His Name Was Matthew (Story)

Chapter One:

Julia's breath came out in short and sharp gasps. Her early run sure tired her out but it's what contributed to her thin and athletic figure. As she kept running, her surroundings were beginning to blur together. All she had to do was get where she needed to go and then she could sit back and admire Santa Monica for all its glory and beauty. Of course, Julia hadn't lived here her whole life, she wasn't even American. Not one bit. She needed a better life for herself and in order to do that, she had to move away from everything that she'd ever known.

"And I still stay cause you're the only thing I know".

She'd completely forgot that her music was playing through her earphones. Bit of Bebe Rexha never hurt anyone. Julia thought about her old life a lot. Where she came from and what she had to do to get where she was today.

**FLASHBACK**

"Julia Fernandez Fontanesi. I have had it with you" her father screamed.

"Don't you dare talk to my daughter like that! She has done nothing wrong. She's only a child" her mother screamed back at her father.

Julia was sat on the carpet shaking with fear. She knew she was 6 and she'd just spilt some milk on the carpet. She was trying to clean it up when her dad saw and started shouting at her.

"She's just as incompetant as you are! She's not just your daughter, she's mine too!" Julia's father yelled back.

"She's only your daughter when it suits you. You never bother with her or her brothers. They're your children Antonio, start acting like they are! What did you think was going to happen when you first started a family with me? Did you expect this to be easy? You have no idea what it's like to raise children. YOU ARE NEVER AROUND! You say you're working late but I know for a fact that you're with her. So back your stuff and leave!!" Julia's mother cried, tears pouring from her eyes.

"FINE. KEEP THE BRATTY KIDS BECAUSE I WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY OF THEM ANYMORE" Julia's father bellowed.

He grabbed his phone and his coat, opened the door and slammed it behind him.

That was the last time Julia ever saw her father. She knew roughly where he was but he'd never made any attempt to get in touch with her or her brothers for that matter. Julia kept on running but she picked up the pace.

Her mother did some pretty bad things to support them after her father left. Her father was where the money came from because he refused to let her mother work. They came from a time and a place when a woman didn't work and it was the man that was the main breadwinner. They had a rough life for a while before Julia's step-dad came along. Thats's when it started to get better.

Julia stopped running. She finally reached the edge of the pier. She took her earphones out and breathed in the cool sea air. Santa Monica pier was so beautiful at this time of the morning. No people were around, no tourists snapping pictures, no-one throwing litter around and polluting the ocean. Julia wasn't a big activist on these sorts of things but she still did her part to keep the world a clean and better place.

She thought back to that day her father left. Her brother's came home from school and were asking where he was. Julia's oldest brother shrugged. He had been around longer and grown accustomed to their constant arguments. Julia for years blamed herself for her father walking out on the family. She'd gone through some pretty dark things herself but somehow she was still alive and she got through it.

To shatter the silence, her phone rang. She answered without looking at the caller ID

"Hello?" Julia answered.

"Julia! It's Mr Macpherson. I wanted to let you know personally that you got the job. I know you're fresh out of uni but you have the youthful skills that my company needs so I look forward to when you start on Monday".

"Oh my gosh Mr Machperson thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me" Julia gasped, tears of joy escaping from her eyes.

"It's not a problem Julia. I have the upmost faith in you that you will succeed in this. We'll start you off slowly and then we will help you work your way up!. Is there anything you wanted to ask me?" Mr Machperson chirped cheerfully.

"Yes actually there was sir. The Harman deal. Is that something I will be working on personally or is that too advanced for my skill field? Cause I'd like to give it a shot if that's okay with you" Julia said, immediantly regretting her decision to ask that question.

"Julia if you want in on the deal they're you're in. You have amazing skills and need to stop doubting yourself. I know you'll do well. I will see you on Monday Julia. Have a pleasent day" Machpherson replied.

"Thank you sir, and yourself. I will see you on Monday" Julia replied before pitting the phone down and back in her pocket.

She smiled, not being able to contain her joy. She sent a quick text to her mother and then began the run home.