Finally Free
Chapter 3: Forgiveness
Before I went to Earthrealm, I decided to get a haircut and a change of my outfit. I go myself a new graduated bob hairstyle complete with blunt bangs. I got rid of my leotard and put on a unique Egyptian-type bustier with a pearl necklace. Along with black pants with gold trims.
During the evening, I made my way to Earthrealm, but on the way, I found Chris sitting in the Living Forest, crying with his hands covering his face. I could tell he was crying, for what reason, I do not know. I could tell something happened. So I went to him.
"Chris?"
He saw me, with a new look.
"..."
I sat next to him.
"Why are you crying?"
"The woman I used to love... betrayed me..."
I knew who he was talking about. My alter-ego...
"Do you recognize me, Chris?"
He noticed the black eye shadow across my eyes, but he also noticed the irises in my eyes.
"Tanya?"
"Yes."
"You look different..."
He got up away from me.
"But how do I know you're the same backstabber that degraded me from earlier?"
"I know what I did was wrong. You were my one chance at true love, and... I ruined it. But you don't know the whole story."
"Save it. I will not be fooled again. Leave me be."
"Chris, please..."
"HOW COULD YOU SIDE WITH THAT BASTARD, KANO? You have any idea what's he done to me in the past?
"I know what you lost."
"AND YOU JUDGE ME? I cannot believe that I've met a woman who just breaks your heart for no good reason."
He's right.
"I did side with Kano, but I did it only to see you again. I was playing along..."
I couldn't speak anymore as I started crying.
"I bet you were."
"What is the meaning of this?"
There was a morbid obese man and a young woman next to him.
"YOU!"
"Li Mei..."
"Get away from him..."
"Li Mei, you don't understand..."
"Leave now or I'm tearing your head off. Got it?"
I lowered my head and walked away. I knew Chris wouldn't forgive me, and who can blame him? I sat down on a log nearby crying.
"Was that the woman that broke your heart?" the man asked.
"Yes, Master Bo' Rai Cho. Her name is Tanya."
"Chris, something's off about her," said Li Mei.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know. She's over there crying. I know she broke your heart, but if you talk to her, you'd understand her situation."
"Li Mei is right. I sense some change in her personality."
Chris nodded in agreement and walked toward me.
"Tanya?"
He sat next to me.
"Li Mei and Master Bo' Rai Cho had noticed some change in your personality."
I looked at him. He took my hand.
"What happened to you?"
"I... discovered... my evil twin."
"Evil twin?"
"Yes. It happened last night. Some strange aura was surrounding me. Then, some spirit escaped my body and it turns out that this spirit was, in fact, an evil version of me."
"Tanya, you've been cleansed."
"What?"
"You are reborn, Tanya, much different then this twin of yours."
"Do you forgive me, of the terrible things I said about killing Jade?"
"You'll need to show her that you have indeed changed. If this twin of yours does exist, then we need to stop her."
"Chris, I need to do that myself."
Chris understood why I needed to do this alone. He laid his hand on my thigh.
"I hope you know what you're doing, because I have no doubt this twin will try to kill you."
"I know."
Chris held me close to him. It felt good to be forgiven for once. Yet I wonder how the others will react. Only time will tell.
