Clara

Six years ago

I have been sitting on the same place for five hours now, my eyes frozen on the piece of paper that ruined everything. The tears in my eyes were dried up by now, leaving behind silent sobs. I couldn't believe it was really happening. He really left me, just because he was fed up of the issues when I left everything behind for him.

I heard the door to my room open and Kevin entered inside but I didn't avert my eyes. I felt him sit beside me, passing a cup of coffee towards me. Shaking my head in no, I pushed the cup away.

"I'm so sorry for what you're going through Clara." he said and I prepared myself for hearing how he wanted me to leave because Ryan was his friend and he had left now.

"You don't have to worry. You have all my support. I know you must need a place to live and..." he said, placing his hand on top of mine.

Jerking my hand away, I hid my face in between my palms, letting out another whimper. "I'll go. Just... Please give me one day. I'll figure something out." I almost begged, my voice was pleading.

"No. You are getting it all wrong." he said and once again grabbed my hand, rubbing the back of it with his fingers. He was probably just being empatetic while all I felt was disgust at a man's touch, after what Ryan did. "You can stay here as long as you want."

I blinked at him, wide-eyed.

"Consider it your own house. If you need anything, just ask me." he said and I nodded, feeling overwhelmed all of sudden.

"Thank you Kevin but I won't be a burden on you for long. I'll start searching for an apartment as soon as possible." I said, fighting the tears accumulating in my eyes. I couldn't go back now, not after everything I did. I burned the path of returning to my old life and now, Ryan had left me stranded in a new life, one that I never dreamed of.

After Kevin left, I hugged my pillow and cried again, muffling my sobs with the soft material of the pillow. My whole body was shaking with grief and everything in this room reminded me of Ryan, his betrayal.

Is that how Aaron had felt when I left him? Did I cause him the same amount of pain I was feeling right now? If yes, then it sucks because that's probably the worst kind of pain possible.

...

For the whole next week, I searched for apartments all the while working double shifts at the restaurant. I had engrossed myself in work because whenever I was free and alone, all I did was cry at my destiny.

I felt betrayed, I felt grieved but most of all, I felt disgusted of myself for doing the same with Aaron. The man who never treated me with anything but kindness, the man who went out of his way to help us and just like that, I ruined him and now, Ryan had ruined me.

Kevin had been really helpful to me. He never made me feel like I was helpless. He supported me in my worst but I couldn't stay with him any longer. A part of me didn't trust him. It was not his fault because honestly, I don't think I would be able to trust any man again.

After returning from work, I went into the bathroom to take a shower. With exhausted body, I stepped under the shower, feeling the warm water remove the smell of restaurant food off my body. This was probably the second time I took a shower in the last week. Nothing mattered anymore, not my clothes, not my looks, nothing.

After I was done, I moved to turn the shower off but suddenly, my feet slipped and I landed on the hard floor of the bathroom. A small shriek left my mouth and my leg throbbed with pain.

Just another minor strike of karma.

Trying my best, I pulled my body off the floor but that's when something near the junction of the floor and wall caught my attention. Narrowing my eyes, I leaned forwards and assessed the small black object that resembled like a small spy camera.

At first, I stared at it in confusion and when I realised what it was doing here, I rushed towards the towel and wrapped it around me.

All the blood rushed out of my face and my hands trembled at the possibility of someone spying me in the bathroom. The first name that crossed my mind was Kevin. Although I wanted to reject the possibility, I couldn't.

With shaking fingers, I slipped into my clothes and dragged myself to his room. The door opened without a sound and there was no one inside, the sound of water could be heard from the bathroom.

I was about to move away when my eyes fell on his laptop. It was already opened but the screen was black. Paranoia filled my insides and I stepped towards it, slightly grazing my hands over the touch pad.

The black screen brightened and a list of videos appeared on the screen. Swallowing the bal of saliva in my throat, I clicked the first video and my bare body appeared on the screen, taking a shower. My whole body began to prick at the sight and I immediately turned the video off, fighting back a shriek.

"No. No. Please no. Let it be a dream." I chanted under my breath, wished to be dead rather than seeing this anymore.

I should have left, I should have ran as far away as possible but my legs didn't move. I felt like I was in a trance and everything around me had stopped, until I heard the sound of door opening.

"You sick bastard." I lunged towards him, my hand striking against his hard cheek. His jaw clenched at my action and before I could punch him again, he pushed me backwards.

I attempted to attack him again but he stopped my blow and caged me in between his arms, his face inches away from mine.

"You cheating whore, don't act like a prude. I know how you ran away with Ryan the night of your wedding so stop pretending like an innocent." he whispered in my ears.

"Leave me you scumbag." I screamed, trying to free my arms but he didn't leave. Instead he pinned me to the wall and hovered over me.

"What? You just fuck hot, rich jerks?" he said and gripped my hair, pulling them behind. His lips moved to my neck and he roughly sucked my skin, making me scream in anger and indignation. "If you're staying at my house, you have to return the favour."

"Leave me." I yelled again. "Please." I added.

But he didn't leave. I struggled with my hands and feet, fighting his hold over me. He was far stronger than me and his grip was painful. His fingers moved to my shirt and attempted to open the buttons.

I looked around, feeling helpless, searching for anything that would help me. His hands on me disgusted me and nausea rose in my stomach.

When I found nothing, I did the only thing I could. Leaning towards his arm, I bite it as hard as I could. He screamed in pain, tightening his hold around my hair and tugging them harder. I didn't pull away and continued digging my teeth on his flesh. Finally, his hand loosened slightly and I took advantage of the situation by pushing him away.

Using all my strength, I jabbed him square in his jaw and he yelped, holding his jaw with his rough hands. Pure fury flashed through his eyes and he rushed towards me but I was faster this time. Rushing out through the door, I locked it from the outside, feeling extremely grateful that it also had a lock on the external side.

I could hear him pushing the door from his side. It won't be long till he break it and attack me again. My whole body flooded with adrenaline and I scurried towards the main door.

For a moment, I contemplated about going back and take some money and clothes but when I heard the door creak, I ran out of the door, leaving my every belonging behind.

I ran like a crazy person, between the swarm of people, until I was far away from that apartment. Everyone was staring at me like I was some alien, owing to the horrified look on my face but I couldn't care less. My dignity was saved and I could not be more grateful.

Once I spotted a bench in an empty, deserted park, I jumped through the fence and reached the bench, all the adrenaline left my body, leaving behind absolute terror.

I was alone in this unfamiliar town, at this time of the night, with nowhere to go and no money with me. I couldn't go back to that house, I couldn't go back to my parents and I couldn't go back to Aaron. I was stuck here.

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Three updates in a single day. And I am just asking for one thing in return, please go vote for me. As many as possible. There are two categories, Best overall story and Best chicklit, do comment in both categories, for at least 20 times. It won't even take a single minute. If you've already voted, vote again.

Please. Please. Please. Consider it a request. I really want to win at least in one category.