Fatal Polaroid

I immediately burst into tears when I heard his familiar voice.

I cried and told him about what had happened to me recently. However, he interrupted me impatiently.

“Eleanor, why are you telling me all this?”

He sneered and said, “Your mother died. Your father is as good as dead. Your company has filed for bankruptcy!

“Have you ever considered that maybe this is your own fault?

“Maybe you’re a jinx! You’ve cursed them!”

I could not speak at all through my sobs.

However, Oliver continued, “Look at you now!

“I can’t even stand your disgusting face. Let’s break up.

“You bring bad luck to your own family! I’m afraid that I might end up dead if I continue to date you.”

After that, he hung up and blocked my number and accounts.

I felt a little helpless. I intuitively felt that something was wrong, however, I did not know what it actually was.

It was not until I video-called Bella that something dawned on me.

Her face, usually covered in pimple scars, appeared smooth.

She covered her mouth shyly. “Eleanor, what did you do to yourself?

“Look at me! A woman has to know how to take care of herself.”

As she spoke, I noticed someone walking behind her.

It was her parents who were supposed to be bedridden at the hospital. I stared at them as I asked anxiously, “Have your parents been discharged from the hospital?”

Bella looked furious. She said indignantly, “Eleanor, what’s that supposed to mean?

“Are you hoping for them to die in the hospital instead?

“Why are you so cruel? It’s no wonder your mother’s dead and your father’s paralyzed! Serves you right!”

Her harsh words stung me. Before I could react, she hung up.

I felt frozen. I felt stiff and awkward as I put my phone away.

I crossed the road in a daze and got hit by a car.

The two of them quickly announced their engagement after my death. Bella even flaunted her wealth on social media.

“Eleanor? Let’s pay and go!

“Aren’t you done yet?”

I heard Oliver’s voice. It was only then that I realized I was still stuffing food into my mouth.

Both of them stared at me in confusion. “If you’re still hungry, maybe we can order more for you.”

I smiled awkwardly and wiped my mouth. “That’s alright. I’m full.”

After we paid for the meal, Bella wanted to go home. Oliver looked at me hesitantly.

“How about I drop you off at your company first before dropping your best friend home?”

He deliberately emphasized that Bella was my best friend. He knew that I would definitely let him drop Bella home first.

I nodded. “You should head home after you drop Bella home.

“I’m going to the office to handle a few things. I already called the driver while we were eating.”

When he heard that, Oliver grabbed my hand reluctantly. He leaned in to give me a peck. “Alright. I was hoping we could have dinner together tonight.”

He looked reluctant to leave me, but the flicker of triumph in his eyes did not escape me.

“Let’s go on a date in a few days when I’m finally free.”

Just then, my ride arrived, and I got into the car.

“Bella, I’m heading out.

“Oliver’ll drop you home. Don’t worry.”

The moment the car window rolled shut, Bella grabbed Oliver’s hand intimately.

The driver passed me an unopened box of a polaroid camera. “Ms. Smith, I got the thing you wanted.”

I looked at the two identical polaroid cameras and smiled.

“Let’s go to the zoo.”

I wanted to walk around and use the camera Bella had given me.