Chapter 001: Lost

Rose was sitting on the couch with her two hands supporting her chin, she stare blankly at the wall in deep thought. The apartment had just few properties remaining in it, and the most expensive property could be said to be the couch she was sitting on.

She have been living a comfortable life with her parents not until after the death of her father, then the truth started unravelling.

Her father was a gambler, a drug addict and was swallowed with loans from different dangerous loan sharks.

Some of the debtors who comes to request for their cash at times harass she and her mother through curses or beating. Her father collected loans and owed a lot of people that even if she worked her ass off she wouldn't be able to pay up in ten years to come.

"$200,000,000,000!" Rose will scream sometimes if she couldn't hold in all the pain.

The worst of it all was that her mother was only a cleaner at the hospital while she's a mere marketer in the city super market, their pay isn't even enough to take care of their needs.

The troubles were much, since her father's death they haven't slept in peace as one call or the other with strange numbers keep disturbing them. It's three times in a week now that her mother is been brought back from the hospital as a result of collapsing and zoning out during working hours.

The hospital director warned to fire her if she continue to act like that, what will she do?

As a young lady as she is, she had totally cut education out of her wishlist yet the bills on her tab were cumbersome.

"He is owing 15 loan companies, 10 strange individuals and have court cases that needs finance to soothe it" Rose was among the unlucky ladies who were not fortunate enough to get good employment, suitor or favors. She is twenty five years old yet she was living like an eighteen years old abandoned child.

Aside for her family's bad luck, Rose was a very beautiful lady that is greatly admired in the city and her place of work. She has the height, long black hair, sharp slanted yellow eyes, pointed nose, small cherry colored lips, full brows and perfect figure. She was bountifully endowed with beauty in all ramification.

Rose sighed and crossed her arms on the couch where she has been sitting, lot of things were running in her head and she was getting confused on how to place them.

"I need funds. Is it possible to pay each of these debtors $100 weekly?" She halted changing posture to rubbing of her chin.

"But my pay is just $500" this made her sigh in disgust relaxing back on the couch.

Her mother's pay is $250 monthly even if their salaries are added together, there's no possible remedy to pay this debts.

She begin to wonder how this loan came about because as she could remember, her father never bought a house, car or any important thing.

Other than renting them a nice one bedroom apartment and furnishing it, there's nothing else he has done.

How come about the $200,000,000,000?

Even the furnitures are no where to be seen as some of their debtors who visit them go with one or two valuable property, some where sold.

Rose remembering she had a lot of marketing to do tomorrow at the office, she sluggishly stand from the couch and drag her feet into her bedroom. Just after she has crashed on her bed, her middle aged mother walked into her room.

"Rosie" Madam Simeon said with a sad smile on her face, she sat beside Rose on the bed and Rose gradually sit upright.

"Mum, how are you? Why are you here?" She asked anxiously in concern as her mother was suppose to be resting.

Though she feel so bad to watch her mother suffer unfortunately nature left her with no choice. She want her mother to rest so she could support her financially during the week. Everyone's fund is needed in other to elevate the poverty in their family.

"Rose. I'm so sorry for making you go through all these" as she begins to speak, tears started swelling gradually around her eyelids.

Truly nature has made her look older than her age.

"I don't know if I should curse your father or kill myself and join him there. This is too much for even me, his wife" she said in a high pitched solemn tone through her sniffle whilst Rose stared at her sadly.

She couldn't watch her mother cry, she was suppose to do something - something that can change their life forever. But what can she do? She feels useless.

"No, mother. I'm the one who is a useless daughter" she managed to say in a shaking voice filled with sadness.

"How?" Her mother questioned shaking her head.

"It's not your fault, Rose. It's all our fault but the bad luck here is that your father didn't live long enough to atone for his sin, now his sin are giving us restless nights" her mother sobbed in sadness.

Her mother softly pat her hand shaking off the tears from her eyes, she can't help but whimper in pain. Life for sure isn't treating her well, even if she wasn't fortunate enough to be born with a golden spoon; how about steel spoon?

"Don't worry, my child. I'm your mother, I will sort for some remedies in other to pay my husband's debt" Rose find it hard to say a word as her mother dragged her into a small cuddle, patting her shoulder gently; Rose mumbled and sobbed sadly.

When is her story ever going to change?

The day that seem like it will never come came to pass and Rose dressed in a hurry to leave the house for work. She dived into the bustling morning New York street strolling to the city super market.

Fortunately, the super market wasn't far away from her resident.

With happiness written all over her face that she was about to start a new month and hopefully her salary will come in bulk as she isn't planning to slack, she made way to her unit.

Just as she was about to open her locker, the voice of her manager called out.

"Rose!" the manager called with a loud voice and out of shock, Rose turned.

"Yes ma?" She asked confused wearing an anxious stare.

"Didn't you get the email?" the manager questioned annoyingly with her eyes rolling all over Rose's body.

"No ma. I lost my phone some weeks ---" she begins to explain courteously but was cut off.

"You are fired, Miss. Rose Simeon. The firm no longer need your service" the manager stared at her in disdain as she informed her vividly.

The news came crashing in Rose's ears like a one time explosive and for some minutes, she lost her sense of hearing.

"What did you -- say ma?" She asked in a shaking voice while tears slowly gathered in her sad eyes.

"Get yourself out of this building, immediately" the manager sneered and left the changing room to her office.

She found herself sitting on the ground looking all lifeless and confuse like an orphan who got rejected for the second time.

Just when she was about to accept her fate and continue sailing the stormy sea, then this news? What will she do, who will she run to? Where should she start from?

Rose was lost in thought not minding where she was and who were around her, she zoned out and if she wasn't medically strong; she would have fainted.

And as she came that same morning, she left back home in shame and confusion. Her mind was wandering about in search of any quick solution, she needs money!

Pulling open the unlocked door in astonishment, she saw her mother on the couch shaking like a freezing lizard and frantically; she rushed towards her.

"Mum? Mum!" She called out in fear, anguish and agony.

"What is going on?!" She squealed in pain.

These were all too much for her to take in at the same time.

"My child, I'm alright" her mother who was still shaking let out a weak smile.

She still asked insistently to know what her mother's issue is when a message dropped into her mother's phone.

"It's your boss" Rose smiled in relief hoping to find favor from her mother's boss but the heart breaking text in front of her eyes rendered her speechless.

The atmosphere was over shadowed with intense sadness and silence.

"What - did - he - say?" her mother asked out of curiosity in a shaking voice.

"You were fired, mum" Rose informed her plainly without emotion.

Her tone was lifeless and her eyes looked as if she was blind, this is the worst situation a young lady should ever find herself.

She couldn't even embrace depression because the matters on her plate can never wait for later.

She focused her sad gaze on her mother thinking vehemently of what next to do.