Chapter two

Kath had opened her eyes to see her mom at her side, she tried sitting up but her mom rushed to her side to stop her, " what happened, where am I?"

" thank God you're awake" her mother cried, " Dave told us you has slipped and bang your head when you both went out yesterday".

In a rush, Kath recalled all that happened the previous night, how Dave had beaten her till she had fainted, that liar, he had told her parents' different story.

"Mom, that wasn't what happened"

" Shhhhh, you need to rest, do not talk now"

Why wouldn't she let her speak, couldn't she see she was suffocating already in this relationship? At that moment, Dave walked in and she turned her head to the other side of the bed.

" How's she" he had asked as if concerned, " improving, she's awake" her mother replied

" Thank goodness" he rushed to her side,

 " I'll go get something outside" her mom left them alone and Kath felt tears run down from the corner of her eyes, her parents were bent on her marrying Dave, so in their eyes, he could do no wrong, she truly has no one, she was slowly dying inside but none could hear her crying out.

"My love, I'm truly sorry, forgive me" Dave cried immediately after her mom left

" Till when do I have to bear it Dave? I'm tired already"

" Please, don't say that, I'll die if you leave me, please I'm sorry"

" No Dave, I need a break, I need space" she cried

" Okay, I'll give you space but please do not break up with me" tears were streaming down his face, his eyes red from crying.

*

*

" You cannot break up with Dave" her dad shouted when she told them her decision of ending the relationship, she had been discharged from the hospital two days ago and she had made her decision known to her parents but her dad would hear nothing of it.

"Dad, he is the reason I was sent to the hospital"

"And he is the reason why you are back, he took care of you in the hospital".

Kath shook her head, she couldn't believe her dad was actually saying this to her, " do you even care about me dad?" She asked in a whisper.

Her father glowered at her, his lips curved menacingly, " from the day I married your mother, I let you stay in my house, you should have a heart of gratitude for harboring an illegitimate child"

" Donald please," her mother said from behind.

She walked towards Kathleen,  "please honey, he doesn't mean it" her mother tried to console her.

Kath shook her head in disbelief, tears streaming down her eyes, she ran out of the house.

Over the years, she had strived to win her father's love, although he wasn't her biological father but she regarded him as her father since she had no idea who her real father was and her mother had been so tight-lipped about it. To think that he'd want her to be in an abusive relationship for his selfish interest hurt the most, it showed he had no iota of love for her.

  Kathleen didn't stop running, she didn't know where she was going but she just have to leave this suffocating place, a place where there's no happiness, a place where she has no say, she needed to outrun the pain she was feeling inside, she needed to outrun the disappointment and broken dreams, she ran till she pants for breath, she sat under a peach tree, tears streaming down her cheeks, she lost count of how many hours she sat there crying, she cried for the pain she was feeling inside, cried for an unfulfilled dream because with Dave, she knew she could never get the kind of love she had always dream about, she cried that her parents were not able to see the real Dave, she cried because right now she felt so broken, she was so lost in thought that she didn't notice the stranger standing in front of her till she offered her a handkerchief.

" What is a beautiful woman doing out here alone crying," he asked in a deep baritone voice.

Kath accepted the handkerchief from him and wiped her tears,  "thank you" she murmured

" It's always a pleasure to wipe away the tears of a beautiful lady"

Kath glanced at the stranger, he's quite handsome with laughing blue eyes, " you can pay me back by doing me a favor" he grinned at her showing a set of dimples

" What favor could that be?" I have nothing to offer"

" Oh, yes you do, your smile, I want you to do me a favor by giving me a smile"

Kath smiled wanly and offered him back his handkerchief.

" Better" he looked at her keenly, a man came out of nowhere and whispered something into his ears and he nodded, he looked at her again, " as much as I'm enjoying your company, I think I have to leave now" he glanced at her stretched hands offering him his handkerchief, " and you can keep that, each time you're sad and feels like crying, just look at the handkerchief and smile because it will always be there to wipe your tears" with that he turned to leave.

  Kath wondered why she felt so at ease with this stranger that she doesn't even know his name.

" Wait" she shouted at his retreating back, " I'm Kathleen by the name". He smiled and tipped his head at her, " nice to meet you Kathleen" he replied and left before Kathleen could ask for his name in return.

  Kathleen returned home, it was dark already, how time flies, she walked into the house to see her mother pacing and in tears, she quickly rushed towards her, " what happened mum?"

" It's your father" her mother wailed

" What happened to father?" Her mother didn't answer but kept on crying, she shook her mother and repeated her questions.

" The doctor is inside with him, he has had a heart attack"