When I opened my eyes, I found myself in the bed. I scanned my environment and nothing feels familiar. Then I saw the syringes and bottles and hospital beds and realised I am admitted in hospital.My whole body pains.My leg is plastered, I am sure some bone are damaged. Even if I try to move my leg it kills me.It feels so painful to move even a single inch.I am alive. I cannot believe I am alive.I thanked God.Doctors rushed in to check on me, but did not say anything to me. After assuring that everything was fine and now I am in stable state they left me alone to rest.But how did I get here? And where is John? Who brought me to the hospital? I lifted my eyes to see Sofia standing right across me, staring at my injured body.Shit. I know I failed Sofia when I did not take her side. Adriano sent her off to the brothel ad she was very upset. She must be really angry with me. And now maybe she knows that I am behind the explosion.She came towards me. "Sofia. I can explain. They w
3 weeks later-Life had taken a new course for me, one that led me away from the darkness of Adriano's world and into the warmth of the light. Adriano and all his cruel uncles and cousins, were no more. Justice had been served, and I had finally found peace.I try my best not to remember it all and cry about it but I am a human and somedays I lose control over my emotions.But I have started a new life, I need to commit to it.Living with Sofia, was a balm to my injured soul. Sofia is a gentle and helpful woman. We shifted into a new city together and her daughters started to go to school here.We had found solace in each other's company, supporting one another through the trials we had faced. I had even taken a step I had once deemed impossible—I had adopted Aida, Marcus and Gianna's daughter, as my own. She was a source of joy and hope, and a reminder of Gianna for me. I joined a local library and started working there. It's just been a few days there but it keeps my mind busy.As
Life had taken a significant turn for me, and put me in a difficult condition.Though I am far from the world of darkness and fear I had once known I am out into the fear of newness. I had found something that is the provider of peace and healing, and my new daily routine brought a sense of normalcy that I had yearned for.I started working in a local library.Working in the local library had become an escape for me.I enjoy the company of books. I love being alone and surrounded by books.Each day, I would arrive to the gentle hum of whispered conversations and the soft rustling of pages. I really enjoyed every minute of it. The serene and silent atmosphere of the library offered a peaceful environment and calmed my mind down. It's funny how my life now is a stark contrast to the chaos that I felt in my past.I am glad to work at this place.My days were spent amidst rows of books, helping visitors find their literary treasures. The feeling of a book in my hands, its pages filled wi
Three years later-I decided to keep the baby. Even though it's the biggest thing that relates me to Adriano but still I felt the connection with the baby since day one.Two years had passed since the birth of my daughter, Emma, a child who had brought both joy and complexity into my life. The bond I shared with her is something that cannot be explained. It's profound, but it was not without its challenges, especially considering the ever-present and very striking features she got from her father, Adriano.Each day, I watched Emma grow, her features developing more pronounced, and her dark eyes, so similar to that of Adriano's, grew deeper and more compelling. There were times when I felt like I was staring into the eyes of the man I had tried to leave behind.I am a survivor of his crimes and so sometimes those eyes haunt me, but then I remind myself that it's my baby, my Emma.I think I have never loved anyone the way I loved Emma. Her smile brightens my day, her laugh turns my mo
My heart raced as I returned from the serene garden playing with my kids.This gives me eternal peace and happiness, a place where I had often sought solace and tranquility. Today, however, the calmness I had experienced outdoors did not retain when I arrived home.There was a fear that gripped me upon entering our apartment building. I could scarcely breathe, as the sight of multiple luxurious cars that were parked right in front of my apartment met my eyes.I fought so hard to maintain my expressions in front of Emma and Aida.Luxurious cars lined the otherwise quiet street, a dangerous reminder of a world I had hoped to leave behind.Fear, took over me, my face turned a little pale, but I tried my best to maintain a straight face. The fear of Adriano's potential return or the intrusion of some distant relative from his shadowy past threatened to take over my mind.He is dead. Adriano, his cousins and his uncles are dead. I tried to remind myself about this again and again.Runnin
The realisation that the man in front of me is my biological father filled my brain with multiple questions.The elderly man who claimed to be my father looks rich. The security guards, the expensive cars and the fine attire is a solid proof of that.I had so many questions in my brain that I wanted to ask him.A little part of my heart is happy that I get to meet my real father but a part of me is angry too.Why did he abandon me in the first place?He is the reason I had to live with the people I always considered my family.He seems to be an influential man, if he would have been in my life earlier, Adriano wouldn't have got to marry me.I would have not been married to Adriano.All the trauma that I went through could have been avoided if my father would have been by my side.And now that I have finally moved on, now that I have become independent, now that I don't need any big support for any other person, he enters in my life and claims to be the most important person in my life
"I have my sources. Finding you was still very difficult though." My father said."I am sure you do have many sources, as you say. But why now? Why are you here for me now? What do you want from me?" I showered him with my questions.I was angry that he did not come for me earlier when I was with Adriano. Deep inside a little part of my heart is happy that I have a parent."It's a long story and you need to be really open-minded before considering it. I am sorry that I did not come looking for you before, but I had my reasons." He said and it broke it. "I am here to ask, no I am here, begging you to do me a favour."He gave me up in the first place and now he is here to ask some favours from me? He cannot be serious right now.The words that came out of his mouth infuriated me.The realisation hit me. He is not here for me, he is here just so that I can consider his offer and do him a favour."Really!"I laughed a little at his face, in expressions filled with sarcasm."Oh and here I t
When I first met your mother, Maria, she was a drug addict." My father confessed."She was a sweet girl who got in bad company, ran away from home and got assaulted by older men." He took a breath."She somehow managed to run away from those men and came to me. For me she was the most beautiful person ever. I came alive after seeing her. The day she came to me was the best day ever. I was poor but she was my most precious possession and I thought I could do anything for her. Anything. She is my first and last love. At that time I was still poor. I was doing okay with the money but I wasn't as rich as I am now." He explained to me."There was a genuine connection between us. My family was all gone by then, leaving me all alone with her. Your mother Maria became my whole world. We decided to get married. I somehow managed to get a really small apartment on rent and we both started living happily. I did several wrong things in my life, and I completely blame myself for everything. So God