"L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.
You've got more than money and sense, my friend
You've got heart and you go in your own way"
It was a little after ten A.M when Beck walked in the Trump Tower. With gel on his hair, and a suitcase on his hand. His new suit was tailored to perfection. His shoes had been shined the previous day, and his beard shaved. The people who knew who he was - which was almost everyone - greeted him. The ones who didn't, stared. They wondered who he was. He carried confidence, which grew bigger with every step. He was on top of the food chain. Making more money, and having more power than anyone else.
The elevator doors opened, and he greeted his co-workers with a smile. His assistant got up as soon as she spotted him. With notes on her table, and dozens of things to inform him of. Contracts and meetings that never seemed to end. "Good morning, Mr. Oliver."
"Good morning, Monica. What good news do you have for me today?" He asked, ironically.
Monica had dark skin, that glowed under the sun. He hair was deep brown, and waved perfectly down her back. She had a guitar-shaped body, and long legs. She always wore high heels, and tight skirts. She carried almost as much confidence as her boss, and had a reputation of flirting with every person she met. She charmed away even the most committed men in the building. Beck thought she was the most stereotypical assistant to apply for the job. It felt almost as if the company had picked her out of a soft-porn movie. Not that he was complaining. However, her flirtatious abilities had never affected him. After seven months of marriage, he still found himself terribly in love with his wife.
He sat down on the clear glass table, while being bombarded with things to do. He stared at the picture frame, next to his laptop. The photo was from his wedding day - the one with the party. They held hands, walking out of the chapel. Beck could still his trembling fingers, waiting for her to enter the chapel.
The wedding was held a month after they moved in to Chicago. Tori named what she wanted, and Beck called in some favours to get it. They booked a luxurious hotel, that his Mother insisted on. There were white peonies, and macaroon towers. The waiters were dressed in old fashioned uniforms, and served champagne all night. Her and His Mothers cried throughout the entire ceremony, for different reasons. Mrs. Vega cried because she couldn't believe her daughter was getting a fancy wedding, and a happy ending. Mrs. Oliver cried, because she knew after marriage the next step were grandkids.
Tori's dress was white, in a mermaid cut. A heart-shaped top, and crystals on her veil. Her maid of honor was her sister, Trina. The single bridesmaid was her niece, Thabata. The both of them wore lavender dresses, draped at the bottom. There were flowers on their hairs, and smiles on their faces. The bouquet was thrown a little before midnight, Trina chased it, but it ended up on Mrs. Harries hand. She and her husband were dressed like royalty, standing out in the crowd. They looked down on everyone inside, and looked only after the drinks. He drank so much, he passed out on the chair.
They didn't have a honeymoon. Hours after the wedding, they flew back to Chicago. The gifts were being transported by a moving company, and arrived three days after them. Tori missed Vancouver, being close to her family. Knowing where everything was. She missed feeling at home. She could tell her husband felt differently. He loved it, being CEO. It made up for all the down lows their new life could have.
Their new house was big. It had three stories, without counting the basement. There were two suits, and a master bedroom. There were two living rooms and dining rooms - One formal, and another informal. There were a two big offices, Beck's was clean and practical. It looked almost identical to the one back in Vancouver, except it didn't have a view to the english bay. Tori's was colorful, with a pink couch and white wood table. There was every craft material she could possibly need, and a sewing machine. The backyard had beautiful landscaping. A big pool, and a jacuzzi. There was a small fountain, where birds drank water. And a lounge and barbecue area. Everything looked straight out of a magazine.
Tori woke up after her husband. It was like that now. He left for work, and she hung around at home. Everyday was the same. She would wake up, and do house chores. She cleaned her bedroom, and did laundry. She went to the store when in need, and cooked lunch. One vegetarian for herself, and another one for her husband. She had learned to tolerate the things he ate, and even cook them from time to time. On most days though, she ordered take-out meat for him. She then did the dishes, and went back to where she started. With absolutely nothing to do. She always looked online, for new craft projects. But there were only so many friendship bracelets one could do before getting bored.
The first few months hadn't been so bad. Actually, she was beginning to like her new life. On the mornings she did the house chores, and ate breakfast. Then she would go to the gym, everyday. She took dance classes, and spinning. She worked out for hours, with light weight because of the baby. But still, she made friends. Went out to lunch with them, and looked forward to it everyday.
Now she was eight months pregnant, with a huge belly. Her doctor told her not to do any kind of heavy exercise, and rest as much as possible. Beck had even hired a maid, to do most of the things for her. So she laid in bed, watched TV and slept. Tori hated being pregnant. Not that particular day, though. She woke up at dawn, and zipped up her bags. The driver got them for her, ad put them all in the trunk of the car. He helped her down the stairs, as she called her husband. He had an emergency meeting at the tower, and wasn't able to take her. They said their goodbyes through a small screen.
Trina picked her up from the airport. She had recently moved to Vancouver, and was in love. She met one of Beck's co-workers at the wedding, six months later they tied the knot. Not only she was in love with her husband, she was also in love with the city. Every snow mountain was worth a picture. Tori breathed in the Canadian air, with a smile on her face. She missed the high teenagers at Granville street, and old couples at Stanley Park. She missed knowing the name of every street, and the rout of every bus. There was a small part of her, that even missed 'The Avenue'.
When arriving at Trina's house, she was greeted by her parents. They had also flown in, to be there when the baby came. She hugged her parents, with tears on her eyes. "I missed you guys so much!" She exclaimed, as her father cupped her stomach. "She's kicking." Tori said. "She knows her grandfather's here."
David smiled. Hugging her daughter once more. They all went out for dinner, and came back early for Tori to rest. As she took a shower, she thought about her past life. How she spent a couple of year without talking to her parents even once. Two years of her life wasted, when she felt nothing but pain. Now she was surrounded by love, everywhere. A life with a purpose, and future.
A little after ten, she began to crave tea. She got up from the bed, and slowly walked to the kitchen. "Can't sleep?" Her father asked her, as she entered.
He sat down on the counter, in his pajama set. Drinking a cup of hot milk. "I just need to drink some tea." She told him. He got up, and motioned for her to sit down. She did as she was told.
"What kind do you want?" He asked her, showing the option. She opted for the sweetest one. "You mother couldn't stand tea when she was pregnant. It made her nauseous like you wouldn't believe. Trina too."
Tori chuckled. "I've always been a little different." He nodded his head, agreeing. "Could you help me out with something?" She asked.
"Of course." He left the tea kettle heating up.
"Beck and I are having trouble with names." She caressed the baby bump. "We can't find a name that we both really like."
He sat down in front of her. "I've always liked the name Jasmine." He said, taking his daughters hand. "Initially we were going to name you that, but your mother wanted to keep the 'T'. To match Trina."
Tori rolled her eyes, with an easy smile. That sounded exactly like something her Mom would do. "Jasmin Oliver." She said. "I love it."
He turned back to the stove, and finished preparing the tea. He knew just how she like it. With one sugar cube, and a little bit of milk. "You seem happy." He told her. "I haven't seen you like this in... Years."
Tori sipped the hot beverage. "I am." She didn't have to lie this time.
She could complain about Chicago, and being bored. How her life wasn't perfect, and exactly like she had imagined. But she was happy, that she couldn't deny. "Then I have done my job."They stayed up for another hour, talking about everything and nothing at the same time. He hugged her before they went separate ways. Tori slept peacefully.
The next couple of days that followed were a bliss. Until it happened.
The Vega's rushed in to the hospital, in the middle of the night. Holly unable to say a single word. Trina crying on the doctor's feet. Tori shocked, trying to make sense out of the situation. The doctor talked to them on the waiting room, but they couldn't understand the words he was saying. No one saw it coming, much less David Vega. Who now lied in a cold table. His body covered by a green sheet.
His chart said he had cardiac arrest while sleeping. Loss of heart function. It occurs when the electrical system to the heart malfunctions and suddenly becomes very irregular. The heart beats dangerously fast. The ventricles flutter, and blood is not delivered to the body. Death follows unless the patient receives emergency treatment right away. David was asleep, dreaming in his own world. He couldn't have called a doctor even if he wanted to. Trina's daughter read the chart, over and over again. Trying to understand why that had happened to her grandfather. Why there wasn't anything they could do to save him.
The four of them left the hospital, with bloated eyes and broken hearts.
"On my last night on earth, I won't look to the sky
Just breathe in the air and blink in the light
On my last night on earth, I'll pay a high price
To have no regrets and be done with my life"
A/N: Hello, so yeah... This is a chapter. I would love for you to leave a review. Disclaimer: The song is L.I.F. .E.S.O.N by Noah and the Whale, but I bet y'all knew that already.
- Kiribati