CHAPTER 2

                     SARAH

In Anthonio's office, we waited anxiously, my parents and I, hoping for a miracle. Anthonio finally waddled in, a repulsive sight, with his protruding belly threatening to burst.

As he sluggishly made his way to his seat, his audible breath filled the room, grating on my already frayed nerves. But we had no choice but to endure; we needed his help, nothing more.

"How may I be of help to you?," Anthonio's voice boomed, sounding like a gorilla in a bad temper.

My father proceeded to recount the agonizing details of our bankrupt hotel, and surprisingly, Anthonio seemed genuinely interested.

"I've heard all you said, and I'm going to help you out," came his abrupt response.

Relief washed over my parents, their faces lit up with smiles, thinking that all our problems were about to disappear.

"But... I have a condition," Anthonio interjected, crushing their hope-filled smiles.

"There's a beautiful flower in your possession, and I'd like to have it," he continued, a smug look on his face.

My mother's eyes widened in disbelief, fully comprehending what he was insinuating, but she chose to feign ignorance.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know what you mean," she managed to say, forcing a smile.

"Give me your daughter in marriage, and I'll help you with whatever you need," Anthonio blurted out bluntly.

At that moment, I couldn't contain my fury anymore. I stood up, standing in solidarity with my parents, rolling my eyes and crossing my arms defiantly. Anthonio's gaze turned lecherous, making me feel sick to my stomach.

My father awkwardly laughed, trying to dismiss the proposal as a joke. "Come on, Anthonio, what's your real condition?"

"Give me your daughter in marriage, that's my condition," he repeated, his tone heavy with expectation.

"Are you insane? I'd rather stay single for the rest of my life than be with this...," I began to protest, but I was interrupted.

"Shut your mouth, Sarah, and sit down!" my mother commanded.

"Sitting down means I'm agreeing to become his fifth wife. I will never agree to that!" I exclaimed, storming out of the office.

***********

There I sat, in my wedding dress, sadness and bitterness consuming me. It was meant to be a day of joy, but instead, all I felt was despair. Tears streamed down my face as I wished I could vanish into thin air. This was a day I never wanted to come.

Raya, my loyal bridesmaid, paced nervously around the room, frantically searching for a way to save me from this nightmare.

"Sarah, we have to find a way," she implored, her mind racing.

"I think I should just accept my fate. Perhaps it's my destiny," I mumbled. 

"Don't you dare say that!" Raya scolded me firmly.

"We will find a way for you to escape this place. You cannot marry that man!"

She turned towards me, flashing a determined smile that reignited a spark of hope within me. She came closer, squatting down and taking my hands in hers.

"You can run away, Sarah. Run far away," she declared.

"Oh, Raya, if only it were that simple. I would have done it long ago," I replied despondently.

"But Sarah..." she began, desperation evident in her voice.

"Raya, please, let's not cry over spilled milk anymore," I interrupted, resigned to my unfortunate fate.

Silence filled the room as I sat there, my spirit crushed, unsure of any glimmer of hope. Then, the sound of the door creaking shattered the silence, revealing the repulsive figure of the pot-bellied old man I was about to marry. He wheezed as he forced himself through the doorway, panting like an exhausted horse.

His eyes locked onto Raya, and he made his way towards me, a grotesque smile spreading across his face. As always, disgust filled every fiber of my being.

"I'd like to have a moment alone with my wife," he sneered, his gaze fixed on Raya.

She hesitated for a moment before reluctantly leaving the room and closing the door behind her. Now I was alone with this odious old man, my soon-to-be husband.

He approached me, his hands reaching out to caress my face, but the revulsion inside me overwhelmed any sense of compliance. I jerked away from his touch, my anger boiling to the surface.

"Let go of me!" I shouted, the irritation evident in my voice.

"You're my wife!" he bellowed, refusing to release his grip on my hands as he attempted to kiss me.

I couldn't bear it any longer. The realization hit me like a sledgehammer. I couldn't go through with this. Raya had been right; I had to escape.

"Let go of me!" I screamed, my voice echoing through the room. At that moment, the door swung open, and Raya barged in, armed with a rod she had found nearby. Without hesitation, she swung it at Anthonio's head, sending him crashing to the ground.

I clamped my hands over my mouth, trying to stifle my screams of shock and fear.

"You have to leave this place, now!" Raya urgently instructed.

"But... What about Anthonio? Is he... dead?" I questioned, a mix of curiosity and terror in my voice.

"Forget about that old fool!" Raya scoffed, checking his pulse with the back of her hand.

"Sarah, he's alive for now. But you can't wait around. You have to escape before he wakes up."

She reached into her bag and pulled out my phone, handing it to me. She glanced towards the door, ensuring no one was present.

"Go out through the back door. The security guard is distracted; I took care of that. Just find a way," she whispered urgently.

Pressing some cash into my hands, she looked at me with watery eyes. "Thank you, Raya. I don't know what I would have done without you," I said, tears welling up in my own eyes.

We embraced one last time before she guided me to the back door. I said my final goodbyes and promised to stay in touch, holding my phone tightly in my hand as a lifeline.

"I'll call you," I whispered, and she nodded solemnly in response. With that, I stepped out into the unknown, running as fast as my legs could carry me.

Arriving at the roadside, I desperately waved at passing cars, hoping for a chance at freedom. Car after car zoomed by, ignoring my pleas for help. Just as despair threatened to consume me, a black car approached in the distance, speeding towards me. With all the strength I had left, I waved frantically, and miraculously, the car came to a halt a few meters away.

I ran towards it, struggling with my wedding dress and heels. The driver rolled down the window, staring at me in confusion and concern. Words failed me in that moment, but my desperation was palpable.

"Please... help me. Please..." I pleaded.