CHAPTER 1- MY FIRST DECISION.

Elena slowly opens her eyes, she felt like her head was whirling and could see the room rotating, she struggles to get up but was so weak, it was only then she snagged a glimpse of the IV injected into her, she slowly scans through the room and was now fully conscious of the fact that she was at the hospital. A nurse walks into the ward and sees Elena awake, warm smiles platered on her pale face.

“ You are awake! How are you feeling?”

“ Why am I here?!”

“ You don't remember anything? You fell down the stairs, you were brought in by your mom, I think you should be more careful” Hearing the nurse mention the word ‘mom’ she felt her blood boil and could gradually recall what happened that day.

“ Thanks, nurse, was my dad here?” Elena ask hoping in the heavens that he still cares about her and was worried

“ No! Just your mom and sister”

“ Oh! Okay”

ELENA'S POV..........

Having been trying so hard for my father to look at me even just once again with those fatherly eyes filled with love, but what happened to that man who couldn't do without hearing my voice, that man that always made sure I was happy and okay, I feel like he died that day mom died, he was hoping Mrs. Clara would fill that void mom left but all Mrs. Clara ever did was destroy what was left of our family.

I gradually close my eyes hoping to travel straight to Dreamland, but sleep was so far away, I was even afraid to close my eyes for the fear of seeing the face of those men who constantly abused me.

The voice of Mrs. Clara and her daughter Kayla woke me up, as I open my eyes, I could see that look of disdain on Mrs. Clara's face, she placed a mischievous smile on her face and spoke.

“Finally you are awake!! I taught you were going to stay here for another day”.

“ Are you saying am been discharge today?”

“Of course! You left Mr. Ameren at the club alone and horny, he was very exasperated beyond endurance, I had to seek the service of one the girls working at the bar to calm him down”

“ Kayla was here, you would have offered her to him to calm him down” I spoke and a hard slap from Kayla landed on my cheek.

“ You do not speak about me in such a manner, you are the slut, not me” Kayla exclaimed. A few years ago, I would have shed tears right at this moment, but I was now stronger and able to endure all their maltreatment.

“ Is that all I mean to the both of you? He smashed my face on the desk, he brutalized me and yet all you care about is the money you make from it, from my body, my dignity!!” I spoke trying as much as possible not to show my weakness, but the tears were already forming right above my eyelid.

“ Your mother was a slut and that's all you can ever be, what do you expect, to be carried as a princess? I advise you to get up from there, we've got work to do......ooh I mean you got work to do!”

“ Am sorry, but am not going with you!!” I spoke and they both gave derisive laughter.

“ You think you have a choice, sorry darling but you don't! You don't get to decide what you do, it is entirely up to me!!”

“ Then watch me!!” I forcefully withdrew the IV from my vein, got up from the bed, and then gave Mrs. Clara one last look, that tears have been holding up for a long finally fell from my eyes down to my neck. I walked out of the ward not looking back and hoping I never get to see their face ever again.

“ Mom, are you letting her go?” Kayla ask

“ Relax! She will come back, she has nowhere else to go”

That was the first decision I ever took for myself and that was the best. I had nowhere to go but I choose death rather than going back to them.

I was lucky to have found two jobs at a time, I work at a restaurant in Rochester and also work at the main office mostly delivery. It was difficult having to spend the cold night every day on the street but despite it all, I was determined never to go back to the mansion.

Shivering in the coldness of the night while I lay down the street of fort point, there was a sudden noise coming from the garage close to the pizza shop at Norwalk East Ave, I got up and could tell it was late, I began to shiver not from the cold, but from fear of what might be going down there. Out of curiosity, I took a few steps close to the garage and I could get a view of what was going on there. I could see men arguing in low voices and then one of them pulled out a gun from his back pocket and without hesitation, he shot the other party.

I was too shocked and screamed, realizing the predicament I was in, I held my mouth with both my hands in an attempt not to be heard but it was too late, they all look towards my direction and my next instinct was to run.

I took to my heels as fast as I could without a second thought, and I could hear their footsteps chasing after me. Running towards the next street, I could see a car driving toward me, where could the driver be heading 1at this hour, I wondered but then again I taught this was God's way of helping me. Realizing how close the men after me were, I quickly dive through the open of the car, the driver was in shock and I was now conscious of the fact that I could fall right away from this moving car and get myself killed.

“ Help me please!!” I pleaded with the driver cause my life was obviously at his mercy right now.

AUSTIN'S POV......

The day had been hectic, I was having constant nightmares about my deceased fiancée Maya and it was affecting my assiduity to work, I had to seek medical advice. It was late and I was coming back from the medical center at East avenue when I saw a girl rushing towards my car, She had a sculpted figure which was twine-thin. Her waist was tapered and she had a burnished

complexion. A pair of arched eyebrows looked down on her sweeping eyelashes. Her delicate ears framed a button nose. A set of dazzling angel-white teeth gleamed as she blew gently on her carmine-red fingernails while running towards me, I was astonished by her flowing moon shadow-black hair, Her enticing constellation-blue eyes gazed at me over her puffy heart-shaped lips. It was a beauty to behold and for some moments, I was lost and then seeing her jump into my moving vehicle, I became more confused

“ Help me please!!” she pleaded with those blue eyes, I didn't want to get involved with a stranger but I knew she would get hurt if I acted otherwise. I slow down the car, held her arms, and drag her fully inside the car. The moment she was inside the car, I increase the speed of the car and didn't stop until we got to my mansion in Pennsylvania.

“ Thank you! Thank you SO much sir” she spoke gazing at me with those blue puppy eyes.

“It's okay, this neighborhood is saved, there is a hotel a few blocks from there, I think you should check in”

“ Sorry......but I don't have any cash on me”

“That's your problem, not mine, I did you a favor by saving you from those thugs, you should be the one offering me the cash and not the other way favor

“ I understand Sir, and am grateful, but please let me spend the night here, just today, I will be out of here by morning before you even notice”

“ You expect me to bring a stranger into my home, am sorry I can't. I suggest you find a solution to your problem” without waiting to hear another word from her I walked inside and made sure the gate was closed before heading upstairs

As I dip myself inside the bathtub, my body was slowly betraying me. Ever since Maya died two years ago, I haven't had a good sleep, every moment I close my eyes, she is always there tormenting me, despite every treatment prescribed by different doctors, none of them seem to be effective enough to help me have even just an hour of sleep.

I got out of the bathtub, tie my robe around my waist and walk to the window, I wanted to be sure she left but to my surprise, she was there, lying on the floor in the cold, I couldn't watch her any longer, I quickly dress up and rushed outside to her.