3. Grown & Changed*

Valarie's Pov

I woke up panting' my whole body covered in sweat" it seems that I had that dream again" where I used to be naive and innocent" it feels like torture when I remember my past self"

Five years have past' everything has changed around me so have I ”

I'm no longer that naive' innocent girl people used to know I have grown into a strong woman" this dream is just a reminder of the foolish choices I made in the past " choices that still haunt me' even today

And every night when I close my eyes I'm reminded of them,

Good morning sweetheart I heard my mother's cheerful voice as she entered my bedroom casually opening the curtains like she normally does every morning ”

Why.... I said dramatically wincing as I covered my face with the sheets the morning sun blinding my eyes

Come on Valarie today is a big day for you' aren't you excited she said rolling my wheelchair next to my bed"

Wake up lazy bird it's 07:30 in the morning she said pulling the bedsheets off my face' cheerfully messing up hair

Mom please.. let me sleep there's nothing special about today" five more minutes please..." I groaned shutting my eyes

Valarie Blackrose" today isn't the day for your silly little tantrums' you can throw them tomorrow" wake up young lady she scolded pulling the sheets off my face

You know I'm not a child anymore I said frowning in frustration"

Then stop acting like one she said with a laughter helping me sit up straight" I sighed looking at the wheelchair bedsides the bed" she was about to help me get on it but I refused her as always"

It's fine I can do it myself I said using my hands to lift my legs' one by one placing them on the side of the bed" I'm slow but after much effort I'm able to turn my body to face the wheelchair" I pulled it close to me" worried that I will fall she tried to help me' but I refused her again

It's not that I don't want her help' it's just that it makes me feel like I'm a burden" ever since my legs became paralyzed she stopped being the woman she used to be" I feel guilty knowing that she has had to put her life on hold not just her but also my father" they don't say it but I can see the toll my health has taken on them"

Valarie let me help you sweetheart she said as she could see how much I was struggling to get on the wheelchair" no I'm fine besides I have to learn to do it myself I said still struggling to get on it

After much effort I'm finally successful with climbing the wheelchair"

Come in' I said as I heard a knock on the door

Good morning greeted Isabella my caregiver with a cheerful smile on her face as she entered the room" she's young we are almost the same age except she's two years older than me' we get along very well' but what I like the most about her is that she never makes me feel like I'm disabled, and she's friendly I tell her anything, but we are not friends, I don't trust anyone

Good morning Isa I greeted back with a smile

Shall I prepare a bath for you she asked looking at me

No" I think I'd like to stay in my room a little bit more I said rolling my wheelchair to the window enjoying the beautiful garden view outside as I liked nature

No there's no way I'm letting you miss the award ceremony tonight' scolded my mother looking at me, have you forgotten that you have been nominated for the business of the year award she said looking at me as if I had gone crazy

Mom please you know I don't care about this kinds of things I said sighing deeply" besides there's no guarantee that I will win I said trying to convince her to let it go but it seems she wasn't ready to

Valarie sweetheart there's no one who deserves this award more than you" in a short period of time since you became CEO of Blackrose enterprises you have managed to leave your mark in the industry' everyone knows who you are" do you have any idea how proud your father and I are to be able to call you our daughter she said holding my hand

I know and that's enough for me"  I don't need strangers who can't look at me in the eye to celebrate my accomplishments with me I said coldly

Valarie you're missing the point" tonight is about you not them" do you know how sad your father will be when he doesn't see you on that stage tonight, it will break his heart" think about it' you know how fragile his heart is she said holding my hands" for a moment I stared at her in silence unable to believe what she's doing to me

Don't think I don't see through your emotional blackmail' I know what you're doing and I don't like it I said looking away

Is it working she asked with a proud smile proud of herself as she could see I was about to curve

Yes it is' I'll go to the party tonight but you have got to stop doing that it's called scheming you know I said and we both burst into a laughter

That my good girl I knew you wouldn't let me down she said hugging the life out of me

Isa please go prepare a bath for me I want to go to the office before the party tonight I said rolling my wheelchair towards the washroom"

Already on it she said with a smile