Trials Of Love

Rain hit the window like fingers looking for comfort. Inside an apartment in Las Vegas Phyna Brooks sat on her bed staring at the ceiling fan. The room was tiny. There was a cracked mirror and a old drawer with a handle. A weak light bulb hung from the ceiling and cold air came in through the window. Phyna was used to all of this. Pain can become normal if it stays enough. Phyna looked at a picture of her parents on her bedside table. They were smiling at her. This was all she had left after the accident. Thirteen years had passed,. The pain still felt real. Some wounds never really heal. They just hide deeper. There was thunder outside. Phyna got up from her bed. Walked to the kitchen. The apartment smelled like coffee and old memories. She opened the fridge. It was almost empty. There was half a bottle of water two eggs and some expired milk. This was normal for her. Her life was always one bill away from disaster. Phyna smiled a little. It was funny how some people were born rich and some people spent their lives struggling. The front door opened. "Phyna?" a voice called out. "In the kitchen " Phyna replied. Her aunt, Elizabeth Brooks came in with two bags of groceries. She was wet from the rain. Looked tired. Phyna rushed to help her. "You're all wet " she said. "I've been through worse " Elizabeth said with a smile. Phyna took the bags from her aunt. Put them on the counter. Elizabeth asked if she had eaten. Phyna looked away. That was enough of an answer. Elizabeth sighed. "Phyna you have to eat." Phyna said she wasn't hungry. Elizabeth knew that was a lie. Elizabeth looked at Phyna with eyes. After all the bad things that had happened to her Phyna still had a quiet strength. It was amazing. Phyna looked like her mom. Beautiful eyes, same soft smile same silence when she was hurting. Elizabeth asked if Phyna had been thinking about her parents. The question hung in the air. Phyna looked away. "Today is thirteen years " she said quietly. There was silence. Elizabeth took off her coat. "I know " she said. Phyna swallowed hard. "Sometimes I still remember that morning " she said. "My mom kissed my forehead before she left. My dad said he would bring me souvenirs from Paris." Phynas voice trembled. "I waited all night for them." Elizabeths eyes went down. "Then the police came " Phyna said. The room felt colder. Phyna hugged herself tightly. "I kept thinking they made a mistake " she whispered. "I thought maybe my parents missed the flight." Elizabeth walked closer. "But they didn't " she said gently. Phyna nodded. A tear fell from her eye before she quickly wiped it away. "I hate crying " she said. "You're human " Elizabeth said. "No " Phyna said softly. "Crying makes people weak." Elizabeth looked at her sadly. That was what life had done to her niece. It had turned pain into a shield. At thirteen Phyna had learned to survive of being a kid. No teenager should have to learn how cruel the world was that early. Elizabeth touched Phynas cheek gently. "You don't always have to be strong " she said. "Yes I do " Phyna said quickly. Because strength was all she had left. If she let herself break she was scared she would never be okay again. Elizabeth changed the subject. "Did Sima call?" she asked. Phyna smiled a little. "She called earlier " she said. "She might come tomorrow." Elizabeth smiled. "Thank God for Sima " she said. "She's the one who can make you laugh these days." Phyna smiled faintly. Sima Carter was her friend, like a sister. One of the things life had given her. They met years ago when Phyna worked as a waitress. Sima was the one who asked about her dreams, who really cared. Since then they were inseparable. Sima understood Phyna in ways most people didn't the loneliness. Elizabeth started putting away the groceries. "You should sleep tonight " she said. "You have a job interview tomorrow." Phynas face changed. "I know " she said. "You're nervous " Elizabeth said. "I'm tired " Phyna corrected. Job interviews didn't excite her anymore. She had worked many hard jobs already. Waitress, cleaner, housekeeper, nanny, kitchen assistant. Different uniforms, struggle. People looked at Phyna. Thought her life was easy because she was beautiful.. They didn't see the nights she cried herself to sleep wondering why survival was so hard for her. Beauty had opened doors for her. Most of those doors led to men who only wanted her body, not her heart. Phyna had learned that lesson painfully over and over again. "Maybe this job will be different " Elizabeth said hopefully. Phyna forced a smile. "Maybe " she said. Deep inside hope scared her. Hope usually came before disappointment. The morning sunlight came through the curtains. Phyna stood in front of the cracked mirror brushing her hair. Without makeup she was beautiful. Smooth skin, lips, mesmerizing eyes. The kind of beauty that could silence a room. Her eyes always had a hint of sadness like someone who had survived storms that nobody else could see. Phyna put on a blouse she borrowed from Sima and took a deep breath. "You look beautiful " Elizabeth said from the doorway. Phyna chuckled. "Beauty doesn't pay rent " she said. Elizabeth walked closer. "One day someone will see your worth beyond survival " she said. Phyna picked up her purse. "Men don't work like that " she said. "That's not true " Elizabeth said. "Yes it is " Phyna said. "Every man who said he cared about me wanted something eventually." Elizabeth sighed. "Not every man is the same " she said. Phyna remained silent. She wanted to believe that. Life had taught her otherwise. After saying goodbye Phyna left the apartment. Stepped into the busy streets of Las Vegas. The city was alive. Luxury cars sped past. Giant billboards flashed ads across buildings. Tourists laughed near casinos and street performers entertained crowds. Money moved everywhere. Las Vegas was beautiful. It was also cruel. A city where dreams either succeeded or disappeared quietly forever. Phyna walked carefully along the sidewalk checking the address on her phone. Laurent Estate. Even the name sounded expensive. The interview was for a job at the Prime Ministers mansion. She almost said no. She needed the money. An hour later Phyna stood before black gates. Luxury cars lined the entrance and security guards moved professionally. Her stomach felt tight. This world was not for people like her. One of the guards approached. "Name?" he asked. "Phyna Brooks " she replied. He checked a list. Nodded. "You're expected " he said. The gates opened slowly. Phyna stepped inside. Felt small. The mansion looked unreal. Massive fountains danced across the yard and expensive cars rested near the entrance like decorations from another world. Everything screamed wealth, power and status. For a second Phyna wondered what it felt like to live without fear of bills or survival. What kind of life allowed people to sleep peacefully without worrying about tomorrow? A woman, in clothes approached her. "You must be Miss Brooks " she said. "Yes " Phyna replied. "I'm Clara. Follow me " the woman said. Phyna nodded quietly. As Phyna walked through the mansion corridors she tried not to look around much. There were crystal chandeliers, marble floors and elegant paintings. Fresh roses were everywhere. The air itself smelled nice and expensive. Clara explained to Phyna that this estate has important guests so Phyna needs to be disciplined. Phyna said she understands. Clara told Phyna that she will have one test before she can be approved. Phyna nodded. Then they went into an office where many women were already sitting and waiting. Some of them looked nervous. Others looked too confident. Phyna sat down quietly in the corner. A blonde woman sitting next to Phyna asked her softly "Is this your time here?" Phyna said yes. The woman smiled a little. Said, "I heard the Prime Minister is very hard to deal with." Phyna smiled politely. Phyna did not really care, as long as the job paid well. After a minutes the interview started. They asked Phyna questions checked her background and asked about her work history. Phyna answered calmly even though she was very tired. Then an elderly woman who was checking Phynas documents stopped suddenly. She said, "You have had a lot of jobs for someone your age." Phyna nodded. She said, "I had to take care of things when I was young." The woman looked at Phyna carefully. She said, "You do not have a record and you have good recommendations." Another official whispered something to the woman. Then the elderly woman said, "You will get a job for now." Phyna felt relieved. She said, "Thank you." The elderly woman said, "You will start work tomorrow morning." Phyna almost smiled, which she had not done in days. Maybe her life was getting better. Maybe. When Phyna left the mansion that afternoon her phone started ringing. It was Sima. Phyna answered the phone immediately. Sima shouted, "You got the job didn't you?" Phyna laughed softly. She asked, "How do you always know these things?" Sima said, "Because I prayed for you obviously." Phyna shook her head. Smiled. She said, "You are so dramatic." Sima said, "And you love me for it." Phyna said, "That is debatable." Sima pretended to be shocked. Said, "That is rude." Sima said, "We are going to celebrate tonight." Phyna said, "I am tired." Sima said, "No excuses." Phyna said, "Sima I do not know..." Sima said, " one drink and one dinner that is all." Phyna. Said, "Okay fine." Sima shouted happily "Yes meet me downtown at eight." The call ended. Phyna stood outside the gates for a moment looking back at the mansion. She had no idea that the man who would change her life was inside those walls. She did not know that love would eventually ask for everything from both of them. Sometimes your destiny arrives quietly without warning and, without mercy.