Rewrite The Stars - 1 Dead and Alive

Leo Estes was frustrated. Running his hand repeatedly through his chocolate brown hair, Leo stared at the papers in front of him and battled with himself in his head. On one side, he really wanted to sign these papers that would legally wed him to Carina Camille, a beautiful and capable woman that any man would kill to have. But on the other hand, even though he never really loved his previous wife, it seemed disrespectful to her memory and her family if he went and married another woman within a week of her death. Leo knew that Carina was impatient to marry and she had always held Adeline in contempt.

While Carina hailed from a rich and influential family, Adeline Astre came from more humble backgrounds. If it weren’t for the fact that Leo felt like he owed her, he would not have even considered marrying her.

Picking up the pen, Leo quickly signed all the papers on the desk. The past was in the past and whatever has already happened couldn’t be changed. It was better to just move on and make the best of the rest of his life.

Adeline awoke with a splitting headache with no idea what was going on. Clutching her head, she looked around at her surroundings. She was lying in a soft fluffy bed surrounded by pillows. This room looked awfully familiar and she shot straight up when she remembered. This was the room she slept in when she was married to Leo. Why was she here? All she remembered was bright headlights heading towards her and then she woke up here… HOLY SHIT SHE WAS HIT BY A CAR!?

Adeline leaped out of bed and patted herself down. Lifting her pajama shirt she scrutinized her unblemished torso. She had no scars on her but she definitely remember being hit. The pain was not something she would forget anytime soon. Furrowing her brow, she looked in a mirror and was shocked to see her face was seven years younger.

“Did I actually die and this is what the afterlife is?” Adeline murmured while touching her cheeks. “Wait no that doesn’t make sense because why this specific point in my life? I must have been given a second chance to change my life and this is a critical moment in my past.”

Chewing on her lip, Adeline thought about the events in her past life. “Right!” she snapped her fingers, “This is about the time when Leo went public with Carina.” She cringed when she thought of her previous actions when she found out.

She was a fool to hang on to Leo for so long when it was clear her feelings for him were not returned. Now that she was given a second chance, she wasn’t going to waste it.

Leo, clutching a bouquet of flowers, stared at the gravestone of his ex-wife. Carina, entwining her arms around Leo’s asked, “Why are we even here? You didn’t love her and now she’s dead and out of your life.”

“Because if it wasn’t for her, my company wouldn’t have existed and we wouldn’t have been able to marry.”

“Hmm.” Carina held out her hand to admire the wedding band that adorned her ring finger. “Then I suppose we should thank her.”

Laying the flowers in front of the headstone, Leo brushed the snow that had began to pile up on top the stone. Turning he led Carina out of the cemetery and to the taxi that was waiting for them.

“Where to?” the driver asked when they were settled into the car.

“I need to go to the company and pick up some papers. You can drop Carina off first.” Leo said.

“Oh no it’s fine. My house is far and out of the way. We can just go to your company and I’ll figure out my own way home.”

Leo entwined his hand with her’s, “We’re married.” he reminded her.

Carina looked down and blushed, “I know…”

Leo smiled, “Then you shouldn’t worry about being a burden to me. Let me handle all the annoyances.”

“Alright…”

The car pulled up in front of the company and they alighted. Leo led Carina to his office and told her to wait while he gathered his things. She sat on a couch and looked around at the company and smirked. Soon this all will belong to her.

“Where is that contract?” Leo muttered while messing up the neat piles of paper on his desk. “Aha!” he said when he pulled the paper out from a drawer. He hurriedly packed everything up and shoved it into his briefcase. He opened the door and spotted Carina sitting patiently.

“Did you wait long?” he asked while offering a hand to her.

“Nope.” she said and accepted the outstretched hand.

Walking hand in hand they arrived outside and were standing on the side of the street to hail a taxi. Carina was wearing heels and tripped on the curb. A car was rapidly approaching and Leo grabbed her arm to stop her from falling in front of the car.

He had just righted the both of them when he felt a push. The car was almost upon them without signs of stopping when Leo fell into its path. He could only look at Carina in shock before the car collided with his body and he lost consciousness.

Carina looked at Leo’s mangled body in delight. There was no way he wasn’t dead after that hit. She almost laughed at the thought of what she would gain now that her husband was dead. Quickly composing her face, she threw her body onto Leo’s and began wailing loudly.

“Everything you own is mine now.” Carina whispered.