A Safe Place to Fall

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Be Braver and Stronger

The wind started to get chilly, indicating the winter was about to come. I put the wood in the fireplace and sat back at the old couch with a mug of hot chocolate in hand. Sighing, I evaluated my own life which I've been doing these past few days.

I couldn't help but ask myself why I must end up like this? I grew up in an orphanage, got adopted by an old couple and met a person that I thought I'll be with forever.

The first few chapters of my life were like a fairy-tale to me. I was living with a man that I thought loved me but ended up betraying and leaving me in the end. It was like going back to square one. It was like being picked up by him and ended up being dropped off.

He left a huge debt and now I'm the one suffering because of it and until now, I still couldn't believe that the man I trusted the most betrayed me like this.

I heaved out a deep sigh. I've been living the day working my ass off to pay for the debts and living the night crying myself to sleep. My chest tightened and fat tears rolled down from my eyes.

I'll be okay. I've been telling that myself this every goddamn time. When I started to get better, another problem came up.

I jumped on my seat when I heard someone banging on the door.

"Pay for the f*****g debt, b***h! If you don't, we'll tear this entire building down!"

I put out the fire and ran towards my bedroom. I curled into a ball and covered my ears.

"We'll give you a month! If you didn't bring the money, you're dead!"

When the banging stopped, I slowly walked out of my room. I picked up my phone and dialed my friend's number. My hands couldn't stop shaking from fear.

My ex-lover borrowed money from those kinds of people. If I didn't pay in time, they will do something bad to me. I still want to live even my life was shitty enough. I still want to fight for my life.

"Brianna?" My voice broke.

"Samantha! What happened? Wait, are you crying?"

I couldn't hold it any longer. I broke into a fit of sobs. "I... I need your help."

"Oh, God, what happened? Do you want me to come over?"

I shook my head even though she couldn't see me. "I... I just need a job that pays well. They keep... coming for me."

She sighed. "If I see that rotten ex-boyfriend of yours, I'll kick his nuts until it flattens!" I smiled a bit because of what she said. "I'll ask around, ok? Hang in there. I'm sorry if this is the only thing I can help you with."

"No, this is more than enough. Thank you so much."

"If you need anything, just tell me. You can sleep here if they keep bothering you."

"Alright. Thank you."

I dropped the call. This was physically and mentally tiring. It has been a month since my ex-lover left me, and it has been weeks since the loan sharks started to bang my door and threaten me.

Wherever he is, I hope his guilt eats him up until he couldn't bear it anymore. I don't want to wish him his karma. I just let life do something to him. I was just having a hard time accepting the fact that he did that to me. We've been together for five freaking years.

Another sigh escaped from my lips again. I tapped my face and dried up my tears. I can do this. I can live without him. If paying for the debts will put my life in peace, then I have to look for jobs that will pay me enough to settle it.

With renewed determination, I lit up the fire again and watched as the woods burned, igniting it more.

I woke with the sound of banging on my door again. I thought they'll give me time but why are they still bothering me early in the morning?

I ignored them and just did what I always do to start my day. I opened the fridge and sighed when it was almost empty. The milk that I bought was about to expire too.

Taking up the last sachet of coffee, I made myself comfortable on the wooden stool.

Minutes passed, the banging and cursing stopped. I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding. I can finally drink my coffee in peace.

After emptying the mug, my phone buzzed. I instantly reached out for it and answered.

"Good morning, Bri," I greeted.

"Sammy! Good news! I already found a job that will definitely help you!"

My heart leaped from what I've heard. "R-really? What kind of job?"

"Pretty easy actually. You just have to be a nanny. Clean the house, cook, and stuff. They're willing to pay you double than the actual salary."

My eyes widened. "And why would they do that?"

"My friend didn't tell me the reason. It's pretty shady but I trust that friend of mine."

I don't really care about it, to be honest. I just want the job. If it's something that will get me in trouble, I don't really care anymore. If I don't pay the debts, I will end up dead. The only choice was to get that job and get paid.

"Alright. Where should I send the resume?"

"I'll message you the email of my friend because he'll be the one to talk to you. After you send him your resume, he will tell you the other details."

"Thank you, Bri," I said sincerely.

I'm still lucky to have a friend like her. We might not meet each other much but every time I need someone to talk to or someone who will listen, she'll always come to the rescue.

"You're welcome, Sammy. If the job is suspicious, get the hell out and don't accept the offer. I'll still look for other jobs in case that one won't be a success."

I smiled. "Alright."

I looked out the window and watched the snow slowly falling out from above.

I have to be braver and stronger in order to survive this cruel world.

WHEN I was a kid, I used to smile and laugh a lot. Even though I already know that my biological parents dropped me off in front of the orphanage, that didn't stop me from having fun as a kid. That was where I met Lance. He was a kid a year older than me. We clicked right away because we both love playing. We became the older brother and older sister of the kids that were several years younger than us.

When we reached the age of sixteen, an old couple visited our orphanage. Turned out their sons and daughters stopped visiting them anymore and they wanted to adopt kids that they will spend their life too. It was sad that they already accepted the fact that they will have to go anytime soon so I and Lance tried to make them happy and comfortable every time they visit the orphanage.

Some kids were all busy playing with each other but I and Lance were busy listening to Ma while reading a children's book. She said she loved doing it before with her kids. Pa was also there listening to Ma talked and it was one of the happiest moments in my life.

After a month of visiting the orphanage, we were informed that Ma and Pa wanted to adopt us. We were happy about it. Although it was sad that we have to leave our brothers and sisters behind, we were also happy that we will finally have a family.

It didn't take long and we were brought to Ma and Pa's house. When I stepped inside the house, I could feel the warmth. I could feel the love that they both accumulated in this square thing.

"What? You crying?" Lance teased.

I smacked his leg using my bag. He yelped. "I'm not!" I stuck my tongue out.

He laughed and ruffled my hair. "This is what we've been waiting for, Sam." He smiled and looked around the living room.

"Yeah," I answered.

"You can bring your stuff upstairs. We already cleaned your rooms so after sorting out your things, you can take a rest. We will call you if dinner is ready." Ma said while patting our heads.

I raised my hand. "I'll help! I can cook!" I said confidently.

Ma laughed and pinched my cheeks. "Darling, let Ma do the work. You can help me tomorrow. But for now, you should take a rest and get yourself comfortable."

I did what she said and went upstairs. I walked towards my room and I was happy to see my name on the door. When I opened it, the walls are pink, even the bedsheets. The furniture was white that complimented the color of the walls. There are plushies on top of the bed and it all looked fluffy.

"Lance!" I called out.

The door opened. "What?" He asked.

"Look!" I spread my arms out. "I love it!"

He smiled. "Of course, you do." He grabbed my arm. "You should look at my room too!"

We went to his room and I beamed when I saw the blue walls and bedsheets. He must be really happy because it was his favorite color.

"They really prepared this for us," I said while looking around. There are toys on top of the cabinet and it looked new. Ma and Pa probably bought it for Lance just like the plushies on top of my bed.

He sat at the edge of his bed. "You know, I lost hope of being adopted," he said while looking at the wall. "I thought of running away when I reached 18 and I thought of taking you with me."

I blushed and looked at the other side. "T-that would be troublesome."

He laughed. "Why? I can get a job. You can also get one too. We will rent a cheap apartment too."

I sat down beside him. "But we don't have to do that now." I held his hand. "We are really lucky to be in here, Lance. I know that we were about to lose hope but this is it. This is our hope. We don't have to go all that trouble because we are finally free."

His hold on my hand tightened. He smiled. "You're right. We are finally free."