THE WOMAN I BECAME.

Chapter 4 – The Woman I Have Become

I climbed a tree, tied the rope around my neck, and jumped but I rested in a man’s arms. He nippily cut the rope with a knife he was holding. I could not see anything again since I was worn out. The man in whose arm I was saved was unknown until the next morning.

“Rose.” He called, “You stupidly wanted to leave me alone?'' It was Mike's voice, a neighbor's squeamish son who suffered lung disease. We lived for almost sixteen years, then he left for Europe. I didn't know he was even back until he saved me.

“I don't have any option, Mark.” All this while, what I did best was cry and shed pools of tears.

After staying about a week with him, he asked me to go live with a family friend because he was going back to Europe to check on his health, and wouldn’t return anytime soon.

But I still couldn't believe that my father who loved me could throw me out just like that so I went back to him. From his actions, and how he was packing up, I knew he was back in the army and was going on a military deploy, “ Dad, please forgive me” I pleaded with him.

"Have you found the man responsible for that thing?"

"Hmm," I sighed, "are you back to the military?" I cried knowing that he was leaving.

“Sure, how did you know?” he asked as he packed his tools and equipment inside his truck, "that's all I have now, I thought I was raising a girl, a daughter for God sake but now I think I am raising a fool, who is the father of that goddamn thing?"

I overlooked his question and went back to Mark's house to pack the new dresses he had bought for me with his last dollars.

*******

“Thank you, Mark.” I thanked him after he dropped me at Mrs. Clark’s house.

"Don't forget that, the world does not end today, never think of ending your life." he advised and sped off.

Mrs. Clark was an old woman, around her early sixties, and a good artist. She knew how to paint portraits and different creatures or anything one could possibly think of.

I learned how to paint, and became a pro! She had never seen her grandchild ever since she was born. She used to tell me that letters were sent to her and that she has one but has never seen her.

After some months, we experienced an unforgiven shortage in our money and food items. I was eight months pregnant and my belly had protruded like it was going to burst. I went to a coffee shop to clean, at least I would get some pennies for food and whatsoever.

But the managers wouldn’t allow me, “No please, look at your stomach. It is dangerous to be working with this.” They would say. I sometimes meet my classmates unexpectedly and hide. Those who saw me would laugh teasing me.

“Take those sheets, and go to the road. You can do great things by painting people.” Mrs. Clark would advise, but I would deliberately not mind until one day, she said, “Oh, I feel so hungry.”

Those words pushed me to the road. Wonderfully, people rushed to me to paint them. I made cartoons, animals, and among others for the whole month and earned a good amount which we depended upon and still saved some. I crossed the given nine months. The doctor said it was because of so much stress and malnutrition.

The following tenth month, I gave birth to amazing twins! A boy and a girl! I had a good sleep. When I woke up, Mrs. Clark was playing with the two little tiny kids, both in her arms.

“Hey, a team bought three of your bird paintings for $9,000!!” Mrs. Clark broke the news and kissed my cheeks. I told myself, “No other man can help me. I can take care of these kids all by myself, and I can!” I said and bit my lips.

******

FIVE YEARS LATER

I had been successful with the painting and had established my own gallery as well as a firm. At least, I had been successful in my painting and made it a business. I was no longer staying with my father or Mrs. Clark. It was ten to Lilly and Frankie’s fifth birthday and didn’t want to fail them this time.

“What do you want for your Birthday?” I am respectful and lovely asked my two amazing kids, Lilly happily flew into her brother’s arms as he was busily playing his favorite math games on his tablet, “That’s too mean, you added a lot of energy. Take your time next and do it again,” I asked Lilly who excitedly went back and repeated it.

“Mommy, I want a DADDY for my birthday,” Lilly requested. A sudden shock ran through my spine and rested in my head, giving me a partial headache, “that’s all I want.” She added.

“I don’t want that, I want a large cake a strong man can carry, hopefully, Lilly’s daddy will be able to carry that,” Frankie added, now I have a full headache.

Without uttering another word, I went to my washroom to wipe the words from my head, and ears. I pretended as if I heard nothing.

I had a presentation to make on a logo. I ignored their wishes and left them to their nanny and practiced my presentation in my room.

“Miss. Rose,” the nanny came calling, “We are leaving for school, please.”

“Let me drop you,” I offered and dropped them at the school and headed to my company. The conference room was already busy as people and security moved up and down.

“Ma’am, you are late. You are the one everyone is waiting for.” My secretary told me, as I entered my office, “Take some water, breathe in and out. You’ve got this.” She trained me. She was my right-hand person and a person I can trust. I employed more women than men.

I practiced my sentences and spoke for about five minutes. This was going to be my biggest sale ever! I had lounged for this and now it was here, right in my face. All I needed to do was to plug it.

****

When I entered the conference room, I introduced myself with my brand name, “Sweet Painter” and started to talk. Having reached the middle, I figured all eyes were on me, there were about twenty men! Only a few were listening as others were busily gazing at my newly acquired body.

But there was one man, whose gaze was different. His handsome face was familiar, although covered with a little beard but that face was unforgettable. He raised his hand, and when I gave him the chance to speak, he called my full name, “ROSE SINCLAIR,” he took his glasses off and smirked, blowing cold at me.

It was no other man than Damien Anderson, the man I had promised and cursed never to meet again for the rest of my life! How the fuck did he get here and how come he came right my children wished? This is something else.

“Excuse me sir, but I’m afraid you’ve found the wrong person,” having said that, the room became noisy. “Let’s have a ten-minute break, I will be back,” I announced and left the premises to my office.

I hit my hand on the table and angrily swiped the books and papers on it to the floor, “how could this be happening!?” I grinned my teeth and tried to smash my laptop, but stopped realizing it was expensive.

“For five years, Rose.” Damien Anderson’s voice hit my ears from behind, as the door clapped, “How come you’ve become so hot and elegantly beautiful. You are still mine, Rose. All mine!” he whispered and took my hands, then pressed them against the wall.

“Why are you here?” I asked as I shrieked behind my fears.

He just looked into my eyes, his handsome face had not changed a bit. He landed his fruity lips and mine and kissed me passionately. I didn’t want to, I tried to resist but he kept kissing me.

It got stronger and tight as he injected his tongue into my mouth. I acquired a sudden energy and used it when he tried to put his hand inside my suit.