Chapter 4

Romano released my hand and moved closer, before I could react,his hands wrapped around my throat,not tight enough to hurt,but firm enough to send shivers down my spine. Then I realized how hopelessly outmatched I was.

"Let me go," I said, my voice trembling as I clutched his arm with both hands, desperate to loosen his grip.

"Beg for mercy," he demanded, his cold voice devoid of empathy.

I shook my head defiantly, but his grip on my throat tightened, making it harder to breathe. Panic surged through me, and I finally whispered, "I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

A sinister smile played on his lips. "Good girl," he said, releasing me abruptly as if I were nothing.

I stumbled back, gasping for air, my hands rubbing my sore neck. I felt crushed beneath the weight of his cruel dominance, but I refused to let him see me cry. Without another word, I stormed out of the room, holding back the tears threatening to spill.

As I made my way down the dimly lit corridors of the club, my vision blurred with emotion. The muffled bass of the music vibrated through the walls, but it felt distant, irrelevant. 

In the lounge, I spotted Mrs. Parker surrounded by a group of men, laughing loudly and downing drinks. Her laughter sounded hollow, almost mocking, as she clinked glasses with them. It was clear she had indulged far too much, her drunken state embarrassing even from a distance.

I turned away, not wanting to confront her or anyone else. I pushed open the bathroom door, and let the tears flow freely. Silent sobs wracked my body as I leaned over the sink, staring at my reflection. My makeup, which had been carefully applied earlier, was smeared with streaks of mascara trailing down my cheeks. 

I splashed cold water on my face, trying to wash away the shame, anger, and disgust I felt.

When I finally calmed myself, I wiped my face clean, got dressed in my regular clothes, and stormed out of the building. I didn't care about Mrs. Parker, my job, or the consequences of walking out like this. I just needed to get away. 

For the first time in a long while, I felt both powerless and free.As I got into the cab heading home, my mind spun in chaotic circles, replaying the day's events. The disappointment of missing my train, the earth-shattering revelation from Mom, and the unsettling encounter with Romano,it was all too much. 

It felt as though the universe had chosen to give me a birthday curse rather than a gift,I couldn’t think straight. What more could this day hold? Little did I know, my story wasn’t done,and unknowingly to me I was being followed.

When the cab pulled up to my home, I spotted Mom sitting outside on the porch, her expression a mix of worry and relief. The moment I stepped out, I ran to her without hesitation, throwing my arms around her and sobbing into her shoulder. She was my safe haven. 

“It’s okay, dear,” she whispered softly, stroking my hair. “I’m so sorry I never told you all these years. I’m sorry I turned your special day into this. Thank you for coming back to me. I thought…I thought I’d lost you again.”

Her words broke me even further. Pulling back slightly, I looked into her tear-filled eyes. “I love you, Mom. You’re everything to me. The world out there is harsh, but I’ll always come back to you.”

I hugged her tighter, as if letting go meant losing the only piece of stability I had left. 

Mom wanted to take me inside, but I held her hand, stopping her. “No more hiding, Mom. It’s time. Tell me everything I need to know now,” I said, my voice firm and unwavering.

She hesitated, her eyes searching mine as though weighing whether I was ready to handle the truth. “Can your heart take it?” she finally asked.

“Yes,” I replied, nodding resolutely.

We both sat down outside, in the quiet of the evening. She took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she began.

"Years ago," Mom began, her voice heavy with sorrow, "I was raped twice. The first time… it was by my uncle." Her words hit me like a punch to the chest, and I could feel my heart break for her. "And the second," she continued, pausing as if the memory burned her, "was by the man I loved. 

He was my high school sweetheart, the person I thought I’d spend the rest of my life with."

Her hands trembled slightly as she clasped them together. "We were so in love," she said, her eyes distant as if replaying a scene from a life that now felt like a dream. "We talked about getting married, building a future together. But he betrayed me… he broke my heart. One night, he did the unthinkable. He raped me."

I swallowed hard, the weight of her words sinking deep into my chest.

"I got pregnant," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, "and I decided to keep the baby. I thought maybe, just maybe, that child would give me hope. But I lost the baby." She looked at me then, her eyes filled with pain. 

"That loss shattered me," she admitted. "I told myself I’d never fall in love again. I couldn’t bear to trust another man, I was scared,scared of love. And I believed, because of my brokenness, that I could never be a good mother. I thought I’d fail any child I brought into the world."

She paused, “Then, one night, the doorbell rang. When I opened it, there you were. So small, so innocent, and so pitiful. You looked like a little angel.

 I worked at a hotel,” she said softly. “I tried to keep us afloat, but the manager made advances toward me. I refused, and when he didn’t get his way, he framed me, and I was fired. I was shattered beyond words.”

Mom slowly opened a tiny box and brought out a diamond pendant. "This came with you," she said, her voice quiet and filled with emotion. I hesitated, feeling the weight of her words. "Mom, why should I wear something given by the ones who abandoned me at birth?" I asked, my voice thick with resentment.

She took my hands gently, her eyes soft with pleading. "Please, dear, this will make me really happy. Besides, I made the chain on this pendant myself so you can wear it." Whatever happened,it was all for a reason.

I stared at her for a moment, seeing the sincerity in her eyes, and finally relented. She carefully placed the pendant around my neck, her hands trembling slightly as she adjusted it. "It looks beautiful on you," she said, a smile touching her lips. "Always keep it with you."

We both gazed at each other for a moment, and I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by the depth of her love and the struggles she’d endured. "Oh, Mom, you’ve really gone through so much," I whispered, pulling her into a passionate hug.

Just as we stood there, in a moment, a sudden, deafening gunshot , The world seemed to freeze as everyone around us scrambled, panic spreading like wildfire. My heart stopped as I turned toward my mother. She staggered, a look of shock crossing her face, before her knees buckled beneath her. Blood began to ooze from her shoulder, blood staining her clothes as she crumpled to the ground.

"Mom!" I screamed, my voice raw with terror. My hands shook uncontrollably as I knelt beside her, shaking her gently, trying to get her to respond. "Please, no!" I held her face in my trembling hands, stay with me. Her eyes, once full of warmth, were now dim. Her breathing was shallow. 

Around us, chaos erupted. People screamed and fled, desperate to get away from whatever danger had just struck. But I couldn’t move. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from her.

"Mom, please stay with me," I whispered, my voice breaking. Her blood continued to pool beneath her. The street lights flickered, casting eerie shadows across the scene.

"Somebody help!" I cried out, desperation thick in my throat. My heart hammered in my chest as I looked around, my mind racing, trying to make sense of what had just happened. How could this be real? How could she be lying there, slowly fading away?

At that moment, I heard the unmistakable screech of tires, a sound that jolted me out of my panic-stricken daze. A black jeep tore down the street, swerving as it picked up speed,my gut told me they were the ones responsible.The vehicle disappeared into the dark. 

I didn’t have time to process it. I couldn’t. My mother was dying in my arms. My neighbors came to help, rushing to our side. They helped lift my mother into a nearby cab. I couldn’t think about anything but her. 

"Mom, please don’t leave me. Please, not like this," I whispered, my tears falling freely now, mingling with her blood. I held her as the car speed of to the hospital.