I don't own The Corpse Bride
Enjoy!
The wails of her baby girl diminished as her eyes became heavy. What seemed like endless hours of crying, Victoria's ears finally felt at peace. No matter how much her daughter cried or fussed, Victoria swore that she was going to love her little girl no matter what. When she had found out about her pregnancy, she promised her unborn child at the time that she was going to give her the most wonderful things in the world…something that she had craved for.
When her parents had lost their finances, they had become colder than they were before. They had hoped to marry her off to someone who had come from a rich family. Even though certain circumstances occurred over five years ago, Victoria was glad that she had been finally blessed with a gentleman that she had fallen in the love with the moment he had heard her play the piano. The both of them went through a lot those five years ago, but in the end everything had fallen into their rightful places. During the first years of her marriage, Victoria had a difficult time conceiving but within their fourth year during the wintertime, they had been blessed with a beautiful daughter. Almost a year old now and very healthy.
Victoria smiled to her daughter as she gently placed her in her bed in the nursery. She ran a gentle finger along her cheek and gently kissed her forehead, as if her kiss provided her daughter the safety that she needed. She gently shut the door of the nursery and headed over to her bedroom. Now that Victor had inherited his parent's business, and that it was doing well, they could afford all the servants and governesses that they wished for. However, Victoria was not going to deprive her daughter of her mother's affections. To her, there was nothing more precious in the world than being there and caring for your child.
As usual, Victor was going to be home in the late hours of the night. With the business doing well, he had to be there to ensure that everything ran smoothly. She missed him, but she understood what he needed to do. As she approached her vanity, she sat down on the chair and took care of nightly beauty routine. It was a discipline to her in maintaining not only her beauty but also her self-care. Whenever her daughter was asleep, she tried to find sometime in taking care of herself.
As she was busying herself with her beauty products, the light fluttering of wings entered inside her room and a blue butterfly rested on her shoulder. A light gasp escaped her lips as Victoria looked at the insect that had invited itself on her shoulder. The warmth in the room seemed to drop a couple of degrees as a cold sensation traveled up her spine. Victoria got up from her vanity, disturbing the resting place of the butterfly as if perched itself on the crest rail of the chair. She pulled the windows closed but that didn't change the temperature of the room.
"Victoria…" a feminine ghostlike voice filled the room.
Another gasp escaped Victoria's lips as her eyes wandered around her bedroom, wondering where that voice had come from. A feeling of fear came over her at the thought of her daughter in the nursery. Was she in danger? She took a deep breath and was about to head out of her bedroom when her eye caught a figure in the mirror. It was as if her soul was threating to exit her body when her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the figure that was there.
"Victoria…" the voice called over to her again, followed by a little chuckle. "You can turn around, you know?"
What sounded eerie-like had turned into something playful. The voice was coming from within her room and not elsewhere. Finally finding the courage, Victoria slowly turned around and she caught a glimpse of a beautiful women with elegant and graceful features. Her dark hair spilled down her shoulders and she beheld a serene smile upon her cupid-like lips. She was the beauty known for miles around...until her life had been tragically cut short.
A feeling of familiarity came over Victoria as she approached her vanity and took a good glimpse at the woman. The butterfly remained steady of the crest rail, not at all deterred by Victoria's presence. "Oh…Emily?" she said to the mirror.
The woman in the mirror gave her a gentle nod of her head. "It's good to see you again Victoria," she said to her. "Five years it's been since we last saw each other."
Victoria was going to be honest with herself. When she had first met Emily, when she had uninvitingly climbed into the balcony of her window, she had been frightened as to whom this half-dead woman was. She had feared for Victor's life when she had snatched him away from her. In the end, however, Emily had saved both of them from a terrible fate. Victoria couldn't imagine where her future would be if she had married that dreadful Lord Barkis.
Finally finding her calmness, Victoria slowly sat on her chair and looked directly in the mirror. "Indeed it has been," she said to her, "how have you been?" She mentally flinched after asking such a naïve and foolish question. "My…my apologies."
A light chuckle escaped Emily's lips. Even in death, she was lively. "Heaven is a lot different than the Land of the Dead." No matter how peaceful it was, and that she had finally found her own inner peace, she still missed her dear friends that she had made those nine years ago. "But it gives me the same privilege to come and go as I please." Her eyes made their way towards the blue butterfly, "only in a different form."
Victoria didn't know what to make of it. The unknown was a mystery just as much as it was frightful but seeing the relaxed features of Emily's reflection, it seemed like a beautiful place to be in when the time came.
"And you?" Emily asked her, "how have you been during these past couple of years?"
So much had happened to her during those past five years. There had been highs and lows but she felt blessed through all of it. "After your departure," Victoria spoke, "Victor and I didn't waste a single second and got married. The only person who showed up was Hildegarde…my family's maid," she added when she noticed the perplexed features on Emily. "I had never seen her so happier."
A crestfallen look came over her eyes at the thought of her maid. She had been so kind to Victoria and cared for her like a grandmother did. If only she had lived for her to see her beautiful little daughter. However, Hildegarde had served her purpose to Victoria and when her time came, the last words that she had said to her were: happiness, prosperity, and health. Thus far, her words were continuing to bless her family.
It was the life that Emily had craved for. How lovely it was to be married to someone that loved her and wanted to create a family. The moment that she had first seen Victoria, she saw her someone meek and someone without any potential. What had Victor seen in her…other than the fact that she was alive? When Victor had finally proposed unofficially to Emily, she had seen the shocked look upon Victoria's eyes. A woman that had been wanting to me married to the one that she loved…and the fact that she had almost taken that away from her. It had taken her until her wedding day to see that she would have been just as much of a villain as Lord Barkis was, which was something that she didn't want.
Letting out a breathless sigh, Emily beheld a smile upon her lips. "It is good to hear that. I don't know what you may have thought of me before your marriage to Victor, but I am truly glad that you are both happy together."
"I was confused," Victoria willingly spoke as she placed a hand over her head, rethinking back to those events that happened five years ago. "I did not know of who you were when you came to light."
Fourteen years ago, when Emily had died, news had circulated around town about the disappearance of a rich young woman. It had been the highlight for months until the news eventually died down when her body had not been discovered. This was news that had scared Victoria and whenever she heard the town crier announce it, she would hide in her bedroom with her windows and doors locked as if this dead woman was going to come and get her.
Hear ye, hear ye!
The daughter of the Bufords, Emily, has disappeared. Anyone that may know of her whereabouts or any clues is to contact the authorities immediately.
Hear ye, hear ye!
Almost a year has passed since the disappearance of Emily Buford. With disheartening news, she has been presumed dead.
Hear ye, hear ye!
Sightings of a young woman dressed in a wedding gown was spotted in the dark forest. Witnesses have stated that it's the ghost of Emily Buford, waiting for her loved ones to find her. Approach the forest with extreme caution, apparition is said to be dangerous!
That last news that she had heard many years ago had turned to be false. Emily was never a ghost, nor was she dangerous. The only thing that was dangerous were the rumors spread about her and what mortals could do upon others.
Emily gently shook her head. "I had forgotten myself," Emily finally spoke to her. "The moment that Victor placed the ring on my finger, I was elated. I was free from that cold ground that had buried me and that I had finally found the love that I wanted. I never thought that Victor had already given his promise to someone else…until he explained to me."
Victoria remained quiet as she looked at the sadness that welled in Emily's eyes. She sympathized with Victor, who had been placed in such a difficult position and she sympathized with Emily who had been deprived of something that every woman wanted. She looked at her hands resting on her lap before looking up to her. "You had so much to live for, Emily," Victoria said to her, "it is unfair how life treated you. Victor," she paused a gently shook her head, "what can I say about him, he is a gentleman that any woman could desire."
Even if Emily considered herself engaged to Victor at that time, he had given her the wrong impression. He had been too frightened when he laid eyes on her but she hadn't given up in pursuing him. "That he is," Emily agreed. Aside from his bumbling nature back then, he had willingly agreed to drink the poisonous wine to be with her.
"And I am sure that he wanted to give you the life that you were meant to have…even if it was in a different world," Victoria continued.
"But he had someone else in his heart," Emily said to her. No matter how much Emily loved Victor, and that he was willingly going to drink the poisonous wine, she knew that her unbeaten heart didn't belong to him…and she felt that was the worst type of love to exist within any couple. "And that was you."
Out of all of that, the other thing that had also surprised Victoria was Emily's nature. She could have been a jealous woman and taken Victor regardless, but she had shown her consideration and respect for both Victoria and Victor. "Indeed," Victoria gently nodded her head to her, "but you helped the both of us through that. During our rehearsal, poor Victor was so nervous that he kept fumbling over his vows. He even accidentally dropped the ring."
A gasp escaped Emily's lips. "He did not!"
"Oh yes," Victoria nodded her head. What had seemed like a shocking thing, seemed so trivial to Victoria in the present. "And here we are now."
"Five years and being in one another's company," Emily smiled to her. "I ought to pay more visits here every now and then."
"You are always welcome to," Victoria said to her. She beheld no grudge against Emily after that had happened. If she thought about it deeply, they were two women who wanted the same thing…love.
"Have you any little ones?" Emily suddenly asked her.
"One daughter," Victoria answered her.
"How precious. I thought I heard a little cry earlier before I flew in. What is her name?"
Victoria looked at Emily's reflection in the mirror as a smile came upon her lips. "Her name is Emily."
Emily's lips parted but no voice escaped for her throat. She placed a hand over her chest as she stared back at Victoria. It wasn't possible. It shouldn't be…it couldn't. "After me?" Emily asked her as Victoria nodded her head to her, "but why?"
"You made a difference in both of our lives," Victoria said to her, "our love became stronger because of you. Victor told me that when he met you, you were the type of woman he had never met before. Very vivacious. He changed from the fumbling gentleman into someone who is running the family business. Victor told me that you also danced, sung, and played the piano. Those were things I was never allowed to do. My mother thought they were improper for a young lady but you doing those, motivated me to give them a try. I had never been so happier to try them and I continued to do so."
Emily was shocked to hear such kindness expressed towards her. She had been the exact opposite of whom Victoria was but never did she think she would have influenced so much in their lives.
"And for our little Emily," Victoria said, "I always pray that she grows up to be just a wonderful as you."
If her heart was beating, it would be fluttering from such sweet words. Emily felt moisture sting in her eyes as she ran a gentle finger in the corner of her eye to stop the tear from falling. "Thank you for honoring me," she said to Victoria with a smile, "and I pray nothing but happiness for your family."
If Victoria could grab Emily's hands and hold them, she would. However, she held her finger in front of the little butterfly as it gently fluttered close to her finger and stood there. "I do hope that you will come and visit not just me, but all of us. I want both Victor and Emily to see you."
"I will try my best to do so," Emily said, "you can always find me in these little butterflies. I am never too far. Even after everything I had put you and Victor through, thank you for being so kind to me."
Victoria gently shook her head to Emily. "You gave us your blessing. Something that neither my parents nor Victor's did when we got married…and I thank you for that. Before you leave, please give my best to Hildegarde. I truly miss her."
This was a conversation that Emily had been hesitant to have with Victoria, and yet, she was glad that she had found the courage. Emily then smiled at the mention of Victoria's maid. Even though Emily had not known that she had served Victoria's family, she had been so caring with Emily up in the heavens that she was grateful to have someone with such a big heart close to her. "Until next time…my friend," Emily smiled to Victoria as her reflection disappeared from the mirror.
The little butterfly continued to perch on her finger as Victoria walked over to the window and held out her finger. The butterfly took off into the night as its little figure disappeared into the distance. It was only a matter of time when she would see it again.
"Victoria?" Victor's voice came into the room as he walked inside. "Darling, it is freezing outside. You'll catch your death." He took off his jacket and wrapped it around Victoria's frame as he pulled her away from the window and into his warm arms.
Victoria nestled into his comforting touch and smiled. "How was your day darling?" she asked him.
"Busy as usual," Victor answered, "but I am glad to finally be home and at such a decent time. What have you been up to?"
"Conversing with Emily," Victoria said to him.
"Ah," Victor said, "with her mother speaking to her all day, she will develop her own words in no time. Where is my little one? I wish to see her."
Victoria watched as he headed out their bedroom and into the nursery where their daughter slept. A smile came upon her lips. A smile so secret that not even Victor would decipher it if he was to see it. Taking a deep breath, Victoria headed out of the bedroom to join her family. She looked over her shoulder and gave the mirror one last smile before she shut the door.
The End