Marina

By Natasa Filipova

Marina's life is about to change. After moving from her hometown to escape her childhood memories of her mother's overdose and her father's alcoholism, she spends her life passively following the destiny that the angels of life, death, and prosperity whispered to her at birth.

 

When Marina's health takes a turn for the worst, she realizes that if she continues to follow her angels' destiny, she will lose the most sacred person in her life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Natasa Filipova
• Release date: Jul 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393202462

Book preview

Marina

By Nataša Filipova

Copyright © 2020 by Natasa Filipova

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof

may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever

without the express written permission of the publisher

except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter One

Marina sighed as she stared through the planks of wood that caged her in the crib she’d outgrown. She looked up to see the group of second-hand stuffed toys that lined the shelf above her toybox.

It’s my birthday, she whispered to the stuffed bear she held tight against her chest, I want to open my presents.

She hooked her little, chubby leg around the top of the railing and slid her body down the other side, landing on the stained brown carpet with a thud. She opened her curtains, allowing the light from the sun that was beginning to rise cast a shadow over her collection of porcelain angel dolls. She pulled her stuffed bear between the rails of her crib and dragged it across the carpet as she followed the light through the hallway and into her parents’ bedroom.

Mommy, Daddy? Marina whispered. She crawled onto the bed and lay between her sleeping parents. It’s my birthday, she continued to whisper.

Marina’s dad murmured, Happy birthday, Angel. He smiled at his daughter. Marina knew he was just as excited about her birthday as she was.

I want to blow out my birthday candles, Daddy. I know what I want to wish for this time.

What are you going to wish for this year, Angel? asked her mom.

Marina shook her head. I can’t tell you, Mommy. You said it won’t come true if I tell!

Her mother, Zaneta, smiled. That’s right, sweetheart, Zaneta nodded as she pulled the covers over Marina’s body to break the chill of the autumn air.

Marina watched her father look over at the digital alarm clock on the wooden bed-side table. It’s only 6 o’clock, Angel. We’ll sing ‘happy birthday’ when the sun comes up. He turned back to place an arm around her shoulders.

Marina pouted, her golden eyebrows creased together along her pale forehead. She didn’t want to wait. "But Daddy, it’s my birthday. I’m scared I’m gonna forget my wish!"

Come on Boris, we’ll have some cake and go back to bed, Zaneta said as she pulled the covers off them and climbed out of bed.

Alright then, Boris huffed as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and watched Marina bounce on the mattress. Get on, he added as he leaned over for Marina to get on his back. She jumped onto his back and he carried her into the kitchen where Zaneta was already fiddling with matches to light candles on the store-bought cake.

The flames of the four candles flickered and Marina could feel a little of their heat as she leant forward in preparation to blow them out. Her parents sang to her as she wriggled in her seat not knowing where to look. She closed her eyes tight and made her wish, I wish I get to keep my Mommy and Daddy forever. She leaned forward even further, and the table wobbled as she blew out the candles. The smell of melted wax filled her nostrils as she smiled back at her parents, noticing their entwined fingers as they held hands.

Zaneta cut three slices of cake and placed them into pink bowls with a dollop of ice cream. Boris laughed at Marina. She was silently holding her hand against her forehead. Do you have a brain freeze from the ice-cream? her father asked still laughing.

Marina shook her head and smiled to give away her white lie. She looked up at her parents again as she pushed the bowl aside. Can I open my presents now? she asked; trying her hardest to make her face look as innocent as possible as she asked her question.

Not yet, Angel, I’m going back to bed. We can open your presents later, Zaneta said as she placed a kiss in Marina’s hair and made to leave the kitchen.

How about just one, Zane? Boris asked his wife, which made her stop and turn in the doorway. Marina stood there looking up at her parents in excited anticipation.

No, Boris. It’s too early. She needs to learn a little patience, Zaneta said before turning from her family. Marina heard Zaneta’s footsteps climbing up the stairs. Marina felt her face screw up involuntarily and tears welled in her eyes. This is not how she saw her birthday morning going. She looked at her father desperately.

We can open one present only. Boris whispered to Marina. We’ll open the rest when your mother wakes up.

Marina smiled to herself. She knew she could wrap her dad round her little finger because he hated to see her upset.

Boris flicked on the television and lowered the volume as Marina sorted through the brightly wrapped boxes on the coffee table, picking one to open. She was fixed on the large box covered in pink sparkly paper but was more drawn to the tiny box wrapped in silver foil. It looks like treasure, she thought.

Daddy, who is this from? Marina asked as she carried the small box into her father’s lap.

This one’s from your mother. Open it, Angel, he said, squeezing her arm, feigning excitement.

She ripped through the foil, revealing a golden box. This was getting more exciting. What could be inside? Looking at the box it had to be special. She opened the lid gently and pulled out a rusted silver necklace. Marina couldn’t hide the disappointment that showed clearly on her face. Daddy, it’s old and ugly. Why didn’t Mommy buy me a new one? There was no comprehending why her mom would buy such a gift.

Angel, this necklace used to belong to your mother. She received it from her mother on her fourth birthday just like you are. And before that, her mother got it for her fourth birthday too, and her mother before that. Boris explained. It’s been in the family for generations and now it’s yours."

Does that mean it’s like treasure, Daddy? she asked as she fingered the old chain wondering if maybe this gift was okay after all.

Yes, Angel. Lift your hair so I can put it on you, and you can show your mother when she gets up.

Marina knotted her golden-brown hair into a bun and shivered as the cold pendant pressed against her chest. Does it open like in the movies?

It does, said Boris as he clicked the locket open. And inside is a picture of three angels. The angels of love, death, and prosperity.

Marina’s eyes lit up, They’re the angels that spoke to me when I was a baby. They even told me how I’m going to die, Daddy!

Is that so? he replied with a hint of skepticism in his voice.

Marina knew her dad struggled to respond to her stories about the angels who spoke to her. But she wasn’t bothered. She knew they were real, and they had told her things about her future. Yes, I’m gonna die the same way Mommy does, so I have to protect my heart."

Boris smiled at his daughter, but Marina wasn’t fooled. She knew it was fake. Just like all the other times when she ever spoke of the angel’s predictions. She knew that her mom believed her though, her mom would always tell her similar stories about angels. She felt a new sense of appreciation towards her gift.

Marina raced down the hallway to show her mom the gift, giggling as her socks helped her slide on the tiled floor. She ran up the stairs two at a time and jumped onto her parent’s bed, Mommy I opened your present! She paused as her mom said nothing. Maybe she was in a deep sleep and she needed to say it louder. Mommy? I opened your present. She shook her mom but still she didn’t wake. Marina leapt off the bed and ran around to the other side where her mother was facing. Her mom was awake, yet she was staring vacantly into space. MOMMY! Marina squealed and waved her hand in front of her mom’s eyes. Her mom didn’t flinch. It was at this point Marina felt a chill run up her spine and her heart started to race as a fear gripped her body. With a shaking hand Marina allowed it to touch her mother’s face. Cold. Cold as ice. Daddy! she screamed, her voice quivering with panic.

Boris bolted into the bedroom and lifted the covers. Marina could have sworn she saw something hanging from her mom’s arm, which her dad pulled out and slipped into the bedside drawer.

Go to your room and shut the door. I’ll wake you when your mother is feeling better, Boris instructed her with a hint of fear laced amongst his words.

But Daddy, what’s wrong with her? Marina couldn’t stop looking at her mom who wasn’t moving or blinking.

Go to your room and we’ll talk later. No matter what you hear do not open the door.

Marina noticed the temper in her father’s voice and ran to her bedroom. As the sound of sirens came closer, she hid behind the curtains and stared out the window, anticipating the emergency vehicles speeding past. She watched as the ambulance pulled into her driveway instead and a group of men ran to the front door. She moved to her bedroom door to listen to the voices. What does cardiac mean? She thought to herself while hearing her father sob.

She pressed her ear against the door to hear a long beeping sound followed by an electric thud. She flinched as a man’s strong voice shouted Clear! followed by her father’s cries. Her heart was racing as she continued to listen to the murmurs and the sound of a zip being pulled a long way followed by the clanking of metal hitting against each step as something large was being moved down the staircase.

Marina’s body dropped to the ground and she cradled her knees. I don’t think Mommy’s going to get better. She heard the front door open once more and got up to look out the window again.

Two men were wheeling a trolley with a big black bag on it. She couldn’t see what was inside, but something told her it was her mother.

Please take care of Mommy, she whispered as she closed her eyes and fingered the locket that draped down her chest.

Chapter Two

Sebastian woke up first, Marina was snoring lightly but just like every other thing she did, she did it with grace. He watched as her chest rose and fell, her breaths rushing out in tiny gusts of noise. He stared at her face; the perfect complexion, the delicate features, the lids that hooded her eyes which were mesmerizing while awake, her lips, her nose. Her skin was pale and smooth like a porcelain doll. He ran a finger across her chapped lower lip and tucked a piece of her golden-brown hair behind her ear. He breathed in the musky scent of her as he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to his body. He gently ran a fingertip from her sternum between her bare breasts, down her stomach, and rested it at the lining of her briefs tracing the bones absent-mindedly, taking note of the amount of weight she’d lost since he’d last been with her.

Marina stretched in her sleep and rested her head against his shoulder. He decided he would never get used to the strength of emotions she brought out of him, and he sighed. He ignored the thought and placed a kiss on her forehead, allowing the moment to take place. A solitary tear rolled down his cheek and landed on the tip of her nose.

Marina opened her eyes to the sun peeking through a slit in the curtains. She raised her hand trying to shield her swollen eyes from the piercing rays to no avail. She felt a thumping in her head to rival a wild party, severe enough to blur her vision and draw out a heavy groan. She turned to her side and ran a hand across her bare skin and rested it at the nape of her neck; her voyaging hand meeting empty skin, the very first stirring of unease skittering in her mind. That was strange, she never went to bed without her flannelette pajamas. The familiar aroma of freshly ground coffee seeped into the air as she let go of the thought and allowed her body to sink into the mattress.

Good morning, Sebastian mumbled as he buried his head into her hair.

Marina jolted upright in the bed, the sudden movement jarring her sorry head brutally, however the realization dawning on her was sobering enough to push the insistent headache to background noise. She wondered where she was, and what had happened in her comatose