Chapter Two

As I sprinted through the streets, my breaths coming in ragged gasps, the weight of my shame and despair pressing down on me like a suffocating blanket. Each step I took felt like a useless attempt to outrun the heart breaking reality of my wretched life.

As I ran, the street blurred around me, the familiar sights and sounds distorted by my tears. I had no destination in mind, no solace to seek, my world felt dark, empty and alone. All I wanted was to just escape, to disappear into the darkness and leave behind the wreckage of my life.

And then, as if on cue, the heavens opened up, drenching me to the bone. At first, I barely registered the change in weather, too consumed by my own misery to notice the cold droplets of rain pelting against my skin.

As the rain intensified, I raised my hands to my face trying to wipe it but it was an obvious futile effort, my legs couldn’t go further anymore, I slowed to a stop, my chest heaving with exhaustion and despair.

I slowly bent to a squat in the middle of the road my head buried in my palm, how did my life get so miserable, My license as a civil engineer was the only honor and achievement I had in my name, and now everything was going right up in flames right infront of me, because of Michelle.

The only thing in my life that I haven’t lost because of Michelle was my life, suddenly I felt tired, I just wanted to live like a normal human,

“Is that too much to ask!” I screamed out loud digging my hands into my hair and tugging at the roots.

My tears mingled with the rain, and I got sort of angry I could barely hear myself over the rain, definitely everything I come in contact with wants nothing but to drown my voice.

I suddenly felt a strange sensation—a shield from the downpour. Confused, I lifted my head to see a figure standing before me, holding an umbrella that stopped the rainfall from falling aggressively on my body.

His presence was like a beam of light in the storm, strange yet comforting. His eyes held a depth that seemed to understand the weight of my despair, yet there was a trace of warmth within them that offered solace.

My eyes not leaving his face, I gently stood up to my feet, his height towering over me, I looked over his shoulders, they were already soaked in rain because he was holding the umbrella to protect every inch of me from the rain.

"Are you alright?" His voice was gentle, yet held a hint of strength,

I blinked, taken aback by his sudden appearance and the kindness in his eyes. "I... I don't know anymore," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper amidst the sound of the rain.

“In a world where there’s so many voices, you should be strong willed enough to find your own voice,”

“It’s not that easy,” I whispered tears falling from my face all over again, He offered me a reassuring smile and stretched the umbrella to me.

"Go home,”

“Tomorrow is a new day, Don't let the darkness of today overshadow the brightness of tomorrow."

His words resonated deep within me, I nodded, I wish I could Atleast return his tiny smile with a smile too but I couldn’t, with shaky hands I took the umbrella from him, he gently took off his Tuxedo jacket and placed it over my shoulders, with that he turned around and walked away, my eyes stayed glued to his retreating figure as he got into a car parked at the other side of the road, he slammed the door shut and the car zoomed off immediately.

My phone beeped continuously in my pocket, I reached for it and took it out, it was a message from Novan- My fiancé.

-I saw what happened, you definitely have a track record of Messing up everything your hands come in contact with-

-You’re lucky I’m willing to marry you, not every man would sacrifice to spend the rest of their lives with someone like you-

-where the heck are you!-

-You should call your mother ASAP!-

-She’s very Mad at you, how dare you run away from the mess you created coward!-

I scrolled through the tons of messages he sent, my phone suddenly began to ring and it was his call coming in, I long pressed on the power button, switched off my phone and returned it into my pocket.

With the umbrella shielding me from the rain, I turned and began to make my way home, his words echoing in my mind, how was I supposed to find my voice when I already traded it with someone else, I am the First daughter but I practically already lost that title to Michelle, they practically controlled my life, they have the power to either break or make me and now they have done the former.

I stopped in my tracks and turned onto the road, I stretched out my hands and flagged down a taxi,

“Boulevard,” I said as I pulled the door open and got in, without a word the taxi driver stepped on the gas and zoomed off, I gently turned to the side and rested my head on the window, the journey was a quiet one and I couldn’t stop thinking about what the guy I met earlier said to me.

“You seem tired,” I heard the taxi driver say, I turned to look at him and he was staring at me through the rear mirror, I shook my head slowly and returned back to my initial position.

“Life in itself is tiring,” I whispered, the car suddenly came to an halt, I sat up and look around, I realized we were already in front of my apartment, I searched my pocket, luckily I found a ten dollar bill in my pocket and handed it over to him.

“The perfect opportunity to find your voice will always come, make sure you never despise it” he said to me flashing me a bright smile, I have no idea what that means or why he said that but I nodded my head slowly in reply, I gently pushed the door open and stepped out slamming the door shut behind me, I stood in front of the apartment, my grip on the umbrella tightened with a deep exhale I began to take slow unsteady steps inside.

The door beeped in recognition and unlocked, I pushed it in and walked in, locking it securely behind me, I gently took off the jacket draped on my shoulders and folded it over my arm as I took off my shoes.

“Where are my clothes,” I heard Novan demand, I slowly looked up to see him standing akimbo by the kitchen, my eyes went temporarily shut “shit,” escaped my lips, fearfully I opened my eyes back up and looked up at him, his eyes already bloodshot red, I swallowed hard and unconsciously took two steps backwards,

“I-I’m s-sorry, I forgot!”

“I have an important interview tomorrow and you forgot! How much worse can your character get!” He slammed, fidgeting I quickly pulled my shoes close and tried to put them on,

“I- I- I’ll go get them for you, I’m so sorry ,” I rushed, I removed the jacket from my hands and put them back on,

“Who owns that?!” He asked, my mouth hung open as I tried to say something looking between him and the jacket,

“E-erm i-I-it’s, it’s for …” he pushed himself off the wall, I instinctively took steps backwards also until my back softly hit the door, trapping me in his grip.

“So not only are you a failure, you’re a slut too!” He slammed, my grip on the umbrella I was holding loosened also and it fell to the ground,

“I-it’s it’s not what you think,” I stuttered, he reached for my hair and grabbed a hand full of it, my heart pounded heavily in my chest, I knew exactly what was coming next, Novan would always hit me whenever he suspects or thinks I was cheating on him, it’s why I’ve done everything possible to avoid men so I do not send the wrong signals to him.

“How dare you let another man get in between your legs!” He growled tugging at my hair violently,

“L-let let me ex-ex- let me explain Novan please,” I stuttered in deep pain,

“Shut the hell up!” He growled, he held on to my hair more tightly and slammed it on the industrial door, pain shot through my head like lightning, without recovering from that hit, his grip on my head got tighter and he slammed my head on the door again yelling words I could barely hear, I felt warm liquid slosh down my face I didn’t need to take a look at it, I knew it was blood, the sight of blood did not even make him have mercy on me, he kept hitting my head on the door, yelling that no man was permitted to go through my legs asides him.

Each impact echoed in my ears, drowning out any other sound. My vision blurred, darkness closing in on the edges

“Tomorrow is a new day, Don't let the darkness of today overshadow the brightness of tomorrow." Yeah, maybe in my next life.

I tried to scream, to fight back, but his hold was strong, crushing any resistance. With each slam, my consciousness flickered, my eyelids became weak as it flapped between staying open and close.

He suddenly let go of me and I slumped to the ground, my head spinning, the taste of blood on my lips.

He staggered back, horror etched on his face probably realizing what he had done. His hands trembled as he stared at me,

Tears slipped out of through the side of my eyes, and darkness claimed me, Maybe this was my way out!.

Hospital …

“We have to perform surgery before the day breaks or we might loose her,”

“Do what you might doctor, our company is going through a lot right now, we cannot afford the bill for a surgery!”

My eyes slowly went open and I saw the doctor walking out of the room, I shut my eyes immediately I saw Mother walking towards me.

“I have done a lot to get here, to finally get rid of you! Even if you survive this, you won’t survive what’s next!”

That’s the last thing I heard as my body became numb, the machine I was connected to began to beep loudly, nurses and doctor rushed in, the beeping sound intensified as it became louder and faster, my eyelids feebly went open and my eyes rolled over to mother where she stood by the entrance of the room, staring into space nonchalantly, tears streaked down my eyelids, and I took my last breath.

The machine finally came to a stop and everywhere suddenly became quiet and serene.

Peace at last!

Author.

“Harper Walter, Time of death, August 27th, 2:30am” The doctor announced as he drew up the cloth and covered her up.