Five years ago

Charlene Maximus 

It all started Five years ago, it was the night when my career was about to bloom and it was the night of my doom. That night was what started my suffering. 

My name is Charlene king, A twenty-seven years old ballet dancer. Five years ago, I had everything, money, fame, and happiness but it all got destroyed on a particular night. It was the last time I ever felt happiness. 

It was the night of the celebration of my debut, and my best friends Alexa and Ryan, and I went to Moon. It was the latest Club in the country and It was specially made for celebrities like me. We walked into the clubhouse and got into the VIP room. 

"We are going to have so much fun!"Alexa nudged me on the shoulder as we took our seats. Alexa is a black woman and just like me she was a ballet dancer but she had no popularity and was one of my backup dancers. Alexa and I have been friends since we were five years old. Then, we used to dance around and while we were growing up, our parents took us to dance classes and we've been together ever since then. 

" yeah, we are going to have a lot of fun."Ryan on the other hand was also one of my backup dancers. He is gay and I met him when we were in high school and ever since then we've been together. 

"Yes, we will have a great night but you know I can't drink too much, I have a contract signing with Darl tomorrow," I reminded my friend about the Darl company. It was a make-up company and they needed my face for the advertisement. Ever since I became popular, some of them makeup brands, food companies, and a lot more used me for advertisement. It was the benefit of being popular. 

"You are lucky Charlene," Alexa said. "You are a beautiful blonde with a great career while I'm just a girl who is trying so hard to be like you."

I felt for her because we both debuted on the same day but since I was a better dancer, they picked me instead of Alexa. "Don't worry, "I placed my hand around her shoulder. "You will become famous sooner or later." I patted her on the back. 

"Forget about dancing tonight and let's get drunk!" Ryan shouted and poured shots for us. "To popularity and friendship," he raised his glass. 

" To friendship and popularity," Alexa and I also raised our glasses and in one drink, we gulped the vodka. 

"Oh!" I exclaimed and stood up and began to dance. "Let's dance, "I pulled Alexa up and we started dancing. 

Ryan poured us another drink and after five shots, I decided it was time to go to the restroom. " Guy!" I shouted. "I need to go to the bathroom," I said and headed out of the VIP room without waiting to listen to what they had to say. I rushed out and looked for the restroom. After walking down a long hallway, I found the restroom. 

When I was done, I left the restroom and walked back to the Vip room in one piece. "It's so great to see you back and didn't trip," Alexa joked and I laughed heartily "so when you were gone, Ryan and I ordered another drink," I shook my head letting her know that I didn't want to drink. "It's not alcoholic. It's a wine."

"A wine?" I rolled my eyes and took the glass from Alexa and gulped it all once. "Wow, it tastes like strawberry. "

"It's more the reason why I ordered it."Ryan filled up my glass. "Have more girl," he shouted. 

"Thank you," I told him. 

The night went on and when it was time to leave, we all walked out of the club laughing. "I'll take you guys home," I offered because c was the one who was still sane enough. Alexa had four shots before we left while Ryan had two more shots and I only took the wine and although I was tipsy a little bit, I could still drive myself home. 

"Don't worry," Alexa shouted. "We already called an Uber. You can go." She said. 

"Yeah, don't worry about us. We will be fine." Ryan assured me. 

I nodded in response and walked towards my car. When I got into my Mercedes Benz, I felt a splitting headache and my eyes became hazy. I didn't know why I felt that way because I made sure I didn't drink after I came back from the restroom and I also made sure I had enough water. "You will be fine," I took a deep breath and started my car. I drove out of the 'moon' and headed into the streets. 

Luckily for me, there weren't a lot of cars on the road and I had a smooth ride. I suddenly felt sleepy. I slapped my face and heaved a deep sigh. Slapping my face didn't work as I started sleeping again, this time I couldn't fight against the sleep. I had no idea what happened.  The last thing I remembered before I blacked out was a loud crash. 

I woke up to a splitting headache, the smell of bleach infiltrated my nostrils and the bright lightning made it so hard too hard to open my eyes. When I finally adjusted to the light, my eyes fluttered open and roamed around the room. It was painted in white and that's when I knew that I wasn't in my room. 

I rose from the bed and tried to stand up but I couldn't because my left hand was cuffed to the bed. 

"What happened last night?" I rubbed my forehead and tried to remember everything that happened but my visions were hazy and I couldn't anything that happened. It was as if my memories of that night got wiped out. 

The door burst open and two police officers walked in. One was a black female while the second officer was a white man. As they walked towards me, I raised my head to look at them. "Miss Charlene, it's great to see you finally open your eyes." The male said. 

"Who are you guys? "I asked. " I don't have any business with the police. Why I'm I cuffed to the bed? I have an appointment today." I suddenly remembered the appointment with the makeup brand where I was supposed to sign a contract. 

"You don't realize what you've done right young lady," the black woman scoffed and walked towards. "You caused a great accident and killed two people!" She shouted. 

"Kill! I would never kill anyone!" I retorted. How dare she accuse me of murder? I thought. 

"How would you even understand when you were high on narcotics? This is the thing with you popular people. Once the fame gets to your head, you start acting like you are powerful and think you can break the law." 

"What are you even saying? I want a lawyer right now!" I shouted. 

"Before you ask for a lawyer, I need you to see this," The male officer said and turned on the Tv inside the room. 

I gasped when I saw my picture on the Tv and I was labeled as a murderer. "Popular Ballet Dancer Charlene King who was high on narcotics last night was involved in an accident that killed two other people."

Killed? I committed murder. I placed my hand on my head and that was when I noticed the bandage on my head. I was truly involved in an accident and I couldn't remember everything. "A lot of people are protesting against Charlene king for the murder of those two people. Stay tuned for more news at Zero news." 

"So you see now. You murdered two people!" The female officer shouted. "I am going to make sure you rot in jail."

"Wait," I shouted. "Can I talk to my manager or the management?"

"We've already done that but they denied ever knowing you. I think you are on your own this time young lady," The male officer said. 

I placed my hand on my head and muffled a scream. I couldn't believe that I had caused two death. "Can I see my family or Alexa?" I remembered going to the club to celebrate the debut with Alexa and Ryan but I didn't remember what happens after then. 

"Your brother told us that he hasn't seen you in a while and he denied ever being your brother since you both separated six years ago."

How could he have said? Charlie and I separated a few years ago because he didn't want me to go to Art school and ever since then, he stopped talking to me. 

"What about Alexa and Ryan?" I asked. 

"They denied ever going to the club with you, "The female officer chuckled. " you are on your young lady. Your fans don't want anything with you, your management had denied you and even your brother denied you," the officer tutted. "The whole world is against you girl," the officer uncuffed me and beckoned for me to stand. 

I stood up from the bed and stretched forth my hand as I was cuffed. I didn't know how it happened and how I was responsible for the death of two people but all I knew at that moment was that the world was truly against me. 

Fingers pointed at me as I was led out of the hospital and when we got out, it became much worse. Angry mobs and reporters stood in front of the hospital making hateful comments about me. 

"You are a disgusting human!" 

"How could you have done that to two humans!"

"I always knew you were high on drugs."

That was a lie. I had never done drugs in my entire life and I wondered how I was suspected of doing drugs. 

A Reporter came towards me and asked questions about my debut. "Were you on drugs when you debuted? Can you explain why how the drugs got into your homes?"

Drugs? I never had any drugs in my house. "What drugs?" I asked. "What do you mean?" I shouted. "I didn't kill anyone and I had never done drugs in my life," I shouted. 

Someone in the crowd threw a stone at me and a lot of them continue to throw stones at me. My bandaged head started to bleed again. I had been framed by everyone I trusted. The club and the people I called friends. It was all a lie. Someone had spiked my drink. Alexa couldn't have done it, I thought and I trusted Ryan.

My vision suddenly became hazy and I fell to the ground. The last thing I remembered before I blacked out was the loud noise of sirens. 

Two days later I was charged to court. No one gave me a chance to defend myself. I was all alone and when the judge passed on the sentence, I knew it was all over for me. 

"For being high on drugs at that time, you are hereby sentenced to three years in a rehabilitation center." That sentence changed my life forever. 

"I didn't do it!" I shouted as I was dragged away. "I have never done drugs in my entire life! Please give me a chance!" I begged but it was all to no avail. 

For three years, I was left alone in the rehabilitation center. They treated me like a madwoman but I endured because I needed to find the bastard who ruined my life. 

When I returned from Rehab, I had nothing. Alexa had taken my place and become the best dancer in the country. I was forgotten and replaced with Alexa. I went to seek help from my brother but he refused to help me. 

"As you can see I have a family who needed me. I don't want you doing drugs in front of my kids Charlene. Don't ever call me again," That's what he said to me. 

I didn't give up and tried to find Alexa and requested her help but she had become someone I couldn't reach. Left with no one in the world, I tried to kill myself. Jumping off the bridge was better than staying alive and then, he came and saved me. 

I thought he was my savior but that's when the real suffering started. It was when I married Dominic Maximus.