounce husband and wife.

Christa has no idea how she gets to the suite; she is absentminded and far away when the ceremony ends. It merely is a reflection of her sometimes spaced-out mentality toward things or events that upset her; however, as time passes, her mind begins to clear. 

The moon is full.

A shaft of moonlight falls on the seawater; the moon bathes the ocean in silver light. Christa sits in front of the window and looks out to sea; Lewis hands her a glass of warm water.

Come to think of it - he bundled her up in a shawl and gave her a hot drink last time; she was slightly sleepy after drinking it, and it was more than tiredness. She pours off the water without him seeing and goes to bed; she is not asleep-she is faking it.

Lewis confirms that she is falling asleep; he takes hold of the door handle and turns it gently. Christa follows him out of the room to the lobby; her cousin Connie Smith is pretty drunk and lying on the sofa in the hotel lobby. Lewis touches her gently on the arm, and then he carries her. It seems like he is going to escort her to her room.

Christa’s heart quakes in fear; she has to assume the worst. What if Lewis changes his target when he finds that Louisa is absent?

Connie is unsympathetic or possibly sexist and racist and seems to have it in for her, and she annoys Christa frequently. But she doesn’t deserve this; she is a family.

Christa tries to figure out a way to free Connie, and then she sees the fire alarm. There appears to be no better way; she is ready to pull the alarm; when she spots Louisa steaming down the corridor toward Lewis and Connie.

Why is Louisa here? She promised to leave the hotel and stay at home tonight. Louisa is not drunk; will she change Louisa’s destiny? Or does Louisa still have sex with Lewis under some superpower?

Christa has to know; too bad the burning and the pain hits her again. She runs as fast as she can to be back to their room. She finally arrives at the bathroom, hot and frazzled.

She wastes no time turning on the tap and undressing; the cool water doesn’t cool her burning body. She feels a sharp pain in her back, and her body bloats and puffs up till pain bursts out through her whole body. It is unbearable, and she lets out a painful scream.

The sound of the crackle of breaking bones; her cry in this uncontrolled, hopeless pain; the babble of running water; luckily the walls are so soundproof that none can barely hear the noise. 

Christa’s body is covered with hair, and her hands have changed to paws; these clear physical changes freaked her out. 

What the hell happened to her? Then she loses control of her body and slipped into a comma.