The Butterfly Garden Read Free

the money without you being actually dead my love…”
    “I am listening…”
    “Well…if you love your son and understand how important it is to give him a comfortable life, and put him in one of the best university in the country for him to be successful professionally and give him a bright future… you’ll need to disappear from our life’s and never come back. That’s the only way I can activate your life insurance. I know this is hard for you, but believe me my love it’s harder for me, because I don’t know what will I do without you and without your love that is so fulfilling.”
    Tears run down his face, it was the first time I saw him so broken.
    I was in complete shock – I couldn’t believe I was hearing that, it was too much for my brain to process right now. Instantaneity I pulled my hand from his, I couldn’t bear his touch any longer, it was as if he was on fire and burning my hand. I was shaking, and a complete mess, the air was thicker than ever and after a few minutes in silence, I manage to ask:
    “What do you mean disappear? How about Junior?”
    “Please forgive me for everything; I couldn’t believe how stupid I was. But listen, I thought everything through. Everybody on this boat will be testimonies that you fall over board, and in a few weeks later I can collect your life’s insurance and save the future of our son. I will be forever heartbroken, but you can’t contact us ever again. You can’t contact Junior ever again. Do you understand?”
    “Why do I need to fake my own dead? Why don’t you fake yours?”
    “If I could, I wouldn’t hesitate doing it for you, but I can’t, my life insurance is only one million dollars, which doesn’t cover all our problems.”
    “You thought this all through already didn’t you?”
    “Since I had certain about the deal had fall through, yes. I needed to find urgently a solution for this huge mess.”
    I was feeling as my body had separated itself in two, and I was seeing myself from above in a nightmare, that I would wake up and everything would get back together again.
    I don’t have at this point the strength to ask Edward anything anymore, I was afraid there could be more to it. My worse fear turned into reality, Edward continued:
    “We are here in the middle of the sea, but we are not far from the coast and you are an excellent swimmer, but only I know that. You can swim to the coast easily. But remember, the future of our son depends on you, and if you are really capable to cut contact with us and let all others believe you’re dead for real.”
    I could only shake my head in disbelieve, I couldn’t believe what I was listening, this was a nightmare and finally I give up holding on and started crying. I couldn’t believe what was happening right now, I was completely in shock and was not able to think clearly. The only thing I couldn’t stop hearing in my head was that I needed to save my son’s future and I needed to pretend to be dead, how crazy was that.
    Continuing with my head completely clouded with all Edwards words, confused I cried without stopping, Edward cried too and tried to calm me, but I didn’t accept his comfort, I didn’t know if I was disappointed at him or if I hated him right now. A few minutes after, which seemed to be an eternity for me, I finally manage to speak a few words to Edward:
    “What do you mean by that? I need to fake my own dead tonight?! And I can’t see Junior ever again? Couldn’t we discuss this at home later on?”
    “My love the time is perfect, it needs to be now. We will never have this kind of opportunity so soon. Probably tomorrow I will have already lawyers in my office to take everything from me.”
    “Don’t call me love!”
    I screamed at him angry without avoiding start to cry again. Tears came down as a cascade and I was not able to control my emotions right now.
    Edward was sitting opposite me and waiting for me to calm down, when I finally could speak again:
    “Can