Midnight scars

Lynne, after packing her bags, moved to the mirror to get a glimpse of the murderer she had become. She said to herself, "I killed my dad." Flashes of how everything had changed from beauty to chaos flooded her mind. Just a couple of weeks before, everything had been perfect. Her father was alive, and she was about to become Mrs. Roy De'veon, but in the blink of an eye, it all came crashing down. Lynne had discovered that her boyfriend had been sleeping with her best friend. She had returned home crying that day, and her dad, being the caring dad he was, had decided to deal with Roy himself. That night, Lynne's father left but never returned. All they received was a phone call from the police station, informing them that her father had been murdered by Roy. Lynne had plunged into depression, seeking comfort from her only surviving family member, her mom. However, instead of finding solace, her mom turned her back on her, blaming her for her father's untimely demise. A week later, Lynne's dad was buried, but her mom still maintained her cold attitude towards her. Her mom used every opportunity to remind Lynne of how she had "killed" her dad. Lynne couldn't bear it anymore. So, she made plans to leave for another city, where she would start anew with her best friend. With determination, Lynne took one final look at her reflection, grabbed her luggage, and left, leaving behind only a heartfelt letter for her mom. As Lynne gazed one last time at the old bungalow she had lived in since birth, tears streamed down her cheeks. She was finally leaving this city, which had caused her so much pain. This city held too many bad memories for Lynne. The 21-year-old had endured strings of heartbreak and emotional traumas. She had dated two other guys before Roy, both of which ended in tears. The first one had abandoned her at the altar, and the second, Larry, had only used her as camouflage for his gay nature. Leaving for California, Lynne hoped for a fresh start and a chance to leave the pieces of her broken heart behind. In her red 2015 Toyota Camry XSE V6, which her late father had gifted her on her 20th birthday, Lynne drove to California, through the sun-kissed streets. She'd been driving for hours, fueled by a mix of grief, anger, and desperation. As she pulled into Becky's driveway, her friend's warm and inviting home was a beacon of hope. Becky flung open the door, a huge smile spreading across her face. "Lynne!" she exclaimed, rushing to envelop her friend in a tight hug. Lynne felt a wave of relief wash over her as Becky's warmth and love wrapped around her like a comforting blanket. "I've missed you so much!" Becky said, holding Lynne at arm's length to study her face. "You look exhausted. Come on in, let's get you settled and catch up." As they walked into the cozy living room, excitement could be seen on Becky's face as she snuggling up beside Lynne on the couch. "We'll get through this together, okay?" Lynne faked a smile, as she made her way into the guestroom and went directly into the shower. As she showered she felt grateful for Becky's unwavering support and friendship. For the first time in weeks, she felt like she could finally exhale, let go of the pain and grief, and start to heal.When she was done showering, Becky made her something light to eat. She laid on the couch and was fast asleep. The following morning, the warm sunlight streaming through the window gently woke Lynne up. She stretched, feeling a slight ache in her neck from sleeping on the couch. As she sat up, she noticed Becky had already gotten up and was busy in the kitchen. The aroma of freshly cooked breakfast wafted through the air, making Lynne's stomach growl with anticipation. Becky walked in with a bright smile, "Good morning! How are you feeling?" she asked, setting down a tray with a steaming plate of pancakes and scrambled eggs. Lynne smiled back, "I'm feeling good, thanks. Just a bit sore from sleeping on the couch." Becky's expression softened, " Sorry about that I didn't want to disturb you since you were fast asleep." Lynne shook her head, " I'm fine, it's just a slight pain in the neck." Becky handed Lynne a cup of hot coffee, "Well, eat up, take a shower and dress up. Will be taking a tour round town." When both ladies were all dressed up, they dashed in Lynne's car. They drove to almost every corner of the city. "My stomach is growling in hunger" Becky said. It was time for Becky to fulfill her long time promise. While in Chicago, Becky had promised to take Lynne to the much talk restaurant "The Golden Arches". Lynne could not wait to try it out. When they got into the restaurant it was fully booked but they managed to snag the last available table. While waiting for their orders, they were chatting about old times. Suddenly walked before them was, a vision of chiseled perfection. His 6-foot frame was wrapped in a tailored black suit, accentuating his broad shoulders.Dark hair framed his face, dark sparling eyes and his smile revealed dimples. He was Alex McDonald, a spoiled brad and grandson of Van McDonald. His grandpa was amongst the top richest men in the city. He owned Golden Arches restaurant, lots of restaurants and oil factories not only in the city but in other countries as well. With an air of entitlement, the handsome stranger strode up to the table, his chiseled features set in a confident smirk. "Hey! you peasants" he said, his deep voice dripping with condescension. "I need this table. Vacate immediately ?"His tone implied that it was a foregone conclusion, that they would, of course, jump at the chance to surrender their seats to him. Becky, a petite blonde, looked up at him with a mixture of annoyance and intimidation, quickly gathering her belongings and scurrying away. However, Lynne, a raven-haired beauty with a fiery spark in her eyes, remained seated. "I'm not going anywhere," she said, her voice firm and steady, meeting his gaze with a defiant glint in her eye. The stranger's smirk faltered for a moment, caught off guard by her refusal to back down. The young man pulled Lynne by the hair and kicked her out. Everyone at the restaurant was murmuring, wondering if this man was actually raised by humans or by animals. But no one had the gods to stand up against him. He grabbed Lynne and Becky's hair and pulled them out of the restaurant. In spite all the murmuring, Alex didn't give a damn about what they were saying. He ordered for steaks and mashed potatoes while waiting for Jake his childhood friend. The waiters were aware of his bad temperament so they served his order in seconds. When Jake came Alex narrated how he was insulted by a peasant girl. Jake was really eager to meet the girl who stood up at his friend. Don't bother Alex, she's just lucky you were kind towards he by just pulling her out of the restaurant Jake said."If I were around she will have been stripped naked", he said as they laughed. "Hey! Waiter!" Jake yelled, his voice echoing through the restaurant. The waiter, a harried-looking young man, rushed over to their table. 'I'm so sorry, sir. Is everything okay?' Jake glared at him. "No, everything is not okay. I've been sitting here for 10 minutes, and you still haven't come to take our order." Alex, who was sitting across from Jake, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, what's the problem? Can't you see he's starving here?" The waiter apologized profusely. "I'm so sorry, sirs. It's just been really busy tonight. I'll take your order right away." But Jake was having none of it. "You should have thought of that before you ignored me" he snapped, his face red with anger. Alex stood up, his eyes blazing with fury. "You're not doing the job my dad is employing you for," he said, his voice menacing. And with that, Alex slapped the waiter across the face, making him stumble backward in shock. Jake grinned, satisfied. "That's what you get for poor service," he said, nodding in approval. The restaurant fell silent, with all eyes on the commotion at Jake and Alex's table. Alex and friend, immediately left the restaurant for a club across the road. The waiter, still reeling from the slap. "Lynne was so mad that through out the drive she kept talking about the incident. The next day, Lynne woke up at 7:50 am, she was almost late for her 8 am appointment at the University she had applied for. She rapidly changed into anything she could find in her closet and drove off. Deafening bang echoed through the air as two cars collided, sending shattering glass and twisted metal flying everywhere.