I walked to the bathroom. I had to take a hot bath to get myself calmed. My body was weak and my chest was sore whenever I inhaled. I switched on the shower and got into the shower gradually. The hot water flowed along my skin, but it did not soothe me. It just made me remember that I had turned so weak. I bathed, dried myself and wore my nightgown. I was trembling and opened the small metal box on my table where I had my medication. I already knew what would be there, yet I was still searching the empty pack hoping that a miracle pill would be found. Nothing. I had swallowed the final pill the day before. I sat on the side of my bed looking at the empty pill pack. My chest tightened again. Without the drug, things would be worse. The physician had already alerted me in the morning. My vision would begin to deteriorate. My hearing would decline. My bleeding would get more frequent. I was expected to have two pills daily, and I did not even have one. I put the empty pack on the table and rubbed my face with both hands. I suddenly felt like my body was responding to the stress and I tasted something metallic. My lips felt wet. I wiped them with my thumb and there was blood. Here we go again. I got on my feet and went to the mirror. My nose was already bleeding. After a few seconds I heard the old warm trickle on my left side. It did not surprise me any longer; it just made me weary. I took a clean towel and pressed it against my nose and ear cleaning up the blood on my chin. The bleeding was more to-night, perhaps because I had not taken the pills. I sat down on the floor in the bathroom waiting until it subsided. It did come back, later on, I was aware it would. It always did. At the moment of everything being over, I rinsed my face and washed my hands. I wiped the sink off, disposed of the bloody tissues, and went back to bed. My head hurt. My eyes were stiff and hot, as though there was something trying to push at the inside. I went to sleep and covered myself with the blanket. I hated nights like this. I despised the fact that I felt like my time was passing faster than others. I recalled what my father say to me earlier: I will not spend money on a person who has less than three years to live. He made it sound so bad, as though I were a bad investment that he should have regretted making. I kept my eyes closed and wished that I would fall asleep and close the rest of the world. I eventually fell asleep after a long time. But sleep didn't last. I was rudely awakened by a bang on my door. Bang. Bang. Bang. I sat up with a jump, and my heart leaped in my chest. "Ariana!" my father shouted. "Open this door right now!" My hands shook as I rose out of bed. I opened the door slowly. There was Richard Hale, flushed and angry, in his evening clothes. His tie was loose at his neck, and his eyes were wild as he had been seeking everywhere. "Where is your sister?" he yelled. My voice was low and coarse. "I don't know." He stepped closer. "Do not play games with me to-night. Where is Alina?" "I said I don't know." My throat felt tight." I have not seen her since morning when she had breakfast before i went to the hospital!" He banged his hand on the frame of the door, and I jumped. "It is not the moment to be stupid, Ariana! It is tomorrow morning, the wedding! Is! Tomorrow!" He was pointing a finger at me." Your sister is missing , her phone is switched off, her location is switched off, and even her man does not know where she is. So tell me the truth. Where the hell did you go hide your sister! Where is she?" "I am telling you the truth," I said hastily. "I don't know where she is. I had no idea that she was missing. I was in my room." He shook his head as though he did not believe a word. "You expect me to believe that? Huh? You? The same Ariana who is ever in her defence? He made a step toward me, and I retreated. "You two think I'm a fool? You two better stop playing games and you! You had better stop lying to me before I lost my cool!" My eyes widened. "I swear I don't know anything. Why would I lie about this?" "Since you are seeking revenge," he said. "Because you want to piss me off. You know we had a busy day to-day, and nobody thought where you were. You are doing all of this so the attention comes back to you right? Fine, now you have my attention, tell me! What do you want! Where is your sister!" "No, that is not so," I said to him, although I knew there was no use arguing with him. He caught my wrist and squeezed it. "Where. Is. Alina?" "I don't know!" I cried out. He set me free and walked in front of my door breathing hard whilst he paced. . "Her location is switched off. No message, nothing! And the wedding is hours away! Have you any idea what that is? Do you have any idea what would happen if a bride goes missing hours before her wedding! Do you!" He screamed, the veins on his forehead popping out. "I do," I said, in a soothing manner, in an attempt to quiet him. "But I really do not know where she is." He ceased pacing, and looked at me, as though he had finally made a decision. "You think this is funny? This is a joke? Let me tell you somet my," , he said, and pointed at my chest. "If you do not find your sister," he paused and took a good look at me, i I felt my stomach tighten. "If you do not bring Alina to me..." "-you'll be the bride."

"Where is she?" I questioned myself when I emerged out of the last house on my list, and, as usual, she was not there. "Where are you Alina?" I mumbled. I had already checked all possible places I could think of last night after father had left my room. I had called at the houses of the friends of Alina, mocked at all the doors, inquired of every person I could recall that she had spoken to. No one knew where she was. I massaged my forehead and groaned. There was only one place left. I was forced to visit the police station. Maybe they could help. Perhaps, they might locate her in time. The ride there was quiet. I barely noticed the traffic. I just thought about Alina, my sister, my twin, the loved one of everyone yet the only one who sometimes cared about me, and how she may vanish without any trace. My stomach churned. How could this be happening? I arrived at the station and went into it and to the front desk. "I... I want to file a kissing person report," I said, endeavoring to maintain my voice. The officer glared up at me and scowled seeing my blood soaked shirt. "Who's missing? And why are you covered in blood?" "My sister. Alina Hale," I replied ignoring his other question. "She disappeared last night." And as if on cue, blood ran down my nose, and i used my shirt to wipe. The man squirmed. "I am sorry, Miss Hale, but it has not been twenty-four hours since she went. You will be required to report back after twenty four hours in case you wish to report a missing person. I froze. "What? That... that's impossible! You see you sir, it is her wedding day! She is to be married to day! He shook his head. "I'm sorry, but that's the law. We cannot do anything until the necessary time is elapsed." I walked out of the police station more helpless than ever before. Upon returning to the mansion, no one was in the living room, except my father. He was standing close to the window and he was looking anxious with his hands pressed against the glass. As he caught sight of me he turned and his face was full of anger. "There you are!" he barked. "Where have you been? And no more excuses of yours this time!" "I... I had gone to look for sister." "Do not lie to me!" he exclaimed, his voice growing higher. "I am fully aware of what you are up to. You and Alina are playing games and I am not falling to it!" "I swear it's not a joke!" I said, my voice shaking. "I do not know where she is!" He did not answer instantly. "Then tell me the truth, or I will make you put on the gown, " he said slowly and with a low cold voice. I froze. My stomach dropped. My chest was as though it had been caught between an iron hand. "Father..." I started, my voice trembling. "Please... we may file a missing person report. It is possible to make more calls, visit more destinations. Don't make me do this-" His voice interrupted me, and was as sharp as a whip. "Is it possible that a report will make a difference? You do not know anything, Ariana but we do. I am aware of where your sister is hiding. I know she's with you. I have no idea what sick game you two are playing And, unless you take her out, unless you do what is necessary, you will be the bride." I shook my head, stepping back. "I don't know where she is!" It is, I said, more desperate this time. "I swear I don't! You need not make me, please, you need not-" "Fine," he said after some time. "You wanted money right? You wanted to work right? Do this as a job, replace your sister at the altar till she is found, I'll make sure you'll get the best doctors to treat you." I could feel my hands shaking. My chest heaved. I would have screamed, would have run, would have hid. I would have given anything rather than what he was insisting. And yet... I realized that I could not argue any more. I had no options but nod in agreement. He took out his phone and placed a call. Several minutes afterward, a physician came to the mansion. He was the one who had attended to me previously, and knew my condition. My father signaled me to sit and the doctor was about to make a special injection. "This will put a stop to your bleeding," my father said, his voice quite remarkably quiet, almost business-like. "Once it's done, you'll be ready." I swallowed hard. I rolled up my sleeve and my hands were trembling. The injection was done by the doctor and I could feel the sting of the needle. My blood gradually ceased to flow. Relief mixed with fear. "Thank you father." I mumbled. He did not answer in a flash. He just gave me a dress, the wedding dress of my sister, which was white and heavy. I held it gradually, my hands touching the fine material. The thought of putting it on, of standing up in front of all those people, of being that person I was not, made my chest tighten. "You have to act like her," he said at last. "At the wedding. Do this and I will give you the money to your treatments and I will ensure that someone discovers a cure to your illness. But you have to do it. No mistakes. No lies. No excuses." I nodded slowly, but my heart was beating in my chest. I had no other choice. I did not wish to do so but I had to. But my life, my treatment, my little hope that I can live. He gave me a piece of paper folded up. I opened it carefully. On it, in handwriting, were the words: Your vows. I looked at the paper and my hands trembled and my chest tightened. I could barely breathe. I muttered to myself, with a little voice, and doubtful. "My vows..."