Chapter 1

IRIS

Empty.

It all feels so empty. How ironical is that I am feeling isolated in a cafe which is brimming with customers.

"Table number 5, Iris."

I looked back leisurely to meet the smiling face of my employer, Martha. She was expectingly looking at my face to see a smile but all she received from me was a nod.

How much I wanted to return that smile to her I couldn't as I have long forgotten how to smile. The only two things that now bring smile to face is seeing children play and when my only friend pulls out some foolish stunt.

Martha is a great woman, my saviour. That night when I laid on that cold floor stark naked as the day we are born with blood over and around me, she took me to a hospital and afterwards even gave me this job.

I made my way towards table 5 when I heard her weak voice again.

"This is going to be the last table for you today."

She knows it too well that I never stay out after sunset. Everything changed that day. She knows I need to reach my home before sunset. I am too terrified to be out alone after dusk.

I made my way to table 5 where two men in business suits were sitting. No doubt they were handsome but I have seen better in past.

Even worse, I thought to myself.

No!

Don't go back there Iris...

I sighed and put on one of my fake smiles and went to then.

"Hello sir, my name is Iris. Today I will be your server. What can I get for you?", I asked in an empty voice.

"I will have a black coffee.", the taller one said and to my surprise his tone was polite. I looked towards the other man on the table.

"And for you sir?"

"I will like a cold coffee along with a brownie.", The man said while smirking.

I nodded my head and went back to the kitchen to get their orders prepared.

Soon I went back to their table and served them.

I knew full well what was meant by the suggestive and vulgar look the shorter man was giving.

Two years back I was too naive to understand the different kind of ways men looked at me.

It was only him who always said,

“The way they look at you make me wants to rip their eye balls."

And all I would do was look him funnily thinking he understood the men's stare wrongly.

But he was right.

The only time he was...

After a while I saw them leaving the cafe. Thus I went back to the table to collect the bill and saw a small amount of tip which I put in the pocket of my apron.

I headed back to the staff changing room to collect my bag and remove the apron.

"Iris."

I looked back to find my co-worker, Alan looking at me hopefully.

"Umm, you remember I ..."

Before he could complete I took out a piece of paper from my bag and handed it to him.

As soon as I gave him that paper, he started grinning like a lunatic.

"Thank you. Now you wait and watch I will make the best cupcake for Isabelle. The look on her face will be worth my efforts.", Alan said dreamingly.

I awed Alan at that moment, Isabelle, his wife loves the cupcake from my hands. Thus he wanted to surprise her on her birthday by making those cupcakes by his own hand.

"Isabelle is lucky to have a husband like you."

Even I was that lucky some day, I again thought to myself.

“Thank you Iris! And be sure to be there in the birthday party. You missed it last year too...", Alan stated.

“I am sorry Alan I have somewhere to go thus I won't be able to make it."

I lied swiftly as it almost sounded like truth in my ears.

But what can I say I have been lying for too long not just from others but also from myself.

Saying this I parted from him to make my way to my apartment in the downtown.

People believe that a person in depression becomes a loner and doesn't talk to anyone. But that is a partial truth as a person in depression is always talking and fighting with their own thoughts.

A battle that I always lose.

Willingly or Unwillingly.

I shook my head and continued walking through the roads of New York.

I suddenly felt two hands on my shoulders.

"Bo!"

Feeling someone's touch I flinched and took some steps back. I closed my eyes and waited for a miracle to happen and the person who touched me to vanish.

One

Two

Three...

"Iri, it is me, Asher.", the man's voice was deep yet soft.

I recognised the voice.

I opened my eyes slowly like a scared child to find it was Asher who was intently looking at me.

I took a breath of relieve and drank my unshed tears.

The monsters aren't here Iris. They are far away from you. Just breathe.

Asher took small steps towards me and gave me a hug.

"Its okay, Eri. Iris I am here and I won't let anyone hurt you.", Asher said sweetly as I nodded my head.

He is the only person who knows everything about my past. Martha only knows the fact that some monsters broke my soul into pieces.

Taking everything that was left of me.

"What brings you here?", I asked Asher after I broke free of his hug.

"Your medicines.", He said while putting a packet in my hands.

I looked down at the packet and my chest tightened with guilt thinking about the money he spent on my medicines.

"You didn't need to do that for me. I should have managed.", I said in a low voice.

But in the back of my mind I knew I couldn't have managed. It is so difficult.

"Hush puppies. Just take these medicines.", He said playfully.

"Puppies?", I asked amused.

"Well yeah, you are as tiny as a puppy. Now I need to go, otherwise my dearest mother will kill me.", Asher said as he rushed down the street not before kissing my cheek.

I looked as his retreating figure and then continued down the street. Soon tiny crystals from heaven started falling over me. The pouring soon became heavy but I continued my way to my home.

Once I loved everything about rain. But not today because all the good is just in the memories.

Soon memories of my happy past invaded my mind as I continued down the street.

"Iris, my love please let's go back home. You are going to catch a cold.", Tristan pleaded for the thousandth time. It was always amusing to see a ruthless man begging to you.

"No!"

I shouted as I continued to dance in the rain. I love rain so much, though I always end up getting ill but it never stops me from playing in the rain.

"Mio fiore please."

I looked back to see my husband standing below the umbrella. I mentally rolled my eyes.

"Tristan it the not raining cats and dogs. At least enjoy this one.", I requested him but that stubborn man shook his head.

Tristan never found getting wet in the rain as an enjoyable idea.

"Its time for plan B.", I said to myself as I collected some drops of water in my hand to throw it at Tristan.

"Do you thing it is the smartest idea Mrs. Iris Knight? Your hands are too tiny.", Tristan asked in a teasing tone to which I just nodded my head.

Soon I threw that water in his direction but he brought his umbrella in the front to protect himself, completing forgetting the part that it was pouring and soon he was drenched because of the rain which was falling downwards over his head.

As the realisation hit him I started giggling.

"See my plan worked.", I stated while laughing.

"You.", Tristan pointed a finger in my direction while letting the umbrella fall on the grass with a look in his eyes saying ‘you will regret it'.

Soon I was running bare feet in the rain with him following me. Within a span of three minutes he caught me but I couldn't stop laughing.

He looked down at me and started laughing himself.

"Guess I am not that smart.", Tristan said before he pressed a cold kiss on my wet and cold forehead.

I sighed remembering those memories.

But that was the past that can never come back because today I am not the same Iris and for what Tristan did to me I can never forgive him.

Soon my broken flat came in view with liquor bottles lying at various places on the street. I quickened my pace as I continued walking down the street.

The downtown was one of those places where the police never comes for patrolling, a place where drugs are sold openly and a place where murders are common.

But it is the only place I can afford, not because my job as a waitress​ pays me less but because a huge amount goes in my treatment.

Soon I reached my apartment and started making my way to the second floor where my home was.

As soon as I reached my floor, my eyes looked on the man owning the world's most beautiful blue eyes that stil haunts me at night.

"Mio fiore."