5

I was lucky in life.

I was a pretty woman, with long, black hair, a nice, curvy figure, plump lips, a pointed nose.

I had a gorgeous, caring boyfriend, with dark brown hair, thick brown eyebrows, a beautiful, chiselled, stubbly face, pale brown eyes, a muscular physique, and the most amazing personality to match...

I loved him more than anything in the world, and he loved me right back.

I had got the career that I'd always dreamt of having.

Right now, at this point in time...

I was happy.

I'd worked hard for everything I had.

I'd worked hard to get to this point in my life.

To achieve everything I'd achieved.

With no hand-outs...

Nothing given to me on a silver platter.

Just blood, sweat, tears, and dedication.

But my life wasn't always like this, and that was the reason for the nightmares I still had to this day.

When I was younger, I was a victim of human trafficking.

It went on for years and years, the physical pain and emotional damage was unbearable.

It took what felt like forever to escape from the hell that I was living in.

Running away from the man who groomed me...

Lazarus Landucci.

And the man who tortured me...

Vladimir Potter.

My heart pounded against my chest.

Memories flooding back to the surface, taking me back to where my story began.

Right from when I was just a child...

10

lily

Rewinding time.

Back to when Lily was just a child.

“And then the beautiful princess got saved from the highest tower, from the handsome prince.”

Papa finished his story, before kissing my forehead, soothing me to sleep.

We were sitting inside the tent of the refugee camp.

Papa had blonde hair, blue eyes and pale skin.

He always looked so tired and worn out.

I hated seeing Papa so upset and exhausted all the time.

He cared for me more than anything else in the world.

“Will I ever meet a handsome prince, daddy?” I asked, as I rubbed my eyes, yawning loudly, feeling myself begin to get tired.

“Of course you will,” Papa promised, grinning, with his hands on his hips. “You deserve to be treated like a queen, Lily. When you get older, never settle for any less!”

I smiled at him, feeling comforted by his words.

“Will we ever get out of this place, daddy?” I asked hopefully. “I want to live in New York, where all the famous people live!”

Papa's face fell to a timid expression, as he drew out a deep breath, heaving his chest sorrowfully.

“I don't know when we will get out of here, honey...” he whispered. “But we will one day, I promise you that! I'll work as hard as I can to make it happen.”

“I love you, daddy. Can you read me another bedtime story?”

“No, you need to go to sleep!” he tutted playfully. “Goodnight Lily.”

“But I'm not tired, Dad!”

“Tough,” Papa grinned.

He dusted himself off, taking off his knitted sweater, and putting it on me, to keep me warm in the cold, damp weather.

“You can wear my hoodie to keep you warm.”

“Wow Dad, it's really comfy!” I exclaimed happily.

“I know,” said Papa. He drew out a deep breath, a tear rolling down his cheek. “And it'll give you something to remember me by.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, furrowing my eyebrows, confused. “You're not going anywhere, are you daddy?”

I could hear Papa's heart hammer against his chest, and I could feel my insides twist into knots with worry.

Wondering what he meant by what he said.

Trying to put the pieces together.

Papa shook his head, dismissing my thoughts.

“Forget I said anything,” he said quickly.

I still felt uneasy.

“Goodnight Lily.”

He kissed my forehead, before departing from the room.

It was almost as if he were trying to stop himself from crying.

A tear rolled down my cheek, as I did my best to go to sleep.

I wondered what Dad meant when he said "something to remember me by"...

I did my best to stop thinking about it, and go to sleep.

After all...

Papa wouldn't want me to worry.