ENTANGLED STRINGS OF PAST

CHAPTER FOUR

Hazel Grey

"Calm down, we are not going to hurt you Hazel", he said to me, maybe to calm me down or he was afraid I'll hurt someone. However, I laughed, I laughed not at the words he said but at my life, how ironic my life is with that one sentence. I wanted to say him, asked him how one can hurt somebody when they are already dead from inside. I do not remember how many people have said that line to me in my lifetime, but I remember that they all ended the same; hurting me to the point where I cannot heal myself. I just wanted to tell him to stop this but he said, "Put the glass down". I saw my hand; bleeding hand. I was holding the glass too tight but I could not feel the pain.

Before they came to the room, I broke the vase with my hand; I saw its pieces shattering on the floor. I picked one sharp piece in my hand and wanted to cut my other wrist, but I could not. I just hold that piece pointing at my wrist, I wanted to stop all those nightmares, thoughts, and those sights with just one cut, but could not gather the courage to cut it, I could not do it. I was just tightening my grip on the piece with my other hand, blood flowing on the floor but not an ounce of pain I could feel, tears started to fall from my eyes, but then he opened the door and bring me back to reality

"Why you didn't just kill me?" I asked him loudly this time. "Because you got work to do for me," he answered as if he was doing me a favor. "Do you think I'll do that work for you, like seriously?" I asked him in my most sarcastic tone. He does not say anything just looked at my hand and told me to throw the glass again. I do not know what to do; do not know on what roller coaster my life is on now. One night I was about to end everything and the other morning I am here, god! I do not even know where I am! "Where the hell am I? I asked him with frustration in my words. "You're in New York," he answered. "What the hell! I was in Boston last night!" "I brought you here," he said so calmly as if it was not a big deal for him. "Who are you?" I asked him realizing I am at his place and I do not even know his name. "I'm Aiden..." he was about to say something but a woman's shout shut him "Oh my goodness! What is happening here?" she asked looking at Aiden.

The woman was in her late sixties but she does not appear old until she shouted. She was dressed sophistically, also wearing an apron. Before Aiden could explain anything to her, she looked at my side and locked eyes with me, then she saw my bleeding hand with the glass piece.

"Oh dear, what happened to you?" she asked. Before I could answer or react on to her question she held my hand. However, I did not move. I realized the woman was not afraid of me or maybe I was not even scaring anyone, I was just defending myself but the woman does not seem dangerous to me so I let her hold my hand, while the glass had already fallen.

"Are you okay? Is it hurting? She asked with concern in her voice but I was silent, frozen to my spot, just looking at her, trying to process everything. I can feel Aiden and other men staring at us not saying anything. "Don't worry dear, I'll clean it, hope it is not a deep cut, Aiden brings the first aid box please," she said, but I can feel nervousness in her voice. He nodded. She walked me to the bathroom and started cleaning and treating the cut. I was alone with her. I did not resist her presence, maybe because of her motherly treatment towards me, or maybe she appeared like my mom and her hands felt like her calm and warm hand. I have craved this care, love and touch for a long time when I needed it the most.

"Thankfully, the cut was not too deep so it didn't need stitches, I have bandaged it, so don't worry it will be okay in some days," she said breaking the silence between us, bringing my attention to her.

"What is your name dear?" she asked softly.

"Hazel" I answered silently...