Sophia always looked up to her older siblings growing up. Whether it be Miles’ mannerism or Pearl’s soundness, she found herself getting inspired. Before she could realise, the slow vibrations of insecurities started emergent within her. Was it her father who prominently praised his older children? Or was it her mother, her siblings’ stepmother, who never failed to remind her of her let-downs?Her breathes were shallow as she paced back and forth in her room that made her feel claustrophobic regardless of its large size. Her movements were anxious enough to make her stumble over her foot; twice. Hot tears started forming in the corner of her eyes. She craned her neck upwards and closed her eyes, exhaling deeply from her mouth.Her head snapped towards her phone laying somewhere between the layers of the sheets when she heard it ring. She sprint towards it, finding her device, though not before making a mess of blankets on the floor. She took a seat on the floor beside her bed, resting
When things don’t go your way, a frown makes an appearance. And when the frown is jinxed with persistent misfortune, you cannot help but feel frustrated, mentally and spiritually. The fact that Sophia’s parents were unhappy with her grades at college, and the internship she’d been forced into, both crushed her plans and dreams of submitting her photography portfolio to her favourite Photographer in hopes that she might hire her in her company for a small job. It took her a lot of courage to think about it and plan it out without her parents knowing. But she knew that this new schedule she had out of blue would not allow her to as much as dream about it. And no matter how uncertain she felt about this internship at her brother’s company, the one because of which she had to abandon her plans, made her feel an unexplained curiosity. She never realised when her curiosity evolved into excitement until she found herself smiling at her very professional-looking figure. A light blue shirt tu
CHAPTER 3 For Sophia, her camera served her a purpose. That was to make sure she doesn’t go insane, which is why she treated it like a child, felt overprotection and adoration towards it like any mother would to their child. Violating her personal place and touching her dear camera was the first mistake Troy made. The second one being his ever so annoying try to seem goofy and not like someone likely to steal her camera face. Taking slow, steady steps, Sophia walked towards Troy. She made sure he didn’t realise her presence and continued to observe him how he looked at every small details of her device. She stood right behind him like a shadow, surprised that he was still oblivious of her presence. She made a sound from the back of her throat, making him jump out of his skin and clumsily settle the camera back in its original place. He turned back and looked at Sophia with wide and terrified eyes like some deer caught in headlights. He pulled his hand up and waved at her, ''H-Hey,''
CHAPTER 4By the time the Syde siblings drove back, it had become completely dark, the full moon guiding them back home. With Miles sat behind the wheels, Pearl found herself asleep on the seat beside him. The youngest of them had also dozed off in the back. The same squinted her eyes when her shoulder was lightly patted repeatedly until she finally woke up. Without acknowledging her sister, she securitized the parking she soon recognised as his brother’s property. Being too tired to question her thoughts, she let her sister guide her way out of the car. Pearl looked at her baby sister with a tender smile and brushed her unruly hair down the side of her face, ‘’God your hair,’’ she snorted‘’hate me,’’ she yawned, emphasising at how Pearl’s words should have ended.It gained a chuckle from Pearl, ‘’It’s adorable to me.’’ she muttered, pursing a smile when Sophia smiled through her tiredness, ’’You sure had a long first day of work, huh?’’‘’I’ll get used to it,’’ Sophia shrugged and
CHAPTER 5 This is what she wanted. This is what Lana Syde has always wanted. For Sophia to make a positive change within herself. For Sophia to bring achievements into their house so that she could be proud of her daughter. This was finally happening and Sophia was over the moon. All she wanted was to make her mother proud. Lana had always been dissatisfied with Sophia, no matter what she did. Nothing was enough. Maybe now, maybe this job which she'd earned with her hard work was her way to make her mother proud. She couldn't wait for her to know. Couldn't wait for Lana to give her a proud smile and a small pat on her shoulder. Maybe a hug too. Sophia had forgiven her mother, as she recalled the conversation where Lana accused Miles and Pearl that they didn't want Sophia's wellbeing. Yes, it was wrong and it felt wrong, but how long can two family members stay mad at each other. At the end of the day, someone has to break their walls taking the initiative, and in this case, Sophia w
CHAPTER 6 Sophia lowered her glaze as she sat on the couch beside her brother and in front of their father who sat on the coffee table, also dressed, just like her brother. She wasn’t sure if it were her anxiety or the gut feeling which kept whispering in her ear that there's going to be an argument. The cool conversation between the men made her feel at ease and made her feel apprehensive at the same time. She still had to reckon if her father knew about Lana’s denials with the job offer. Figuring out her father wasn’t productive because the Syde men knew well to hide their emotions. Her father once told her that having control over your reaction can help you avoid unsolicited problems. True to his words, Miles had to discuss work with their father. As she realised that her presence was no longer needed, she quietly pushed herself off the couch, but froze when Miles’s hand circled her wrist as he mutely asked her not to leave. His gesture reassured her that the issue with her job w
CHAPTER 7 "Listen to me, Sophia," He said in a growling voice. "That man you just met, he’s a sexual predator. All women of this office had been a victim of him. And I’m afraid that you might be his next victim,’’ Sophia's breath hitched and she looked at Troy with unsure gaze. That man, who just treated Sophia with so much respect. Could he be a sexual predator? Was it possible? It was unbelievable. Sophia didn't believe Troy. "I don't believe you," Sophia managed to whisper, not trusting her own words. Troy's lips which were in a thin, pursed line. He raised his hand and tuck a loose strand of hair which'd fallen upon her eye behind her ear gently with two of his fingers. She found her eyes fidgeting between his. She felt her hands shake and her body freeze. "That's the truth. You've no other option but to believe me, believe us," He said in a low voice. ''He's right, Sophia,'' Tara said standing beside her. ''I'm one of his victims,'' she said in a sad voice. Sophia looked at
CHAPTER 8 The silence in the room was deafening. Rushes of several kinds of emotions voyaged through both their veins. Emotions like nervousness, tiredness as well as ire belonged to Sophia at the moment. Miles? All he felt was Anger and betrayal. Rage was boiling inside of him as he heard his sister tell him stories. Stories which belonged to his office. Happened here without any of his consent or knowledge. By the time Sophia had finished, she had unshed tears in her eyes. It wasn't her fault, none of it were. But she still felt sorry. She absurdly rubbed her eyes to dry them with her knuckles. One look at her brother and she knew he was beyond livid. The softness in his eyes were long gone. Fury, rage and anger taking over. His eyes were dark and scary. She was glad that she wasn't on his bad side. ‘‘Did he touch you?'' Miles growled. His voice cold and emotionless yet so frightening. Sophia shook her head. ‘‘No. he was smart. He-he knew I'm your sister. He never took chances,'
Chapter 30Sophia was never the kind who allowed violence to possess or surround her. Instead, she preferred to envelop herself in an innocent bubble that conjured care, loyalty, morals, and a hell lot of self-respect. The last one being the explored part of herself since she found herself not being in her parent’s care and influence anymore. If she was the light for her parents to give them a reason to wake up every day then her role in her sibling’s life was to making them believe that people do exist with a heart that pure and a smile so bright that they feel the need to protect and attack if it comes down to it.She was never weak. No. Her existence inhered strength that blossomed the world around her. Although, the world failed to give her the strength back. Growing up she was tiger parented, compared to her older siblings, then brainwashed, overpowered, and overwhelmed by the people who she once thought were good.But then she met this boy. This boy with curly head, those dimple
CHAPTER 29Sophia struggled under Joshua’s hold.She was pushed against the wall, causing white hot pain to shot in her ankle that got twisted in the tussle. The only reason she didn’t fall on the ground even after losing the strength to stand was because of Joshua’s arm that was wrapped around her torso, almost strangling her and squeezing the breath out of her. She tried her best not to breathe against the cloth pressed against her face. She knew what he wanted to do; make her pass out. Her screams were muffled, almost inaudible, even to her. In no way would anyone had been able to hear her for the rescue considering the closed door and the towering Joshua pressing a cloth against her mouth. The subtleness of his plan stood by his side and not hers.No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t help but breathe an atom of breathe every few seconds. The substance that got in her system was chloroform. She learned a little something about it from college. It would make her weak, not fain
Chapter 28‘Announce us official. I’ll take all the allegations on your brother down’With her eyes fixed at the text on the screen brighten and highlighted in the dim room under the bulb by the window serving luminosity to the room, she glared at her phone. Sophia’s steady breathing that heaved with passing seconds threatened the thought of a migraine. Oh no, not now. She was worried as she sat on her bed, cross legged, her phone in her hands gripped so tightly that red marks were slowly forming on her palms as she read the text away.‘’asshole,’’ She muttered slowly forcing her eyes to lift.‘’asshole, bastard, son of a bitch, a-a … a luniac …’’ she cursed away. All of this time when he was trying to contact her, this was what he wanted. This was what Joshua Smith wanted to talk about all this time. And Sophia just wished that she hadn’t opened the message. But the curiosity was eating her alive.‘’Never,’’ Loath seeped through her voice as she looked back at the screen on her phone
CHAPTER 27Brinda made a visit. It was a small sit and talk session where she inquired about Sophia’s health. After almost one month of her thyroid surgery, she felt much better. She had Brinda to thank for. Without her assistance at being her nutritionist, she wouldn’t have recovered at this pace. She never had a bad impression over Brinda being her brother’s girlfriend, so it wasn’t hard for them to become friends either. She was always able to carry this warm aura that radiated with comfort and care.‘’I’m glad that you’re recovered,’’ Brinda squeezed Sophia’s shoulder.Sophia smiled timidly and looked down. Her fingers caressed the sheets of her bed on which both of them sat. This guest room at Miles’ place had become her safe place where she felt at peace and at home. She smiled at the thought but gloom clouded her face quicker than the smile that arrived earlier. Her chest almost hurt at the rate of pressure she put on them. ‘’Is something wrong?’’ Asked Brinda craning her neck
CHAPTER 26The drizzle turned into a downpour out the window. A serene, still, and peaceful ambiance engulfed the room. The heavy rain poured like some rhythmic music and hummed like a lulling melody. The atmosphere was cool. In a way that invited laziness with open arms and a few more minutes of sleep for an excuse. The blanket did a fantastic job at serving warmth and closeness, as the couple snuggled close into each other.Soft humming filled the quiet room, the sound of rain performing the background music. A pair of fingers combed her hair behind her neck and kissed the earlobe. The motion kept repeating like a broken record until Sophia stirred. She moaned lightly and fluttered her eyes. She was momentarily confused at the relatively unfamiliar room.‘’Troy?’’ she suddenly said lowly and softly.‘’I’ve been trying to wake you for a while,’’ he whispered in her ear from behind.Sophia smiled lightly with her eyes closed. She could remember a humming sound just behind her ear but
CHAPTER 25Unwinding chills of excitement hid behind her face of nervousness at the thought of returning to work. The leave felt longer than a month even though it wasn’t and she felt the need to visit the office. The thought of seeing her friends, her cubicle, even her annoying neighbouring colleague made her jump in excitement. But then the thought of her apartment crossed her mind and she felt sad, the comfort it radiated flashing before her eyes. She simply had gotten used to calling that place her home and staying away from the same made her feel blue. But she knew Miles’ overprotectiveness wouldn’t let her be yet. The stay at her brother’s was indeed relaxing and healed her properly. She even received a green signal from her doctors for continuing with her routine. Although, because of her recent medical conditions, they had suggested for Sophia to take it slow and be cautious about stress, which was like salt on a burning wound for her sibling’s worry. Though, Brinda had manage
CHAPTER 24Despite the fact that Sophia had skipped death, her eyes remained serene and she radiated comfort as she remained on the hospital bed, immobile. Her face was flushed and lids were sealed which felt like forever to others. Her lips sometimes parted leaving small and soft groans, sometimes moans. Meaning she was slowly waking up.Troy’s breathing hitched when Sophia again groaned softly but this time, also tilted her head to the side lightly where he sat.‘’S-Soph?’’ Troy whispered and tried to reach out for her hand.Burt another hand collapsed on his lightly, making him raise his eyes.‘’Let her wake up on her own,’’ Miles suggested, in a surprisingly calm voice.Troy nodded and took his hand away. Both men were back to residing in silence as they sat there in the eerily quiet room where the only sound was Sophia’s shallow breathing against the oxygen mask.Another moment of awkward silence passed by and Troy couldn’t stand it anymore. He shifted on his butt uncomfortably o
CHAPTER 23There was a halt. The halt of time. It was as if time had stopped when the two women put their eyes on one another. Nothing moved. Not a muscle, nor a leaf. Every particle in and around the room stopped, only to have a look at the sudden commotion. The world paused to look at the two woman. Sophia and her mother. Their eyes clashed like two meteoroids that blew into a million pieces. The clash gave rise to several kinds of emotions in Sophia’s heart. For an instance, joy. Oh, how at ease she felt at seeing her mother after so long! She felt a momentary relief considering selfishly that Lana cared and that’s why she’s here. But, then rage appeared in Sophia’s mien. She was neglected, ignored, brainwashed, and left to feel unloved. Intentionally or not. It all started with Lana and ended with her too. Lastly, confusion. Why now? There were numerous opportunities when Lana could make an appearance, when Sophia needed her presence. If not then, why now?Sophia was as stiff as a
CHAPTER 22Almost immediately, Sophia was told to rest in her new bedroom in Miles’ house where she would be staying temporarily. It was as big as her former house with her parents. Miles escorted her to her room and leaned against the doorframe. After making sure that he’d made her tasks clear; i.e. to shower, change and go to sleep, he left her alone.Sophia spent a good twenty minutes devouring herself and her body in the fountain of hot water. She changed into a funny yellow top with a print of a Pokémon on it and lazy black leggings. She blow-dried her hair until they were only slightly damp and finally, with a loud sigh, dropped herself on the bed and blindly covered herself with the thick comforter. Miles’ house was modest, and so were the bedrooms. Although her room at her father’s was nice, this one took the extra point. The bright curtain and the unique shade of seafoam green walls radiated comfort. The furniture like the wardrobe was inbuilt to the wall making the room see