Forging Resilience: A Tale Of Betrayal, Belonging and Triumph

A good thing, but the wrong timing.

I held the hem of his shirt and drew him closer; I placed my hand around his neck and stood on my toes. I looked into his eyes for a while before giving him a deep kiss—It was my first time initiating a kiss, and this time it was filled with passion and love.

His hands were already going through my back, trying to unhook my bra, but I cautioned myself,   moved back a little, and looked into his eyes again.
"If you are so impatient, propose to me," I said and I went back to my seat.
I was very sure that if he had proposed that instant, I would have accepted and we would get married within a few months. Yeah, I loved him that much.
Steve didn't say a word and just left.
The next morning, I went to work and I was so busy that I didn't even notice that Steve didn't call me throughout that day. On that Friday I had to work at the club so I went back home around 4 am.
The same happened the next day, but I assumed that he was busy with work. But it kept on going for weeks, and I was becoming so worried.
Did something happen to him?
Is he mad at me?
Had he decided to dump me?
So many questions crossed my mind, but I was still trying my best to stay positive.
Heaven knew how much I wanted to talk to someone about what he was doing to me.
I wanted to explain and ask someone if it was right to call him. I was so confused.
This whole thing was already having a psychological effect on me because I was already missing him like crazy. He was my everything.

In my desperation to talk to someone, I pleaded for permission to skip work that day so I could go to the orphanage on that Wednesday to see both the manager and Sandra, even though I was certain that I would be chased away like a goat, but I still wanted to try my luck.

I got there and told the security man my name and he phoned someone and as usual, I wasn't allowed to enter. Again.

I told the security man to call the person again and say that I had evidence of all that they did six years back and I was allowed to enter instantly.
This kept me wondering: What happened six years ago?
I was told to wait at the entrance of the orphanage until someone came to pick me up, which I did. After a few minutes, I was taken to an office where I saw the owner sitting comfortably on her chair with both legs crossed and placed on the table. "I heard that you threatened me in front of a common security man," " How dare you?" she said arrogantly.
"Yes, that's true. I am here to see the manager and Sandra" I replied with confidence, trying not to be intimidated by her words.

She removed her both legs from the table before standing up "For an orphan, you are too rude and lousy" She started to move towards me.
I stood there with confidence and courage. One thing was sure: She wouldn't hurt me.

Right?

To my greatest surprise, she stood close to me and took some strands of my neatly oiled hair. "Weren't you taught that you should talk to someone who raised, and saved you from death and the cold of the night with respect?" she said as she drew those strands that were in her hand.
OMG, I was so wrong; she could really hurt me.

I winced in pain but I couldn't shout because I didn't want her to do something worse. "Ohh, my bad, you don't have parents to teach you that" she mocked. "Where is the evidence you spoke about in the presence of that fool at the gate? Huh?" she questioned venomously.
She continued, "And if you lie to me, I will kill you before you leave this place," she asked as she pulled it again.

Kill me? Can she really do that to a teenager?

I didn't really have any evidence. I only made use of that because a few days before my birthday, I overheard some men threatening someone in the manager's office not to disclose what happened six years ago or they would end her life.
It kept me wondering for days why they threatened someone like that—were they that ruthless?
"I am talking to you, bitch" she yelled.
I didn't know what to do or say. I was so confused "I…I" I couldn't even say a word. Meanwhile, before coming in, I had already turned on the sound recording app on my phone which was in my bag.
"I-I was just bla-bb-ering ma'am; I don't…have any evidence," I said with tears rolling from my eyes. "How dare you lie to me" she said as she picked more strands and pulled it harder before pushing me against the wall.
I groaned in pain as I rolled on the ground. "I-I am so-sorry" I cried bitterly.
She signaled to her two bodyguards at the entrance to pick me up from the ground. One of them bent down and drew me up with my hair, I screamed for help in pain, but I was slapped so hard on the face and I fell again.

"If I tell you guys to rape her and kill her wouldn't it be a wasted effort because I raised her?" she asked the two guys with a smirk. "My lady, it wouldn't be a wasted effort if we rape her," the oldest guy said with a burst of disgusting laughter.
I looked up and glared at the guy who spoke and voiced "You disgusting fellow, don't you dare touch me" I yelled.
After I said that, I held my mouth tightly. I just said what I was not supposed to say because of my idiotic anger. Victoria, do you really want to die?"
"I give you go ahead, toy with her however you want" she signaled with her hand.
I thought it was all a joke until the first guy pulled my dress up and touched my thighs. It sent chills to my body and I screamed for help.
"Please ma'am don't do this, I promise ma'am, I won't come here ever again and I won't tell this to anyone. Please I'm so sorry" I said trying to close my thighs tight.
The two of them were already taking off their trousers "This would be fun" they both laughed.
"Please, ma'am. Forgive me. I won't appear in this place ever again" I crawled to where she was standing. "Please…"
"Let her go, but let me tell you something. The manager you are asking for is dead and Sandra ran away two years ago" She went back to her seat.
I was dumbfounded, what did she mean by dead?
"Dead? How?" I inquired amidst my tears.

"I was indeed so fearless. How would I inquire for more information when I haven't escaped death yet?"

"I killed her" She sounded so confident, like she was proud that she killed a fellow human. "Why?" I was crying silently already. That woman that they killed was like my mom.

She looked towards her bodyguards "Why did we even kill her?" she asked them. "Because she tried to expose what happened six years ago" the older guy answered.

"Let's just say that she was becoming too lousy" she laughed loudly.
This is also associated with what happened six years ago. Was it the manager they were threatening then?
"You're just so lucky that I am in a very good mood or I would have instructed them to rape you, cut your limbs, and your arms"

I used my both hands to cover my mouth when I heard what she said, and I cried more. "Stop the crocodile tears and get out now, and make sure to never return," she said and I left hurriedly.

I didn't expect her to be so vicious and wicked. She even killed the manager? That was huge but where did Sandra go?

I cleaned my tears quickly before heading to the road. I tried to stop more tears from pouring out of my eyes because just the realization of the death of a mother figure was really shocking and sad.
I just wanted to scream so hard and tell someone all that I was feeling, but I had no one. Being an orphan, I had no one.

While still in thought, I saw someone that looked exactly like Steve. I ran to him and hugged him tightly, but he pushed me away.
"Steve, it's me" I hugged him again.
"Get off me!"
I didn't listen to him, instead, I cried my eyes out. I needed a shoulder to lean on, and Steve showed up--I wouldn't let go.
"Are you going to continue with these crocodile tears or will you follow me somewhere" he pushed me away.
I thought about it and thought that It would be good to actually spend some time with him despite how rude and cold he was to me.

I followed him all the way to his car which was parked in another street.
He took me somewhere but due to how unfit I was psychologically, I didn't notice until the car stopped. I stared at him and questioned with no enthusiasm in my voice "This is not my home"
"Will you just keep quiet and get out of the car" he raised his voice a little. I silently got down from the car and followed behind him like a little sheep following its shepherd.
He was the only one I had left, and I had to keep him.

Despite how awful I was feeling, I couldn't help but notice how different Steve was acting. I wasn't sure if it was about what happened the last time we saw or if it was about something else.
As we got in, he told me to sit down and he went to where I assumed was the kitchen, he came back and knelt in front of me and brought out a ring.
Was he about to propose?
It was a good thing but the wrong timing.