2

Ollie

"Tell me everything!" The excitement in my sister's voice is palpable. That's understandable since the strictness of our family doesn't allow us to go to parties, let alone clubs or discos.

"My goodness, Kim, what do you want to know?" I retort, amused by her eagerness, and I look at her lying on her single bed next to mine.

"I want to know about everything. You know, the lights, the music. I want you to tell me about the taste of the drinks and what it's like to dance with a man. Oh Ollie, tell me! Don't hide anything from me!" I finish brushing my hair and immediately go to my bed, under the covers, turning to face her.

"The nightclub is exactly like we've seen in movies," I say, and her smile widens. "There was all that white smoke, the lights running from one side to the other causing a strange sensation in our heads. My friends chose to drink beers and oh my, they're awful!" We laugh at my comment. "But the drink made me more comfortable, so I didn't complain."

"And the stranger, what was he like?" I inhale sharply and remember his dark eyes, always intense and stern. His mouth that spoke firm words mixed with gentleness and understanding, yet they were too captivating. His possessive touch on my waist during the dance and also in the heated moments in that room. And even the way he breathed too close to my skin.

"Oh, he was handsome, really very handsome! And he was tall, so tall that I felt tiny next to him."

"And he didn't tell you his name?" I shake my head.

"No one did. Actually, I didn't know anything about him, and he didn't know anything about me."

"You're crazy, you know?" I laugh. Maybe I am indeed. I think.

A slight turn of the latch turns off the bedside lamps and immediately lie down, pretending to be deeply asleep. Then the light from the hallway invades our room, and soon the door closes again.

"When are you going to get a job?" Kim asks now softer and with a frustrated tone.

"I'll start looking for one next week." She smiles again, this one hopeful.

"Okay! I love you, Ollie!"

"I love you too, Kim! Goodnight!"

"Goodnight!"

Leaving home to look for a job will be another challenge for me, as it's amazing how much influence my father has over people here in the neighborhood, especially the shopkeepers. So, if I have to find something worthwhile, I'll have to look outside this place.

But how will I do that? It'll be a problem.

I need to find the right time to leave home and return before they notice my absence. In other words, I'll have a few hours to dedicate to finding a good job, and when I do, I'll have to find a place to live.

However, the bigger challenge will come when I actually get something to do, and it's at that moment that I'll have a serious fight with them.

Restless with my thoughts, I get out of bed and sit in the small, aging armchair near the window. Outside, the neighborhood is still awake, but part of the shops is starting to close. I sigh when I think that only our family sleeps with the chickens, while some young people my age do young people things. With not much else to do, I pick up the old cell phone my Aunt Julian gave me secretly from my parents before she left and decide to practice a bit of French.

***

One month later...

It's impossible that fate wants to torment me so much, for I'm on the verge of collapse just thinking about venturing through this neighborhood in search of something to help me achieve my goals, and no matter how much I beg for a measly job, it's denied to me, or they offer me a pittance for my work. I didn't struggle for so many months, risking severe punishment, to be exploited by these leeches.

"My God, Ollie, you took so long this time!" Kim complains noticeably nervous as soon as I enter the house, but I'm too disheartened to retort.

"Have they not arrived yet?" I kick off my shoes and hold them with two fingers. In response, she shakes her head at me.

"Go to your room and change before they walk through that door."

"Okay, I promise I'll be quick!" I say, but before I rush up the stairs, I kiss her cheek and thank her. "Thank you for covering for me; I know you were overwhelmed with my share of the household chores."

"Just go change before you get us both in trouble."

"I love you!" I hiss and do as she asks.

In three days, Kim will turn twenty-one, and if I really manage to find something that guarantees us a comfortable place to stay and our livelihood, she'll come live with me.

As soon as I enter the room, I shed my clothes and quickly put on something simpler and more modest. However, as I hurriedly walk to the door, my head spins slightly, and I lean against a wall, slowly inhaling, feeling the erratic beating of my heart.

"For God's sake, Ollie, are you trying to punish me?!" Kim bursts into the room completely breathless. However, the discomfort seems to absorb me, and I immediately run to the bathroom. "What's wrong? What's the matter with you?" She inquires, following me. However, I don't have time to answer because I immediately bend over the toilet and pretend to vomit, which doesn't come, after all, my stomach is empty. "You're freezing, Ollie!" Kim seems very concerned.

"I don't understand what's happening to me," I say with some difficulty as another wave of nausea rises in my throat.

"Heavens, are you sick, sis?" I shake my head and take several deep breaths, hoping this agony will pass soon.

"Help me to the bed, Kim," I ask, extending my hand to her. My sister helps me to my feet, and then she wraps her arm around my waist and leads me to lie down for a while.

"I'll call Mom!" She thinks of moving away, but I grab her hand, and she looks at me bewildered.

"You don't need to, Kim, it's already passing."

"Are you sure?" I nod, sitting on the mattress and taking deep breaths, feeling the warmth gradually returning to my body.

It doesn't take long for us to carefully descend the stairs to go to the kitchen, where Mom receives me with a stern face, and Dad looks at me and then at Kim with a reproachful look.

"Why did you take so long?" She roars irritably. Kim stammers not knowing what to say, and I decide to tell the truth.

"I'm sorry, Mom and Dad, I wasn't feeling well, and Kim stayed to help me."

"What's wrong, are you sick?" Mrs. Martin immediately gets up from her chair to place a hand on my forehead, checking my temperature.

"I'm not sick; it was just a discomfort."

"Sit down, come have breakfast, and eat well, Olivia. I want you to get very strong, after all, to marry a man like Edie, you need to have the strength to please him." I practically choke on the coffee when I hear this nonsense.

"What's this talk about marriage?" I look at my mother and then at my father.

"Mr. Durand will come this weekend with his family to ask for your hand, daughter."

"I don't want to! I'm not going to marry him or anyone!" I retort softly but impulsively.

"You don't have to want it, Olivia. The world isn't easy, and consider yourself lucky that we've found a good man to take care of you." Irritated by this conversation, I stand up and stare at them both.

"I don't need you to take care of me!" I growl under my breath.

"Sit down, you insolent girl!" Dad orders when I think of leaving, and grudgingly, I obey him. "Listen well to what I'm going to tell you, Olivia. I'm your father, and as long as you live under my roof, you will do as I please. And when the Durand family enters this house, I want you to greet them with smiles, and to serve your future husband with much love, do you understand?!" I just clench my jaw and swallow back tears.

"Can I go to my room now?" I retort holding back impudence, and he waves a dismissive hand, releasing me. I leave the room with wide steps and run through the banisters of the staircase, straight into my room.