Chapter 0001

V A L E R I A

“Where's that crazy bitch? I want to see her now!” I heard her voice through the hallway; having learned to tell how far a person is by voice, I knew she was near, so I quickly shoved the photo under the small mattress and wiped my tears.

“Here we go again,” I whispered to myself, embracing the pain that was sure to come. “Just an hour, Val. Then a shower, and you'll be fine.”

I didn't get a chance to properly position myself on the mattress as the door flew open, and there came in the two nurses and, of course, her.

I was looking down but knew it was them. Yes, it was twelve. I saw the time on the clock earlier. She always came around this time. It was lunch, even when she sat around in that office doing nothing, she still stuck to coming at a certain time to fool everyone that she was a busy woman.

“Oh,” I heard her make a pitiful sound. She was now close to me; I could smell her perfume. Well, I didn't dare look up to confirm, as I knew that would earn me a slap, and all I wanted was to protect my face; it was already botched from my last night's beating from the crazy maniacs I live with.

“We didn't give her anything as you requested; she will only get two slices of bread in the evening.” One of the nurses said, and I could only imagine the satisfied smirk on her face. Yes, I've lived this day for the past week now; I knew how it went.

“Good job, but…” Okay, that was new. She usually would have thrown the envelope to me, “Today is this bitch’s lucky day.”

“You say?” One of the nurses asked, sounding shocked.

“This might be her last day here.” She clarified, which made me look up. Wow, I was finally leaving this place. Well, my excitement was short-lived as she stated her condition.

“You know she won't do that.” One of the nurses said.

“Well, what do we care? That just means more days for us to have fun.” The other nurse commented. Her voice sounded sinister. That's why I drew my eyes to her so I could see what torture tools they came with today, and as always, they were both holding whips – yep, I've grown resistant to them now, so they didn't scare me.

“Now, little sis…” I heard her voice, which made me quickly look down. “Look at me.” She ordered, and I hesitated, but before I realized it, I was looking up at her face with the help of the nurses, one holding me by my neck and another by my hair.

“I will ask you again.” She said, and I shook my head as my answer is always going to be no; I will never sign those papers. “Well, I guess there’s no need to talk about it.” Wow, she was quick to give up as she stood upright since she had bent a little earlier. “I could slap you, but your face is already so bloody, and I don’t want to get blood on my nails; I just got them done.”

“We don't mind doing it for you.”

“I know, but I want to take pictures, so if you must, then you know where to hit, but before that…” She walked back to the door.

I wondered what she was now up to, but didn't wonder for long, as when she opened the door, two men with cameras came in, and before I could wrap my head around anything, they started flashing their lights, taking pictures of me.

“Don't resist, bitch!” One of the nurses hit my back as I tried to hide my face.

“We are holding a function at the church; most of Atlanta will be there to pray for you, so these are the photos we'll use.” She explained while the man took the pictures.

I just kept hiding my face as tears freely rolled down my cheeks.

I couldn't believe they were doing this to me.

I couldn't believe this is how my life was now.

Just a week ago, I was on the sofa, watching a series and having warm popcorn, excited about my pregnancy, and excited that the man I've loved for almost ten years was finally letting me in, only for me to wake up here, in a psych clinic…

I'm supposed to be strong; I promised myself to be, but thinking of all that happened just broke me now as I found myself seeking to lie on the floor and just let my tears be.

I was there in the presence, but my mind was far away. I could hear and see everything, but was far gone.

I couldn't even ask the question as to why this was happening; I've already asked myself that, and I very well knew the answer to it.

“Great job, you can go. Send me the photos, okay?” I heard her instruct the cameramen before she turned to the nurses, who seemed to be stretching. Gosh, they were so muscular that if I didn't know better, I would think they were wrestlers disguised as nurses. “Hit her.”

“Oh, our pleasure, I…” The nurse was about to hit me in the stomach, but stopped at a raise of her hand. “Why did you stop me?”

“Shh…” She shushed them, and I was confused for a minute until I heard familiar voices; it was Mom and Dad. “It's them. Fix this place before they enter!”

“Ms.—”

“Now!” She yelled at them, and they started going crazy, fixing everything in the room as they even pushed me off the mattress and fixed the sheets.

Okay, now I was a little hopeful.

I haven't seen Dad and Mom in about a week. I was not even sure they knew I was here. The last time I saw them was when I was in the hospital.

Was it that they were here to finally take me home?

Was my nightmare coming to an end?