BOUND

PROLOGUE

In labour,screaming in anguish and pain, a young lady tried profusely to give birth.

"Take deep breaths"the doctor advised

She took in a large breath and let it out

"Breathe in.out.in.out"the doctor repeated a few times

She continued the exercise before the doctor said
"Now push"

"Aaarrgghhh!"she screamed as she tried again

There was a moment of silence before the cry of a baby was heard, the nurse took the child and cleaned her up before wrapping her in warm clothes

"Congratulations,it's a girl"the nurse said as she handed the baby to the young lady on the hospital bed. The woman held her child and smoothed a thumb over her cheek

"My baby....i'm sorry"she whispered

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she handed the child to the nurse before closing her eyes and giving up her last breath.

3 years later,

"She was born on the 15th of March, 2000 in John Hopkins Hospital, her mother died immediately after giving birth to her. She doesn't say much and she's very reserved,she's extremely polite and acts a bit mature for her age sometimes"the caretaker said

"Where are her documents?"The woman asked

"Right here"The caretaker of the orphanage replied

After a few minutes
"We'll take her"The woman replied

"Fine you just need to process and sign a few documents, i'll get them"The caretaker said

"Lilian are you sure?"Her husband asked

"Richard, i'm sure,my mind is made up"

"You're not gonna back out soon,right?"he asked

"No"she replied firmly

"Here are the documents,you just need to sign here and here then i need your fingerprints on this paper"

The registration and legalization process took a few hours before everything was officially processed

"Thank you, ma'am"the caretaker said

"Thank you too"Lilian said

"Sarah, come over here"

The little girl stood and walked towards the caretaker

"Sarah, these are your new parents, they're gonna take you to a new home and treat you with lots of love and care,okay?"

The girl nodded and turned to the couple who looked at her with smiles on their faces. She gave them a smile that developed into a toothy grin while Lilian gushed at her cuteness before scooping her into her arms,

"I'm gonna call you Gwendoline"

Gwen smiled at her new name and the woman she was going to call mother from now on.

10 years later

Gwen sat in front of the mirror in her room, she was turning 13 today. It had been ten years since her adoption,she tried to smile but it came out poorly. Her blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail and her sterling grey eyes with hints of blue had lost their light, she looked extremely pale. She walked to her closet, ever since Maria had been born, she had been moved out of her room and into the guest room, she didn't mind after all she loved her family. She pulled on a white gown then headed downstairs. She met her mother carrying a tray of breakfast to the dining table

"Morning mum"she greeted but Lilian just walked past ignoring her and giving her a cold shoulder. Her smile faltered but it didn't leave her face. She had been receiving the same treatment for 7 years now, after Maria was born, that was 3 years after she had been adopted. She walked towards the dining room and took a seat then lowered her head and started eating,she didn't bother to partake in the the family discussions cause they'll only end up shunning her. No one remembered her birthday, she finished eating and thanked parents before walking out.

As she stepped, a tear rolled down her cheek, immediately she rushed up the stairs, heading to her room.
A few minutes later, she stepped out of her room, her eyes were red and puffy. She passed her parents room when she heard them talking

"I think we should give her up for adoption, she's no longer wanted,we have Maria now"

That was her mother.
She covered her mouth with her hands as she tried to hold in her sobs when the door flew open and she took a step back in shock. Lilian stepped out and her eyes immediately focused on her

"You were eavesdropping,weren't you?"she asked.

Gwen stood silent, shaking in fear

"Answer me"her mother snapped

"I...i..."she was cut off as her mother slapped her with enough force to send her falling to the floor

Gwen held her cheek, it was the first time her mother had resorted to physical violence.

"I regret the day i picked you up, i should've left you to rot in that orphanage"

Her mother spat at her before walking out, Gwen picked herself up and rushed out of the house, running as fast as she could, she had suffered enough, she had been called all sorts of names and had experienced verbal abuse but this was the first time her mother had made it physical. She sat down on a bench in the park and cried her eyes out

"Why are you crying, little girl?"

Gwen looked up and saw a guy dressed in a black t-shirt and washed jeans, he looked at her with a friendly smile. He was squatting in front of her with a concerned look, she wiped her eyes and sniffed softly

"What's wrong?"he asked

She hesitated before she said

"My parents don't love me"she said in between sobs

"Welll that's not true,honey,i'm sure they love you tremendously"he said

"But..they wanted to give me away"she said

"They didn't mean that , now clean your eyes and go home"he said

She nodded and wiped her tears.

"Smile okay,here's a chocolate bar"he said handing her a chocolate bar.

Gwen smiled and thanked him, being a naive little girl took the chocolate bar. She ate the chocolate bar and not so long after, she blacked out.