The lights lit across the horizon brightening everything beneath. The starry burst and sparkling trails took on new magic as they reflected beautifully on the water. As more fireworks were sent to the sky, the mirage of colours made the lake come alive.

Anna's eyes were supposed to be gawking with amazement but instead, it was filled with instant fear. Is he planning to kill me?

Jason smiled sheepishly as he lit more fireworks and sent them into the sky but his smile was larger and brighter than all the fireworks combined. He gestured for Anna to come towards the bridge as he placed the remnant of the unlit crackers on the floorboard.

Anna responded with a faint smile and moved sluggishly watching her surroundings for anything she could use to defend herself. As she moved closer to him she noticed a big tree branch by the side and moved towards it just in case of an emergency.

Jason reached into his pockets ready to bring out the ring he bought two years ago for Anna. From the moment they started dating, he knew she was the one for him and what better day to propose than on her birthday or let’s say her parent’s death anniversary? As he put his hand in his pocket, his knee had barely hit the floor when Anna swung the huge tree branch on his head.

She couldn’t stand the fear anymore.

Jason fell helplessly on the floorboard as the ring rolled from his hand into the river.

Anna stared in shock as lifeblood started coming out from his head. What had she done? She dropped the branch on the floor and rushed over to Jason’s side calling his name repeatedly. She screamed into the space as her hand touched the blood that trickled on the floorboard.

Anna stood up and pranced around the bridge putting her blood-smeared hand on her head thinking of the next step. Suddenly, she dropped down, took a look at her lifeless boyfriend on the floor and started crying. She rushed over to him placing her hand behind his head and drawing him close saying she didn’t mean to over and over again. The blood gushed out more and Anna stared hopelessly crying and thinking of what to do.

Instantly, Anna dropped the lifeless body and stood up drying her tears and arranging herself. She walked hurriedly to the lakeside cabin, opened the door and searched for a first aid box.

The cabin was extremely dark and Anna wasn’t with her cell phone or a torchlight. She tried to navigate around the cabin with a reflective memory of how to cabin looked.

Tripping over some items and knocking over a lot of equipment only added to frantic Anna’s worries. Finally, she found the box and rushed outside. She bent down and tried to hear his heartbeat.

Remembering what she learnt from her binge-watching of New Amsterdam and Resident, Anna took out the gauze then pressed on the wound firmly. She applied pressure for about 7 minutes but the gauze kept getting soaked so she tried to look around for any clean cloth she could use. After a fruitless search for a clean cloth, Anna decided to carry him to the hospital.

Grabbing him with her hands behind his armpits she dragged him to the parked car. She swung his body into the back seat and shut the door.

Where did he put the goddamn keys? she whispered to herself. She opened the door again and checked his pockets for the keys and voila.

Anna got into the car and tried to insert the key into the keyhole but her wandering mind and fidgeting hand wouldn’t let her. She dropped the key under the chair by mistake and struggled for a couple of minutes before bringing it out. She turned back and saw Jason whose face was getting pale with parched lips. Anna sighed as she started the car and drove off watching every corner for the police.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .

Earlier that day

“I know who killed your parents

” Anna stared at the heading of the mail she just received. Something didn’t sit right. Why would someone send her this on her parent’s death anniversary? She took a deep breath and clicked on the email.

Anna couldn’t believe what she read and quickly closed the laptop. She laughed continuously, smiling weirdly at the picture of her boyfriend, her adopted father and herself that lay at her bedside table.

No way. She laughed again as she stood up from her chair picking up her hairband. She walked towards her apartment window and smiled at the beautiful horizon.

“Today is a good day,” she said as she packed her dark glossy hair into a ponytail exposing a mark on her neck. She walked towards the kitchen tapping her fingertips on every surface as she walked past. She wore a fixed smile as she turned on the coffee maker humming “I love you” as she stared at the knives.

“Hey princess,” Jason said as he came in hugging her from behind and pecking her cheek. “I miss you so much” he swung his body and hers as he smiled goofishly.” You have no idea how much I’ve been wanting to hug you and hold you and kiss you and just be with you”

‘Oh c’mon” Anna smiled wearily and turned over holding his face. “You were only gone for an hour. If people saw the way you behave they’d think we’re newlyweds” She squeezed her eyes as she grabbed a huge chunk of his cheek

“Welllll” Jason said tucking her hair gently behind her ears purposefully dragging the tip of his fingers slowly across her skin.

“Well what” Anna replied staring deeply into his eyes

“Why don’t we become newlyweds” His eyes glittered as he said those words.

Anna quickly turned away removing the hands on her waist then walking to the fridge.” If this is your way of proposing to me…Your queen, then it’s a no”. She opened the fridge and brought out some eggs and bacon. “English breakfast?” she asked as she held the eggs in her hand showing Jason

“Sure” Jason answered as he placed his backpack on the cabinet. “But how about we go somewhere special for your birthday”

“Hmmm, where?”

“I was thinking…what if we go to Texas to hunt?”

Anna looked shocked.

“Like to kill?”

Anna’s eyes darkened as those words slipped from Jason’s mouth.

“It’s been long since I handled a gun,” he said as he searched his bag for God knows what.

He’s actually planning to kill me there in a guise. Anna turned and looked sharply into his eyes. The mail was right. Her mood suddenly changed as she tried to understand the whole situation.

Jason stared at her intensively as she suddenly went silent. Something was wrong somewhere. Creases appeared on her forehead and her lots of goosebumps on her arm. She moved her hands frantically and kept stamping her leg on the floor.

“Babe…what’s the matter” Jason wondered as he reached to touch her but she instantly moved back.

“I’m tired” Anna replied as she placed her hand on her head.

“Of me?” Jason asked wondering what could have annoyed her

“Must everything be about you? I just said I’m tired. It has nothing to do with you. I just wanna be left alone” Anna snapped.

“um…ok. I’m in my room if you need anything. I’m sorry. Just a simple question asked. You don’t have to be so grumpy”. Jason shocked, rolled his eyes and proceeded to his room.

Anna walked to her room and shut the door. She took her laptop out and opened it. She read the email over and over biting her nails and staring at the picture on the table time after time.

“No, it can’t be true” She gasped as she carried the picture and fell on the bed as tears trickled from her eyes. Anna heard a thud on the door. Jason slipped his phone with his flashlight on trying to get her attention. A slip of paper followed and an envelope.

Anna walked casually to the door and sat down close to the door. She took the paper and read out the small apology that Jason had written on it

“I’m sorry my queen with two sad eyes emoji” Anna laughed and sniffed then took the envelope and opened it. She couldn’t believe her eyes. It was the picture of a cabin that her father owned which was almost destroyed by heavy rainfall all fixed and ready to use.

More tears dropped from her eyes as she held the picture of the cabin to her chest. She placed it on the floor as she opened the door and hugged Jason

“Promise you’ll never kill me”

“Why would I dream of killing you?” Jason asked shocked at the question. “What’s wrong pumpkin” he whispered as he cleaned her eyes and held her face. “You don’t look so good”

“Thank you so much for fixing the cabin,” Anna said. “This is the best gift ever” She hugged him once again planting and unexpected peck on his lips.

“You haven’t even gotten a tip of all the things I’ve planned for your birthday” Jason voiced as he patted her head and hugged her again. “Just want you to know how much I love you” He pecked her and pushed her to the room telling her to go and have her bath.

Anna knew she had to start watching her back.