Hope, Love or Destiny

CHAPTER 1

I knocked on Rachel's door. When I got no response I entered and saw my sole reason to live sitting on her study table flipping the light on and off once again. No, she isn't my lover or anything she is my step-sister Rachel Katherine Sander, 11 years old but much wiser than her age.

I'm Justin Montgomery. My mom samara Montgomery married Jake Sander seven years ago. Nothing was like these one year ago, sad was the last word to describe our family. Then, dad lost few important projects in business and slowly, he became an alcoholic.

One day when he came home, he was so angry and unfortunate all his wrath was directed toward his daughter, Rachel, whom he loved so dearly earlier. he was calling her names, blaming her for Katherine, Rachel's birth mother's death, telling how bad of a daughter she was.

I can't even bring myself to imagine the pain she must have felt apart from the physical dad was afflicting on her. I felt so helpless that I wasn't able to protect her. He had already shot me on the arm when I first tried to protect Rachel. The event that followed does nothing to lessen my guilt.

When mom hit him with a rod he was about to pull the trigger and as he pulled the trigger after swiveling around it hit mom on the lower torso. One night and our life turned straight 180 degree. Dad lost his life there only, Mom fought with life but lost the battle, leaving me and Rachel alone.

After everything, we shifted to another side of the city. This villa is connected to beach and only has one neighbor beside us, but is smaller than the previous house. Everything has come back in line, Rachel goes to school and I drown myself in office trying to bring back the glory Sander engineering and construction once had.

The memory train came to halt when flicking of light stopped I called her, but she didn't listen. Pulling her chair back and I took her in my arms.

"Let's get you to bed. Okay?"

She just nodded. Everything has changed except for Rachel, who doesn't speak till the time it's not really necessary. I took her to bed and pulled the duvet, placing her there I too lied beside her.

"How was your day?" I asked, hoping she would say something so I could listen to her voice. Every hope died when she just lied there staring at the ceiling.

I brushed my thumbs against her eyelids, and she closed her eyes. After a few minutes, she turned and clutched my hand. This is the reason I'm here, I know she although doesn't show any weakness; she needs me and the moment she sleeps her fear is visible in the way she clutches my hand. Sleep took over my willingness to work.

In the morning, after dropping Rachel in the school, I went to our latest construction side. It was a commercial building. I took a tour, ensuring that nothing is behind the schedule. After an hour, I went to see a site where we are going to build a hotel for Mr. Lincoln. Then went to meet Mr. Lincoln regarding the design of the building.

As I exited the office after long hours of meeting with mr. Lincoln, I glanced at my watch its nearly three. Already late for lunch, I started driving towards a nearby restaurant when my phone rang.

"Yes, John what happened?" I asked my assistant.

"I wanted to ask if you have the BK cold storage file, it was needed in here and I could not find it in your office." He said. I caught the hint of urgency in his voice.

"It is in my home you can send someone to pick it up or go yourself." Then I saw that I'm near home so added "On the second thought leave it I'll bring it myself."

"Okay sir, as you say" he replied and hung up.

I went home, took the file from my room and was having my lunch in the dining room, while reading the monthly report. Something black moved in my periphery and I turned to see what it was. On the steps of the staircase was standing Rachel, covered in what looked like black paint from head to toe.

"What happened, Rachel?" I asked her, concerned.

"Mmm... nothing.. it was mmm.. just that I was painting and..... then it slipped from my hand and I dropped it and it fell on me then.. mmm just that." She stuttered so much and was fiddling with her fingers that I can not believe it was anything but truth.

"Okay, go to your room and take a bath, I just need to make a call." I told her.

"Aren't you going to office?" she asked.

"No, not when you need me," I said as a matter of fact.

"I'm fine, you can go back to office you might have meetings" she said, and it hurts me to see that she thinks work is more important to me than her.

"I'm not going anywhere, go take a bath and I'm bringing you food." My tone was sharp. She just nodded and went to her room.

Maybe it's what I'm thinking, but what if I'm wrong? But with her being so quiet, it won't be unexpected if her today's condition results from a bully. Maybe I should have waited till she became normal before allowing her to continue the school. How I can be so careless and not see or notice any of this? She's been going to school for so long, and maybe that's also the reason she's been so quiet.

I called John to inform him to come and collect the cold storage file and also to cancel my meetings for the day. Nothing is more important to me than my sister, my only family who maybe feels no need to tell me anything about her suffering and pain.

I asked Denise to ready a plate for Rachel and completed my food. Mom always used to say that we should never, ever waste food. As I finished my food, I took Rachel's and went to her room, hoping she might tell me what happened. I sat on the bed. A few minutes later she came wearing a baggy shirt and shorts, hair's wet.

"Come here" I said as I went to pick a towel from the rack to dry her hair. She came and stood in between my parted legs, pulling her in my lap until I started rubbing her hairs. She seems so fragile. How could I have not noticed this until now?

"Why were you covered in black paint?" I asked quietly, trying not to sound angry.

"I told you-" I interjected her before she could complete the sentence. "I want truth, Rachel."

"I was in painting class, doing what the teacher told us when a bunch of students came and poured the color over my head. Then..." I squeezed her hand. "They rubbed it on my face." She shivered.

"This only happened today, right?" I asked, afraid of what I might hear. She just sat there saying nothing and with every my heart was sinking deeper. "Say something" I urged her and she shook her head in sloth's speed.

I threw the towel on the bed and hugged her to me; she started crying, sobbing loudly in my arms. I felt so helpless and every tear reminded me of my negligence, this should not have happened under my watch.

She cried endlessly, and I let her, because firstly I don't know what to do right now and secondly I was holding onto the thinnest thread to not broke into tears myself. As she calmed down, I lay her on the bed before placing a kiss on her forehead.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked, no begged. It was the question which was eating me alive. Was I not good with her? Was she afraid of me? Why couldn't she tell me the first time something like this happens?

"I don't want to be a burden, Jas." She said in a whisper.

"No, dammit. You are not a burden, Rachel. You can never be." I hugged her to me. How could she think like that? She is the reason I leave after everything that happened. A lone tear slipped from my eyes at the thought that maybe doesn't think of me as a brother anymore. Someone who would protect her from every evil.

"Hello," Rachel

"Hello grace, it's Justin speaking" I greeted grace, our family doctor. She knows everything about our past, she was dad's friend to begin with.

"How are you and Rachel?" she asked.

"I'm good, but I wanted to talk about Rachel with you." I said.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

I narrated her yesterday's event, and Rachel also had a bad dream last night. She was screaming in her leave, saying that she was sorry and to not lock her. Which makes me wonder what other thing had happened to her before yesterday.

"I think you should consult with a therapist for her." grace said.

"Do you know anyone good?" I don't want to take any risk with Rachel.

"I do. She is young but please don't judge her by her age, she is more knowledgeable than anyone can guess." She said with a little chuckle. I could feel pride in her voice.

"Can you send her details? I don't want to do any further delay." I said.

"Sure, I will send it right away."

"Thank you so much grace."

"Anytime Justin." with that, she ended the call

I looked at the detail I had for the therapist. Dr. Aranya Singh, 22 years. Now I got what grace meant. She is best in what she does- I concluded after my search, although I could not get any picture of her. I have booked an appointment in the morning, I first want to discuss everything myself before I take Rachel to her. I just hope everything will be fine and she could help me.