“Your life is worth more than that dress.”
I should have listened to her.
But I went in.
I got married.
I signed the minutes.
I smiled for the photos.
My mother cried emotionally.
Silvana, my best friend, hugged me tightly and asked me softly:
“Are you sure?”
I said yes.
Because admitting fear at the altar feels like admitting failure.
The meal was at an old hacienda on the outskirts of Zacatecas.
Efraín acted perfectly.
He toasted to love.
He called me “my queen”.
He kissed my hand in front of everyone.
And for a few hours I almost managed to convince myself that I was exaggerating.
Until we got into the truck.
That’s when everything changed.
He pulled a gray folder from the back seat.
“Before we get to the house we have to go to a notary,” he said. All that remains is to sign a property agreement.
I felt a blow in my chest.
The woman’s voice returned to my head.
Do not sign.
“I’m not going to sign anything today.
Efraín tightened the steering wheel.
“Margot, don’t start.
“First I want to review it.
“My lawyer has already checked it.
“Not mine.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Hostile.
Then he spoke without looking at me.
“I don’t like distrustful people.
“And I don’t like to sign documents without reading them.”
Then he smiled.
But he no longer looked human.
“You’re going to get used to doing things as I say.”
My blood froze.
We arrived at the house where we would spend the night. A huge, secluded property on the outskirts. Too quiet.
There were candles.
Flowers.
Wine served.
Everything perfectly planned.
Too perfectly.
Efraín left the folder on the table.
“I’m going to take a bath,” he said. When he comes out we talk calmly.
He went into the bathroom.
I was left alone.
Trembling.
Then his cell phone vibrated over the kitchen.
I didn’t want to see it.
I saw it.
“So he did sign?”
My mouth went dry.
Another message arrived.
“If you didn’t sign, do it today. Norma says she can’t wait any longer.”
Standard.
His mother.
I unlocked the phone.
The password was my birthday.
Because manipulative men love to disguise control as romanticism.
I opened the conversation.
And the world came crashing down on me.
“First of all, I sign.”
“Then we started with the drops.”
“The doctor has already agreed to diagnose severe anxiety.”
“With temporary mental incapacity, Ephraim controls property and accounts.”
“After the accident, no one will ask for an autopsy.”
Accident.
I felt like vomiting.
I kept reading.
And I found photos.
Photos of another woman.
Blonde.
Smiling.
Dressed as a bride with Efraín.
Another wedding.
Another victim.
The water in the bathroom stopped running.
I locked the phone fast.
Efraín came out with a black robe and a calm smile.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing.
His eyes swept across the kitchen.
Looking for signs.
“You look nervous.
“I’m tired.
He approached slowly.
Like a predator.
“I’ll make you tea.”
That’s when I understood everything.
The message.
The drops.
The accident.
While the water boiled, I looked for a way out with my eyes.
My bag was far away.
The keys too.
My cell phone barely had a signal.
Ephraim poured the tea and set it down in front of me.
“Take it.”
It was not an invitation.
It was an order.
Then my phone rang.
Silvana.
I answered quickly.
“Well?”
“Margot, answer me only yes or no,” she said. Are you in danger?
I felt like crying.
“Yes… I say yes, the photos did come out beautiful.
Silvana was silent for two seconds.
He understood.
“I’m outside the house.
Efraín looked up immediately.
“What did he say?”
“That she forgot her bag.”
I lied.
He walked to the window and looked outside.
Then he smiled slowly.
A horrible smile.
“Tell him to come in.”
“No need,”
“Tell him.” What. Come in.
They knocked on the door.
Three strong blows.
“Margot!” Silvana shouted.
And then another voice.
That of the woman of the Civil Registry.
“Open before it’s too late.”
Efraín lost his color.
He could no longer pretend.
“Damn old woman…
I backed off.
“Who is she?”
I MARRIED THE PERFECT MAN… UNTIL A WOMAN ON THE STREET WHISPERED TO ME, “IF YOU SIGN TONIGHT, YOU’LL END UP BURIED IN
