Mafia's Second Chance Love

I found myself running again. Where am I going? This strange white rabbit seems to be waiting for me at every corner. I've been running for hours now. The forest seems to be getting darker and the towering trees aren't letting much of the sunlight get through. I'm lost in time and place. Then, the rabbit stopped abruptly, perching itself upon a weathered tree stump. Should I follow it? My curiosity got the best of me, and I approached the stump cautiously. A few steps ahead and I curiously gazed in the tree stump. The hole is small but there's no light getting in. I placed my hand inside the hole. Yet it doesn't reach the ground as it was supposed to... Should I follow the rabbit and jump? How deep is this hole? What if I fall to my death? Well, that would be a sweet release. I stood on the edge of the stump. And I jumped in the blackness of it. And I fell. And now I keep falling, waiting for my body to hit the bottom of this. But it doesn't. I keep on falling. And falling. And falling, until I hear a constant ringing. Dringg, Dringgg... The constant ringing, like distant chimes, echoed in Kira's ears, growing louder with each passing moment. It became an intrusive presence in her dream, jarring her from the surreal world she had entered. As the ringing persisted, it merged with the dream, becoming a discordant melody in the otherwise enchanting chaos. Dringg, Dringgg... Kira's dream self stumbled and faltered, her focus shifting away from the abyss below. She strained to make sense of the sound, the dream and reality blurring together. The rabbit, the stump, and the darkness all seemed to dissolve around her. Dringg, Dringgg... With a sudden gasp, Kira's eyes shot open. She was no longer falling but lying in her own bed, tangled in the sheets. The room around her was bathed with the lights outside. Her phone on the bedside table continued to ring insistently, pulling her back into the waking world. Reality settled in, and Kira's heart raced as she reached for her phone, her dream already fading like a distant memory. She answered the call, her voice still tinged with the remnants of the dream, as the voice on the other end brought her firmly back to the challenges and mysteries of her waking life. 'Kira? Kira, honey?' the voice kept on asking. 'Hello?' I did not even see the screen on my phone. ''It's Sarah. From the hospital.' I turned my eyes to the digital clock next to me. It's 3:16. At least I slept for two hours. 'Social Services are full and we have a mother with her son here.' I immediately understood what that entailed. 'I'll be right there. Keep the father busy or... whatever.' It's not unusual for Kira to be woken up in the middle of the night with these kinds of calls. She stumbled to find her clothes as she looked out the window. Another rainy night in London. In a matter of minutes, Kira was already heading to the bus stop in order to reach the hospital. Her job at the 'SafeHaven; organization was demanding. The goal of the organization was to protect families from abusive situations at home. Kira was the only employee out in the field, caring for everything. The other one was her boss. The organisation had two floors in a residential building with rooms to temporarily offer housing to individuals that had nowhere to go. But the bills were always running and with donations being limited, the organization was always in a tough spot. Kira's wage wasn't really that good and she often sacrificed a part of it to these families and their needs. It wouldn't be the first time for Kira to be late for her rent, or her own personal bills. Her apartment was as close as she could be to the hospital and getting there would require her to change two bus lines. Doing this so often became a habit for her. Always having her black backpack on her shoulders and her headphones in hand. Kira's footsteps echoed through the dimly lit hospital corridors as she hurried toward the ward. The pale green walls seemed to close in on her, matching the sinking feeling in her chest. It was another late-night call, another family in crisis. 'Good morning?' Kira I offered hesitantly as I approached the nurse's station. The clock on the wall displayed a cruel reminder that time didn't adhere to the hospital's schedule. 'Is it now? I haven't even checked what time it is,' Sarah replied, managing a tired smile. The night shift had its way of blurring the boundaries between day and night. As Sarah handed over the patient's sheet, I nodded in gratitude and followed her toward the curtain-enclosed cubicle. The woman inside, Claudia, sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes swollen and red from tears. Bruises adorned her face like cruel tattoos of suffering. My gaze swept over the visible wounds, from the bruised cheekbone to the burns on her hands. Each mark told a story of pain endured in silence. 'Late twenties, with a 6 year old in hand.' Sarah started. 'This is the fourth time she has fallen off the stairs. Multiple bruises, burns and some broken ribs.' 'The father?' I inquired, searching the room. The father's impending arrival hung over the air like a thundercloud. 'He will be here any moment now. We will try to stall him, but...' Sarah's voice trailed off, acknowledging the daunting challenge. I took a deep breath and opened the curtains. The woman sitting on the bed was staring at me. Her eyes were red and swollen. I could see her cheekbone being badly bruised. That must have been a punch of more than two days ago. Her neck had multiple bruises going down only to be hidden away by her sweatshirt. Her cold stare was only a front for her to seem tough. My eyes fell on her hands, which had several burns. Judging by the shape of them, those were made by cigarettes. A trembling portrait of resilience masking the terror she felt inside Opposite her was a little boy sitting on a chair with a little plastic giraffe in his hand. I sat next to the boy knowing very well that the woman felt alarmed the moment I came close to him. 'Who are you?' she asked. Her voice was trembling. She was trying to seem strong but her voice couldn't hide the fear she was feeling. An unknown person next to her child. A mother's worst nightmare. The boy, on the other hand, was excitedly watching me. I opened my backpack, trying to find what I was looking for. 'Are you here to take my son away?' her voice was growing stronger. My hand was still looking. 'We are fine! I am fine. Please..?' Ah! There it is! I took my hand out and gave the lollipop to the little one. He unwrapped it quickly and put it in his mouth thanking me. 'It's strawberry flavour.' I told him. 'My favorite.' He smiled and continued playing with his giraffe, not giving attention to me and her mother. I looked at the name on the sheet. 'Claudia.' I said out loud. 'You're not a nurse.' she stated. 'Who are you? I will call the police!' 'Now you'll call the police?' I asked, intrigued. She was clearly bluffing. 'I'm curious. Was it the tattoos or the fact that I'm not wearing those ugly crocks that gave it away?' There was no answer. Only the sounds outside the curtains of nurses and patients running around. 'I'm not a nurse, that's true.' Her relieved expression didn't stay for too long. Now the mystery of who I am is more intense than before. 'I'm the one they call when social services are full with their hands.' A panicked expression spread on her face. The realisation hit her. 'Please..' Her eyes began watering. I've witnessed this interaction more times than I can remember. Every mother reacts the same. First they cry out of fear. Then despair sets in, and lastly they run away. 'Before you start.' I interrupted her. 'Let me finish what I'm about to say.' She looked hesitant but allowed me to continue. 'I'm not here to take your child away. I'm here to take you both away.' her eyes widened. 'Falling down the stairs might be the number one most stupid and untrue statement. Nobody believes that anymore.' Her eyes lowered to her son. 'I know what you are going through. What he.. is going through. I'm only here to help.' I could see her being in pain even though she was trying to fake a strong persona. Her worry about her son is far worse than any pain she must have endured. 'My husband... He will never let us leave.' she admitted bitterly. 'If we even try, he will become worse. He will kill us before he sees us leave!' There is it. The despair. 'I work for an organization called 'SafeHaven'. We help families like yours escape. You will have a room to stay until you find a job. Her head was shaking. It's a huge step for someone who has been abused. She wouldn't agree so easily, I knew that. 'I... I ca-can't! He will find us!' 'We will get a court order. He won't be allowed near you.' I know it's futile. It usually takes two or three times for someone to admit they need help. 'No! He will hurt him!' Her denial became worse when the father's screams filled the hospital ward. He's here and he is looking for them. I'm sure Sarah did her best to stall him. Claudia's eyes were widened in fear. I know this look. She immediately turned to her son. The little boy was no longer playing and enjoying his lollipop. He was trembling in fear. His mother opened her arms and he ran into her hug. 'Claudia, I can't help you if you don't want to.' She was still shaking her head in denial. The first step is to admit you need help. And that is the most difficult step. 'He will keep hurting you.' She wasn't listening anymore. It's the fourth time she has been in the hospital. Next time she may end up... She started packing up her son's toys, ready to leave and return to him. She looked desperate. Scared. His screams were now closer to us. I need to help her. 'Claudia, come with me.' Nothing. 'I can help you! I can help your son!' She was ready to open the curtains. Ready to return to the cycle of violence she escaped for an hour or so. 'What will happen if he kills you?!' She stopped. 'What will become of your son? Have you thought about that? Him with his father without you? Have you thought about it? huh?' She remained still. 'You need help. And I'm offering.' 'What do you know of my situation?' her voice was low. Ready to curse at me at any giving moment. 'I was a daughter of a woman like you, in the same situation.' Her head turned back to look at me. Her eyes were now full of regret. Judging by the expression on her face, she wasn't expecting my answer. 'Let me help you.' Tears were streaming down her face. She nodded in agreement. Claudia's resolve crumbled. Her desperation filled the room like an unwelcome guest. 'Please... Pl-Please help m-me.' she whispered and fell to her knees on the hospital floor. 'Wait here.' I quickly got out, and started looking for Sarah. She was running towards me. 'Sarah, I need two more minutes. She's coming with me!' Sarah's eyes were full of worry. I'm guessing she can't do anything else. 'I'll call security!' The moment those words came out of her mouth, the stench of alcohol hit my nostrils. I've known this smell all too well now. 'CLAUDIA! CLAUDIA COME OUT!' That's the father. He was stumbling on his steps. He's drunk. 'WHERE ARE YOU!' I turned back and quickly got Claudia and her son. 'We need to leave now!' She looked determined. As soon as his screams became more distant, we got out and started walking fast towards the exit. That was until we found him staring at us at the next turn. His eyes lit up upon seeing them. Like he found his stolen treasure. 'Here you are. Now, come. COME HOME!' it was clear that his voice was terrorizing his son. 'Sir, I need you to stay back and away from us. We are leaving.' I answered and got in the middle of him and Claudia. I don't think I realized what happened next. His hand swung at me and I fell to the floor. Everything was getting dark. My head was pounding. The hospital noises were getting distant. I can hear my heartbeat. I struggled to keep my eyes open. I only saw some army boots running our way and then the father was also lying on the floor. There were two people on top of him. And then. Black.