The Billionaire's contract: A life unchosen

A BEAM OF HOPE Life! “she exclaimed.” If this is all life entails, I don't think it's worth living for. Constantly faced with one challenge or the other. There is never a day I wake up to a blooming or peaceful atmosphere. Everything around me screams negativity and difficulty. All I've ever done since birth was to hope. But each time, the expectations I hoped for keep getting cut off. Maybe I'm cursed. She whispered, acting as though she was conversing with someone else. She chuckled awkwardly like someone who had just lost her senses. Oh, I get it now! She exclaimed. I'm actually cursed. Everything now makes sense. There was a knock on the door. Thea's mother banged on the door, yet no response. Thea you've been in your room for a while without food or water. Please, just open the door let's have a conversation. I promise not to intrude your privacy again after this, her mother pleaded with tears rolling down her cheeks. Thea heard her mother sobbing and quickly sprang up from her bed and opened the door for her. They both started crying while consoling each other. “Did daddy really have to die?” Thea muttered, with tears still streaming down her cheeks. Haven't we suffered enough? I think we should just end our lives so that everything comes to an end once and for all. Don't say that, her mother chirped in. Everything will be fine. What happened to the bright future you've always hoped for? Are you just going to let it slide like that? Mummy I'm tired of everything already. Thea replied still teary and overwhelmed by the whole situation. In the midst of all this, she heard a still inner voice “Everything will be alright, just be calm.” Immediately, she jolted up and stood facing the mirror, then a smile appeared on her face. It was a smile of hope and reassurance. Her mother was dumbfounded and happy at the same time. Her daughter had not smiled ever since she heard about the demise of her father which happened two days ago. Mum, I can do it! She shouted, throwing herself on her mother like a two- year- old baby. Her mother looked puzzled, squinting her eyes and opening her mouth slightly as she let out a “huh?” Mum I can do it. You can do what her mother asked this time around? I can still have the future I've always dreamt of…. All I just need to do is take a deep breath and a bold step. Her mother let out a smile. I'm proud of you my girl! Meera helped me in getting a job after she heard that dad died. Meera, your friend?her mother asked. Yes mummy, she did. I rejected it yesterday, although she gave me time to think about it. She will be so pumped with joy that I changed my mind. Is it a job that requires you working in an office? Mom, I can't work in an office setting yet, I don't hold a degree, remember? It's a sales representative in a shopping mall not too far from here and the pay is good for a start. At least, we don't have to start scavenging for food from neighbours to survive each day and in no time we will be out of this wretched cottage of a house. Tears trickled down her mother's cheek but she quickly wiped it off so that Thea doesn't notice it. She called her friend and informed her that she would be accepting the job and thanked her for saving her life at that point. She quickly got up, took an hot bath because she haven't done so for the past two days. Maybe all I needed to be fine was just a chit-chat with my mom and not locking myself up in a tiny dark room. She quickly dressed up and was on her way to see her friend, Meera. “Dad you are dead but life must continue.” She muttered with pain and grief in her voice. She went to the kitchen, dished herself some food and ate until she was satisfied. She had been starving herself all this while, well she was mourning and anybody in her shoe would do same. She stepped out to Meera place, it wasn't a long journey after all and morever she had no money for a vehicle so she resorted to walking down to her place. She met with Meera, and they discussed about different sphere of life and how her life has always been a mess. The atmosphere in Meera house was what she always wanted but life wasn't fair to her. A long silence envelope as the cool evening breeze blew. Meera noticed that Thea mind was somewhere else and immediately shouted her name. She jolted, are you fine? Meera asked her. Sure, just got lost in thinking. Meera escorted her back to her house. You will be resuming next tomorrow,so get yourself prepared. Sure, I'm ready. She said. They said their goodbye and parted ways. Just as Thea was about crossing the road a vehicle on speed almost knocked her down. The person never bothered stopping or slowing down to check if he caused any damage, he just sped off. Immediately Thea got home, her mother welcomed her looking all happy. I almost got killed mom! She exclaimed. I'm sorry about that, but that is less of my concern right now, her mother responded. Someone will be visiting soon……. Someone? Well, that's less of my business also. I need to sleep. I haven't slept in days. You can't sleep my baby, they are almost here. At this point, Thea became more curious. Whoever this person is I'm not trading my time of rest for that person. It's worth trading for, her mother said abruptly cutting her short. She sat in the sitting room puzzled on who this person might be, since her mother wasn't ready to say anything straight forward. A fleet of car honked driving into the compound. “They are here.” Her mother shouted at the top of her voice. Thea was surprised who this people were and why her mother who just lost her husband few days ago was so happy because of this people. Who could they be she asked?