The Beauty In Our Scars.

Knowing Mandy

Craig sat on his wheelchair, his eyes focused on the television as a program aired. Suddenly, he heard a faint knock on the door. He turned his head slowly to the clock to check the time.

"It's 10am already" Craig said, as his eyes lit up in expectation. "Come in" he said calmly as he turned his gaze over to the door. Slowly, the door cracked open. Mandy stuck her head in first, then slowly squeezed the rest of her body through the small opening she made on the door. When she was finally in, she bowed her head a bit.

"Sir you requested to see me if I was free" Mandy said.

"Oh yes. Have a seat over there" Craig said, guesturing to the sofa at the end of the room. Mandy bowed and walked over to the sofa, while Craig wheeled himself there shortly after. Mandy took a seat while Craig moved beside her. After that, there was silence in the room. Craig stared at Mandy, without uttering a word. He just admired Mandy's fierce but homely appearance, he couldn't help but go into a trance, he wondered what he would ask her or speak to her about. Mandy on the other hand, tried to avoid his gaze. She stared around as hard as possible, but ultimately, she couldn't totally escape his gaze and his silence.

"Sir, you said you wanted to talk to me. What might it be about sir?" Mandy asked, finally breaking the silence. This question immediately broke off the trance Craig was in. He sat up, now wearing a serious look on his face.

"Well, I wanted to ask you some questions. I just feel it would help me know you a lot better"Craig said. Mandy let out a smile,

"Sure sir, you can go ahead, ask me any questions" Mandy said calmly.

"Alright then" Craig said said calmly. "What are your dreams? How are you going to work towards them? And what is your motivation?" He asked. Mandy smiled, then she slowly lifted her face to face he's.

"Well, I want to own a big bar over here in California. I always dreamed to be a mixologist, not just any mixologist, but a mixologist who can be very creative with flavors, new flavors. And running a business in line with what I love. I am saving from my allowance here, I plan on using it to start something" Mandy said. Her eyes lit up as she spoke, the smile and enthusiasm on her face stunned Craig. He looked keenly at her as she spoke, her drive, her charisma, her presision, touched the essence of his soul.

"Your motivation?" He asked almost immediately. Mandy paused for a minute, her head sunk a bit. But suddenly, she raised her head back up, a sweet smile spread across her thin lips.

"If there is a will, there is always life. And if there is life, there is always a way" Mandy said softly. These words struck Craig like lightening, he just stared at her without a word or expression.

"What if, there isn't a will?" Craig managed to ask after about a minute.

"As long as you are breathing, that's a sign of a will. You can always find a bigger will when you remember and see life and each morning as a gift, a blessing and as a new opportunity to do better than yesterday" Mandy answered. Craig couldn't say much, the words were so sharp, so deep and sort of convincing to Craig. He stared at Mandy for about five minutes. Mandy on the other hand stared back.

"If that would be all, I'll need to get going. I have to take care of the sheets" Mandy managed to say, breaking the silence between them.

"Oh, alright then. That will be all, you may go" Craig said swiftly. Mandy stood up to take her leave, she walked for a bit before she stopped and turned back.

"Sir, may i say something? Hope you wouldn't be mad at me" Mandy asked calmly. Craig smirked and looked at her.

"Go ahead, I will be lenient" Craig said.

"Well, if you don't mind. You can talk to me whenever you feel down. I know you might have a hard time trusting me, so it's okay if you don't want to talk" Mandy said, her fingers trembling as she spoke. Craig looked at her for a bit, intensely.

"I don't do well with people these days, I know better. But I'll let you know if there is anything you can do for me" Craig said. Mandy nodded after which she bowed and turned to take her leave.

Evening came quickly and Mandy was already getting dinner ready. While she was at it, her mind began to wander. She remembered the discussion they both had, she remembered how Craig stared at her, how her heart pounded in her chest as she stared back. She shook her head in a bid to get the thought of everything away. But just as she was about to pick up the tray of food, a group of about three maids stood in front of her.

"Good evening ladies, please I need to get going" Mandy said as politely as she could, but the girls wouldn't budge. They stood their grounds as firm as anything.

"Going to Mr Craig's room aren't you?" The first maid, who seemed to be the head amongst the others spoke.

"As if the time you spent there this morning was never enough for you" the second maid said.

"Well this wrench is a golddigger. I could see it in those brown eyes of her's" the first maid said again and instantly, the group burst into a nasty laughter.

"Excuse me? How dare you?" Mandy asked furiously as she placed the tray back on the kitchen table and turned to face them directly.

"Cut the pretence you sly witch. You are trying to take advantage of your boss's vulnerability and riggle your way into his life. Well, we wouldn't let that work" the third maid said firmly.

"We'll make sure to make your life miserable until you leave this household. A redhead and seductress like you shouldn't be near Mr Craig" The first maid said. Before Mandy could utter a word, the maid had already signaled to the others and they immediately walked out of the kitchen, grinning from ear to ear. Mandy stood there, distraught over what she had just heard. She clutched her chest with her right palm, as tears began to flow out of her eyes.

"Lord not this again. Not some set of people trying to destroy my life and happiness all over again" Mandy muttered as the tears continued to flow.

It was around 7pm when Craig heard a knock on the door. He figured out it was already dinner time, so he permitted whoever was at the door to come in. He wasn't wrong as Mandy walked in with a tray of food in her hands and a smile on her face. She placed the meal in front of Craig and as usual, waited for him to eat up by standing at the end of room, no one spoke to each other all the while. When he was done, Mandy walked straight to him to pick tray up. After she was done, she headed straight to the door.

"Mandy, wait" Craig called out. Mandy was just at the door, about to exit when she stopped and turned back.

"Yes sir?" She asked.

"I would want to have tomorrow's breakfast with my mother. I would want you to see to it" Craig announced. Mandy smiled and nodded.

"Sure sir, I'll see to it. But by the way, is there anything I can do or get for you in advance? Perhaps an arrangement for a haircut or?...." Just then, Craig cut Mandy shut.

"You don't need to do much, just get me some clean clothes, that's all" Craig answered coldly. Mandy bowed and took the tray out of the room with her.

As Mandy strolled down the hallway with the tray in her hands, she couldn't help but wonder why Craig suddenly wanted to see his mother. He stayed completely isolated from everything and everyone, including his own mother. The development didn't just suprise her, but it also made her feel strangely uneasy. Just then, she remembered what the maids had told her that evening, her heart sunk. It had just been a month she had started working there, the thought of having issues about something she never thought of doing caused her a lot of concern. She took a deep breath and continued to walk down the hallway.

After Mandy was done for the night, she proceeded to look for Mr Maurice, she needed to tell him about the breakfast appointment that was going to take place the following day. She walked round the entire nook and cranny of the house seeking for an enquiry of where he might be. Luckily as she strolled through the garden, she saw him seated in the middle of the garden. In front of him was a bottle and a glass of Vodka which he sipped as the cool evening sir swept across his face. Mandy took a deep breath and approached him.

"Good evening sir" Mandy greeted, Mr Maurice lifted his face from the table and glass in front of him and looked at Mandy.

"Good evening my dear, I hope there isn't any problem" Mr Maurice responded.

"Oh no, not at all. I just came to deliver" Mandy said. Mr Maurice glanced at her as he picked up the glass from the table.

"Out with it" he said as he put the glass in his mouth.

"Mr Craig wants to have breakfast tomorrow with his mother. He said I should ensure that I see to it. I was wondering if I could relay the message to the madam, she needs to know and get ready" Mandy said quite frankly. Mr Maurice's eyes gave out his astonishment by the news, he turned again to look at Mandy to ensure he heard well.

"Are you serious?" He asked curiously. Mandy nodded in response.

"Wow, that's strange. Mr Craig never asked to eat with his mother or even see her for the past one year" Mr Maurice said, suprise evident in his expression.

"Anyways, that's okay. I'll take care of the rest from here, just make sure he gets all he needs ahead of tomorrow morning" Mr Maurice said.

"Alright sir, I'll be on it" Mandy responded as she bowed and walked away. Mr Maurice watched Mandy go until she was completely out of sight.

"That's strange, very strange" Mr Maurice muttered to himself as he slowly lifted the glass and placed it on his lips.

Mr Maurice walked through the stairs and several hallways before he got to the rooftop. As he got there, he saw Maria as usual. She was with a glass of mogito again, sipping it and looking at the dark night sky. Mr Maurice watched her for a minute before he let out a sigh and walked over to her.

"Madam, I have a message for you" Mr Maurice announced. Maria dropped her glass of mogito on the table and sat up straight. .

"What is it? She asked.

"Mr Craig wants to have breakfast with you tomorrow morning" Mr Maurice announced again. Maria's eyes lit up immediately she heard those words, she turned swiftly her eyes eagerly searching Mr Maurice's face.

"Are you sure about this?" She asked in excitement. Mr Maurice smiled and nodded. Maria let out a sigh, tears gathered around her dark eyes. She smiled and sniffed in a bid to hide her emotions.

"Very well then, tomorrow morning seems very nice. Let's get ready for it" Maria said calmly. Mr Maurice smiled,

"Very well madam, I'll see to that" he said. He bowed and excused himself from the rooftop. Maria couldn't contain how she felt anymore. More tears, tears of joy, steadily ran down her cheeks.

"Lord, please let tomorrow turn out great, please" Maria said as she rubbed her palms together.