Hi , I am Maria. I am 20 years old and I live in Argentina . Ever since I was young, I always thought that I have a perfect life . Because I have the best parents in the world, I had trust worthy friends , my grades were better. Everything that a perfect life needs I had it . Just as I thought that my life was perfect my world crashed down . I was broken into millions of pieces just because of one man . I lost everything , my life , my friends , my family , my cousins, everything just because of one man.

As I said that I had the best parents in the world I especially meant my dad . I loved my dad a lot . He was my hero , my happiness , my world. He was everything to me . I was really close to my dad and whenever something happened to him I couldn't help but worry cause I cared about him a lot . One day, I saw my dad watching the Telly . He was laughing and grinning while watching his favorite tv show but then suddenly he got a message on his mobile. When he saw the message his wide grin was replaced with a fearful and anxious look I got concerned seeing him like this . He got startled when I asked him what's wrong . He smiled and said " it's nothing sweetheart. I am okay " . I said " ok " and didn't question him further even though when he smiled it was a forced smile it was a smile tha said everything will be alright . Ever since that day I used to see my dad making anxious faces whenever he saw certain messages I couldn't help but worry about him . One day , after I got back from college I heard my mom yelling in the living room . I quickly made my way to the living room to see what was going on . I heard her yell again saying " why the hell didn't you tell me this before ? " worry and anger lacing in her voice . When I reached the living room and was about to hide and eavesdrop , unfortunately my dad saw me and asked me to come in . When I entered the living room I saw my mom quickly turning her face to her right side so that I couldn't see her face . My dad said to me " Maria love why don't you go outside and play volleyball since it's your favorite game or you can even hang out with your friends " I was about to protest but stopped seeing my dad's pleading face . I said "ok" and went outside .

After about a hour I returned to my house and was about to enter but suddenly my dad opened the door and rushed outside . I was a bit shocked and was about to run after him but he was gone . I entered my house and called out to my mom but I got no response . I went inside the living room and there I saw my mom sobbing very bitterly. . I rushed to her and hugged her . After a while she regained her composure . I didn't ask her what happened because I knew she didn't want to tell me . I was about to leave the living room thinking that mom needs some alone time but she stopped me and said " you wanna know what happened right ? I will tell you " I said " it's ok mom you don't really have to tell me anything " she said " No , it's not okay. I will tell you , sit here " . I hesitated a bit but sat down . She started " I know you are worried about your dad like how he is getting anxious from seeing some messages . He gets anxious because he gets death threats " I gasped in horror and said " What ? Why ? Who ? " My mom said " As you know that your dad is a reporter and a reporter's job is to find stories . Once , when he was searching for some stories , he heard rumours about Mark Jackson the well known businessman in Los Angelos . Your dad got interested and searched more about him. After a lot of research he got to know some dark secrets about him but unfortunately Mark got to know that your dad knows his secrets and is nowattempting to kill your dad " . After I heard that I felt millions of dragger's being stabbed in my heart . After my mom finished telling me everything, she requested me not to tell dad .

After my dad came back I acted normal but deep inside I was broken , scared, sad and angry. I was feeling so many emotions . I felt like I could burst into tears and was torn with anger . But I controlled myself for dad . As days went by , I saw my dad having traumas , nightmares and lots more . He was going through so much alone . I wanted to help him, do something to make him feel better but I knew I couldn't do anything since I was nothing but a useless and hopeless girl .

One day , my teacher announced in my class that we have 3 days college trip to Hollywood studio . I didn't want to go because I didn't want to leave my parents but they forced me to go . They told me to go and have fun with my friends . I tried to protest but they didn't listen to me so I had to go but I wished if I had not gone to that trip then today I would have not been an orphan .

After the trip, I returned home I saw all the lights were switched off . I was confused but then I thought maybe mom and dad had gone outside . I went inside and saw everything ruined . By seeing the condition of my house I was scared out of my wits . When I opened my bedroom , I shook like a leaf seeing my dad sitting alone in the dark room . I asked him " Dad what's wrong why are you sitting here all alone in the dark ? " My dad quickly looked at me with a shocked face and hugged me tightly and said " oh my god , I am so glad that you are ok . I thought I lost you too . Where were you sweetheart ? " I was very confused and said " Dad what are you saying . I went to 3 days trip remember ? And where is mom why couldn't I see her ? And do you know what happened to the house? Why is everything ruined ?. My dad looked at me and started sobbing and said " your mom is gone they killed her and it's all because of me " my heart cracked into millions of pieces and I shouted " NO , THIS CANNOT BE TRUE . I will kill that business man " I was crying very hard . My dad looked at me shocked and said " how did you know ?" I told him that mom had told me everything . Then what my dad said to me was something I wished he had never told me . He told me Mark Jackson's all dark secrets . I didn't understand why he told me but the moment he told me I heard a gun shot I looked forward to see a mam dressed in all black and a gun in his hand . That man said " you are hopeless Chris you can't even keep a little secret . We told you not to tell anyone but you broke our little promise. And now you have paid your mistake with your life but unfortunately because of you your wife died and now you're innocent daughter is also gonna die " . After he said that I realized he had shot my dad . I quickly pulled my scarf and covered my face so that he couldn't see my face and ran out of my house . I ran and ran until I reached a dark alley . I hid there until Mark 's guards are out of sight . I ran to my cousins arthrits house and told him everything . I stayed with him for a few days . I wanted to go back to my house but I couldn't . I still cannot believe my dad , my hero died in my arms . The person who I loved the most died in my arms . Even my mom I didn't even see her before she died .

Arthit told me that it was not safe for me to stay in Los Angelos anymore . So I decided to leave the country and go to Argentina . I left the country , changed my name , I disappeared from Los Angelos and left everyone without saying a word . Before dying my dad told me where the report of Marks Jackson was . I reported it to the police and the evidence was at my house . So they took the report's and the evidence . Mark Jackson was jailed .

Now here in Arjentina I am happy . I have started a new life and I am one year close to my dream of becoming a doctor . Even though I have moved on from everything and I am living a happy life , there is still a dark and sore spot in my heart which will always be there .