Not The Woman I Used To Know?
1375 Words
Ella's Point Of View
My hands trembled as I placed the phone on my right ear.
I'm slowly losing touch with reality. What I feel inside of me is nothing but emptiness.
I refused to speak. I was eager to hear her perfect excuse for selling me to the highest bidder.
The only selfish person in this story is my mom.
I wasn't excited that she called. Perhaps, it would have been a different story if none of this had happened.
“I'm sorry,” That was all my mum had to say to me.
Lies from the pit of hell. She should tell that to a kid who wants to be deceived by her tricks.
I stared at the phone in disgust just to be certain it was my mum on the line.
She sobs.
Crocodile tears.
She undeniably deserves an Oscar award for this performance.
“It wasn't meant to happen. I had no choice. The loan shark was going to kill me if I didn't pay up,” she explained to justify her actions.
Her apology meant nothing to me. I couldn't wait for her to end the conversation so I could get off the phone.
“Please say something,” she begged me. “Your silence sends pain to my soul,”
Say something? If only it were that easy. What on earth does she expect from me?
“I'm ready to fix this. Just state your demands, and I'll get them done,” she vowed!
Took her ages to hit the nail on the f*cking head. All I can sense is a desperate woman to fix the mess she has created.
She wasn't remorseful because she did the wrong thing. She only called to apologize because I found out about her evil plot against me.
“Terminate the contract immediately,” I spoke softly.
“I want to be set free. I have no right to my life anymore. Kenny has practically transformed me into his puppet. Is this the kind of life you wished for your daughter?” I stressed my vocal cords just to come up with that sentence.
“Is this a joke or are you just auditioning to be a stand-up comedian?” She giggled. “You can't be serious, are you?”
There's a significant difference in her tone of voice. The sudden change is shocking.
I guessed right when I saw she was faking it all along. Not believing the lies was the best decision I ever made.
“That's the only way I can forgive you for what you did,” I maintained my stance.
If she were next to me, she would understand I am not kidding.
“Come on, child. You know that's not going to happen. How do I clear my debts if we terminate the contract? Someone might get hurt,” she said, still hell-bent on complicating the situation while I'm trying to find a perfect solution and everyone goes home happy.
“I'm already hurting, Mum. Don't you get it?” I flared up at her. “How on earth did you need to explain before you understood that I'm losing my mind?”
I controlled my rage to avoid saying hateful things to her. Regardless of what happened, she is still my mom and should be treated as one.
“Why are you so selfish, Mum? Did you for once consider my feelings before throwing me into the belly of a whale?” I bemoaned.
“You'll be fine, Ella. Kenny is a good man. He can't possibly hurt you. He's there to protect you,” here comes my mother wanting to justify her stupidity.
“Mum,” I cautioned her. “Can you stop talking already? You're not even making sense to me right now,”
“You know what? I made a mistake speaking to you. Goodbye. And don't you dare call this line ever again,” I warned her and ended the telephone conversation.
I had a lot to say to her even before she called. But now, I don't feel it's necessary anymore.
They don't want to listen to me. She doesn't even care if the drastic decision she took is at the detriment of my life.
I waited patiently for her to reach out to me again. That way, I'm convinced that she genuinely apologized for what she did.
Seconds passed. Minutes gone and not even a beep from my mother.
“Oh, she took my warning seriously. That's some loyalty over there,” I muttered to myself.
At that point, I knew it was all over. I don't have a mother. I only have someone who sees me as a money-making machine.
“I need to leave,” I said to myself.
I just had to make the decision. There's no need to be in a place where I am not wanted.
Everyone just wants to take advantage of me. My mum, I thought was my fortress of solitude, turned out to be the biggest snitch ever.
Quickly, I grabbed a bag to fill with my clothes as I prepared to leave.
I had no destination in my head. Regardless, I was eager to leave.
Wandering in the streets homeless is better than living in the same space with snakes and lions.
I was done parking my clothes in my box when a thought swarmed across my mind.
“What if you're caught trying to escape?” I said to myself. “Have you considered the consequences of a failed escape mission?”
I don't see Callum letting me leave the house. He has developed a soft spot for me and is willing to rival his brother for my heart.
With Isla, I stand a chance of escaping. She is obsessed with Kenny. She sees me as a threat. Too bad Kenny only had eyes for me.
Immediately, I dropped the box on the bed and stormed out of the room.
I pretended that everything was fine as I walked to the living room.
I was on the verge of recording a successful escape plan when I heard a baritone voice behind me. “Going somewhere?” My heart nearly jumped from my body.
I held the door handle without letting go. I stayed in character, even though my heart wouldn't stop beating faster.
“I want to step out to get some toiletries for myself,” I lied while I turned my back on him.
“I'll drop you off,” Calum insisted.
“No,” I declined violently.
“I mean, I'll walk,” I had to speak nicely. I didn't want him asking more questions.
“Are you really sure about this?” There he goes again with his crazy questions.
He just can't read the room to know where to stop.
Where was he when I needed him the most? He was meant to come save me from Kenny.
“Believe me, I prefer to walk. I'll be back in a bit,” I said to him.
“Okay!” He sighed. I assumed that was a sign of giving up.
“Don't stay too long.” That was the first time he had ever spoken to me before I took some steps.
“That was close,” I heaved a heavy sigh and rushed outside.
Just when I thought I had finally plotted my perfect escape plan, I spotted Kenny's convoy driving inside the mansion.
“Oh, boy!” I exclaimed.
“He isn't supposed to be back so early,” I thought to myself. I expected him to be out until nightfall.
His return could only mean one thing; I won't be able to escape anymore.
With the clause attached to the bloody contract he signed with my selfish mother, Kenny would rather die than let me leave.
And if he ever finds out that I attempted to escape and breach the contract, he will inflict so severe injuries on me that I'd wish for the Harbinger of death to come take me to the underworld.
He won't stop there,
Oh, no. He won't.
He would lock me inside the room and have me starved to serve as my punishment for wanting to disobey him.
- Writer
