Forbidden Love

Chapter 6

I didn't want to let her go. I just heard her, crying in agony. It seemed as if she longed for a hug for a very long time. What happened? Did her father die? What happened!

We were the only ones on the hall. I didn't care how long I needed to hug her, I just wanted to her to feel safe. Finally, she raised her head. I saw tears falling, her eyes red and tired.

"What's wrong Cassie?" She stayed quiet. She stopped hugging me and turned around with her head down. "Cassie, come on. You can trust me! I want to be here for you. I am here for you. What's wrong?"

"Life." She paused and turned around. She looked at me. "Life has been ungrateful to me."

"Why do you say that?" I asked confused.

"Home." She sat down. "Home seems to be an imprisonment for me." I sat down with her. "Everyday I am assigned tasks to do at home. Not once was I asked to express my emotions. Not once did anyone care about how I felt. Not once did anyone wanted to take my side!"

"Take your side to what?" I asked in a calm tone.

"Take my side in justifying that my mother loved me." She covered her face with her hands.

"Are you brothers bothering you?"

"No, I am the only child." She turned to look at me with serious eyes. "My father is the one who doesn't care about me! He keeps telling me how my mother is a whore! My mother deserved the death she had!" She took a deep breath. "Deep down I know my mother loved me. I know she did."

"Your father of yours didn't love your mother?"

"I don't even know! He keeps on insulting her name. Josephine is a bitch! Josephine just used me for my money. Josephine left me with you as a burden."

"Your father is an asshole!"

"Asshole isn't the word." She huffed. "Last night he attacked me when I was very vulnerable."

"Why were you vulnerable?"

"I don't know! Maybe it is because of how lonely I am at home or it can be that I don't receive love at home. Or maybe it can be that I can't ask nothing at home. Every time I question my father something based on what he commands, he whip-lashes ten million words at my face!" She faced on the floor. "I am just a slave." She paused and whispered. "A slave in search for freedom."

I tried to cheer her up. I let her express her emotions. I figure that I being ears to her, it would help her a lot. A feeling of protecting her arose every second she told me her issues. I wish I could be there to hold her tight whenever she felt hopeless.

Throughout that time, I felt my phone vibrating with messages from Adley. I know that I took a very long while with Cassie but I know he would understand after a big drama. We finished talking and I gave her a long hug. I offered her a ride, as if it was my car, to take her home. She agreed.

We walked to the parking lot. The parking lot was empty with the exception of Adley's car of course. I mouthed to Adley, as he stared at me with a smirky face, to give her a ride home. He agreed to and he started the engine.

"Everything is going to be alright Cassie. We will take you home." He held my hand. A heated adrenaline arose throughout my body. My hearth pondered so heavily. I think I am in love.

We got her house. She thanked us for the lift and thanked me for the conversation. We drove off to my house. I did a good deed today.

As we drove off, Adley began making fun of me.

*****

Atlas is such a good guy. I feel much better. I am happy that he came up to me to apologize. He holds a special place in my heart.

I open the door of my house. My healed heart only enjoyed a few minutes of being repaired. As I opened the door, there was father right in front of me.

"Who the hell are those boys?!" He barked.

"They are just friends. They offered me a ride home." I tried defending.

"You know what I have told you about having male friends!" He held me in the hands. "I want you to stop talking to those guys! If you don't stop talking to them, you will be going to another college." He dragged me closer to him. "Do you understand me?"

I just nodded and small tears started to fall from my eyes. He pushed me down to the floor. I watched him walk away. I got up and made my way to the bathroom.

I looked at myself in the mirror. I look disgusting! My eyes can barely be seen. My eyes are worst that a tomato. God why won't you take me! I hate my life! I hate it! I started to silent cry as I tried to fight air.

I couldn't hold this anymore! I want to run away! I want to escape! I want to be free!

I sat down by the toilet, I tried crying more but no more tears fell. I am drained. Emotionally drained.

I started to hum mother's song to me. I began to recall today's talk with Atlas. I remembered his hug. How he managed to take out a smile from me. How he promised me to always be there for me. He brings safety in my heart.

I took off my mother's necklace and held it in my hand. I whispered with a broken voice.

"Did you send Atlas to me so that he can rescue me?" I was waiting for an answer coming from my necklace.

I slightly smiled. How foolish am I in talking to a piece of jewelry? I stood up and watched myself in the mirror. I washed my face in the zinc. I set a serious face and said softly to myself.

"You are strong Cassie. You are strong! Don't let father take you down." I took a deep breath holding down a cry. "Mommy is with you. You are strong for her." I took another deep breath. "You can conquer that monster."

I washed my face once more and made my way out of the bathroom.

Poor Cassie. She is a fighter! 

You will defeat that monster.