Darkness!

Darkness!

So much darkness that it was unbearably suffocating.

Pain.

A pain like no other had taken over her body and soul.

The crimson red was everywhere, leaking out of her open wounds unchecked. Her blood flowed like a small stream as it mixed with the rainwater that drizzled heavily. Her body felt cold and numb, a feeling that she was unfortunately quiet used to.

This pain was no different from the feelings she has been having for the past three years living with that man. The pain was just oddly too familiar.

A smiling face appeared before her dimming eyes. The smiling face of the devil who has made her life a living hell. The devil whom she gave up everything for. The same devil who made her afraid of her own shadows.

Then his hand reached for her and there was nothing she could do! Her wet, bleeding body refused to move as the hand grabbed her.

"No!" She screamed jolting out from her sleep.

Tears ran unchecked down her face as she wrapped her arms around herself. "It was just a nightmare. It was just a nightmare!"

She kept repeating this phrase until she was wide awake. Then the realization hit her hard. It was not just a nightmare; it was the very life she had lived before her attempted suicide.

She rubbed the sleep and tears from her eyes and looked at the alarm clock that was on her bedside stool. The clock read 3:00 AM. She let out a heavy sigh as she removed the soft covers from her tired body. Still clutching on herself, she walked towards the balcony of her room to clear her mind with some fresh air.

She didn't bother to even cover her bare shoulders from the cool early morning as she stepped outside. Her hands found the frigid railing as her head rested on the metal bars. She welcomed the cool breeze that brought peace to her tortured soul.

An hour went by as she stayed rooted in the same spot until an unexpected hand covered her body from behind. A warm shawl was placed on her bare shoulders as warmth engulfed her cold body. A subtle smile formed on her face revealing two beautiful deep dimples on both of her pale cheeks.

"Thank you, Father." Jasmine's mellow voice said almost in a whisper.

Edgar looked at the young girl in his embrace and nodded without saying a word. He was a father after all. He knew that there were times when words were not needed to comfort someone, especially one as close as his own daughter. This was one of such times.

Looking down at her, Edgar could say that his adopted daughter had his late wife's personality. Jasmine used to be sweet, innocent, and very trusting that one could call her naïve. Now, however, Jasmine was more aware of people and their nature.

It saddened him that Jasmine's once cheerful nature was no longer there as her innocence had somehow died in that accident. Such a terrible fate!

The middle-aged man stayed with his daughter in silence until she turned her head towards him with another dimpled smile. It was her genuine smile. The smile that was rarely there nowadays.

"Father, I feel like painting right now. Can you be my muse?" Jasmine asked.

There was no way he could say no to his beautiful little princess. Especially when she was giving him her sincerest smile. "Of course, darling. Anything for my princess."

Jasmine felt her cold heart thaw some as she listened to her father's sonorous voice which sounded like home. She stood on her tip toes and kissed her father's cheek lovingly. "Thank you, Daddy. Let's get you a comfortable chair. I don't want you tired out before the day even begins."

Soon, her art supplies were set and ready. Jasmine also made a warm cup of chocolate for the two of them and set the cups on the table that was in front of her father. Her painting stand was in place just in front of the table. The moment she took her painting brush and dipped it in the colors, she felt liberated.

Edgar was in a comfortable sitting position in the posh chair. He watched on as his princess did what she was best at doing. The gentle blow of the wind swayed her long, curly ginger hair in the breeze that seeped into the bedroom. Her small moon shaped face glowed lightly with the illuminating moon that was now settling low on the horizon.

Her emerald eyes were focused on the paper that she was drawing on, despite it being still dim. She looked like a fairy with the paleness of her skin color that accentuated her features.

"As long as I live, I promise that no one will ever hurt you again." Edgar thought as he watched her every move. "Even if I must commit murder, I will do it just to keep you safe. This I promise with the moon and the stars as my witness!"

Time flew by as the two sat in silence and the moon was soon replaced by the morning sun. One a willing muse while the other, an eager artist ready for her muse. With each stroke of her paint brush, her eyes would a light with passion. Another hour passed by in that state.

At last, the night was fully dispelled as the sun broke the horizon marking the beginning of a beautiful new day. The sound of chirping birds sang out from the nearby jungle and the trees swayed as if bowing in farewell as the nights clouds cleared. By the time the sun fully came up, Edgar had fallen asleep in his chair.

Jasmine stood up from her stool where she had been painting and walked towards her sleeping father. She removed the shawl that he used to cover her and in turn covered his now sleeping body after adjusting his stance to be more comfortable. She pecked his forehead with her soft lips and walked deeper into her bedroom.

Jasmine's morning routine was quite the same. Within the last two years, from the very day of that nightmare, she had changed not only as a person but also as a woman. She took better care of herself and put her needs before everyone else apart from her new family.

Some people would call her selfish for acting this way, but life had taught her to be selfish. If she would not look out for herself and her interest, everyone else will put their own interest before hers and use her. She now loved and appreciated herself more after coming back from the abyss of hell.

The near-death incident had taught her to treasure those she can, and let go of those that don't treasure her back. It was as simple as that, but when it came to letting go of them, that was the hard part. As she dressed up for the day, she enjoyed the jazz music playing in the background from the radio.

Jasmine walked out of her room into the hall with the intention of going to the kitchen. As she walked downstairs, she was suddenly lifted bridal style. She giggled as she wrapped her hands around her eldest brother's neck.

"Good morning angel." Came his dulcet voice in her ear.

"Good morning, your Highness." Jasmine replied.

Max smiled exposing his well-arranged smile that pulled at one's heart. His handsome face looked radiant as he effortlessly carried Jasmine downstairs to the dining room where he gently placed her on the chair at the dining table. The food was already prepared by the maids and the table was already set but the two waited regardless, for the other members  of the family to join them.

"I definitely won dude. You must wash all my underwear for a week!" Came a cheerful voice from the stairwell.

"No way man, you cheated!" Replied a grumpy male's voice.

Two young men were walking down the stairs arguing with loud boisterous voice until they realized they had an audience. Coming into the dining room, Travis laughed sheepishly as he bent a little leaving a peck on Jasmine's right cheek while Emilio copied his action and kissed her left cheek.

"Good morning princess!" They chorused in unison.