Breanna's Pov:-
I was sitting on the floor with tears rolling in my eyes, I glanced at my aunt who was glaring at me with hatred and disgust. She kicked me with her leg hard in my gut, "Get up," She screamed, I hissed in pain and bit my lower lip while controlling not to cry out. I pressed my palm on the floor and got up.
"Stop crying and go clean them now," She yelled and pushed me away. I stumbled back but composed myself and slowly walked to the sink. I wiped my tears and began cleaning. My life was a disaster.
The day I lost my parents everything just stumbled, though they never loved me, I used to be safe there. They never hurt me this way, mom never asked me to do all these kinds of work nor she asked me to cook. I was just told to study and get good marks.
I don't know what I did wrong, I don't know why they never loved me but they never hurt me. From the day my uncle brought me to his house, aunt Isabell always beat me and scolded me, making me do all the housework. I never said no to her demands since I have only them as my family now.
"Bye Mom," I heard Cora, I glanced back and saw her climbing down the stairs with her backpack and kissing aunt's cheek. I envy her, I always wanted my mom to love me as Aunt loves Cora but I never received that kind of love and affection from my mother. It makes me feel so jealous of Cora.
She glanced at me and scoffed, "Pathetic,"
Life is tough.
I turned away and swallowed the sorrow I had while quickly completing my work and rushed out of the kitchen. I glanced at my aunt who was reading the newspaper while sitting on the couch. I hesitantly walked to her and cleared my throat,
"Aunty, I did everything…" I said while clutching the hem of my dress.
"Everything?" She looked away from the newspaper and locked her eyes with mine, I nodded my head and tried my best to not stay calm. She continued to stare at me with a calculative look on her face.
"Okay, Go now," She said and stared back at her newspaper. I quickly rushed out of the house with my backpack and walked to the bus stop. I just turned 20 recently, but no one knows that. I never celebrated my birthday even with my parents, It was just another normal day to me.
As I got the bus to my college and reached it, When I first came to Austin, Texas 4 years back I couldn't even come out of the house. It took days for me to mend in and meet new people, Uncle noticed my problem and joined me in the same school Cora was going to.
Although we don't mingle with each other, she did help me in the starting days and after that, she never bothered about me. I somehow made friends and studied hard. Working hard for my studies paid off as I got admission to the University of Texas.
My uncle couldn't afford the dorms and my aunt would never allow me to live on my own since she would lose a free live-in maid. She said that on my face, although I don't mind her saying that her harsh words did hurt me all the time. I only have them and living with them always reminds me of my parents for that I tried to endure all the pain.
I walked into the university and strolled straight in the direction of my class, on my way my eyes caught the sight of Daniel chatting and laughing with his friends. My eyes moved to Lena who clung onto his arm way too close, dying for his attention.
Before I could look away, he turned his head and his eyes met mine. A small smirk played on his lips as he wrapped his arm around Lena's waist and pulled her closer to him. My heart clenched inside my chest as I felt as if someone ripped my heart out.
He used to be my first ever boyfriend, my first love and he told me that he loves me and would do anything for me and I, like an idiot, believed him and loved him with my whole heart like a fool. I couldn't understand his actual motives, he just wanted to get into my pants. He never loved me or anything.
When I said no, he insulted me and broke up with me. I shouldn't have believed him but I did and ended up getting hurt and heartbroken.
I paced my backpack beside me and pulled my books out. When I sit in the class, I completely forget about things and concentrate on my studies. I just want to study well, get a job, and start a family. It has always been my dream to have a small family of my own. A loving husband and kids, live a happy life with them.
"Good morning," I heard Mia's voice. I turned and saw her sitting beside me with a huge smile on her face.
"Morning," I replied, smiling back.
Mia is my best friend. We met when I first joined the high school and have been friends since then. She's an outspoken bubbly girl and a very good listener as well. She knows how my aunty treats me and always advised me to get away from them or at least stand up for myself. She's a very good friend.
It was economics class and the lecture began shortly after everyone settled. After that, I had an English class. Without wasting my time I attended the class.
***
By the end of my last class, I was tired. Mia and I decided to get a coffee and relax, so we headed over to the cafeteria.
"Are you okay?" She asked while eyeing me,
"Yeah… Absolutely fine," I replied,
"Don't lie to me," She groaned in annoyance,
"It's clear on your face that something happened again at home!"
I sighed while looking away from her, "Breanna," she held my hand and squeezed them,
"Please take my advice, Don't let them do this to you," She said with a genuine worry in her eyes.
"You need to stand up for yourself, Breanna, You're old enough to get out of there… I'll help you find a place to live and you already has a job to support yourself," she urged,
"Please just take my advice and leave them, don't let them do this to you," She requested, "I know they're your only family and I know you can't just leave them… but..at least think about it… give it a thought… Do you deserve the way they are treating you?" she said,
I took a deep breath and nodded my head at her, "I will definitely give it a thought, Mia," I said, hearing my words a huge smile appeared on her lips. She quickly hugged me and expressed her happiness.
"I said I'll give it a thought… I didn't agree yet!" I chuckled, she Ignored my words.
***
I placed my bag in the locker and changed my clothes. I work part-time in a local bar called Whiler's street bar, I earn good money. If I decide to move away from my uncle and aunty, I need to find a cheaper alternative since I can't afford the dorms. I walked out and quickly pushed myself into work.
I wiped and placed the last glass on the shelf and turned to Morgan, we cleaned and closed it after the last customer exited. Morgan lives near the bar, and I need to walk through a few blocks to reach my home.
"Is it Daniel again?" she asked while walking beside,
"No," I replied,
She knows about Daniel and everything about me. After Mia, Morgan is my good friend, she is a few years older than me. We work together and share our issues with each other.
"Then what is it?" she asked sensing my silence,
"I don't know, I'm tired of everything," I said while sighing,
"Take a break, Breanna," She suggested, "You work a lot for your age, just take a break…" she squeezed my hand and turned away. I glanced at her as she walked in the direction of her house.
I think I should listen to Mia and Morgan for once, I thought while sighing and walking alone.
***
As I reached home, I heard Uncle's voice. It sounded like they were arguing. I opened the front door and stepped inside. I noticed the shattered pieces of glasses on the floor and glanced at my aunt and uncle who looked like they were in a serious argument.
"I just can't believe this…" aunty sighed while sitting on the couch,
The air was tense and I could feel something serious had happened by the look on their faces. I slowly strolled towards them, "Is… everything alright?" I asked, looking at both of them. Cora was sitting beside Aunt and was staring at the floor.
Uncle had sweat all over his forehead and looked extremely tense, "Uncle?" I called but no response. Aunty looked at me and stood up, looking at her I got nervous, I shouldn't have asked anything! I scolded myself in anxiety.
She walked straight to me, I took a step back. All of a sudden she grabbed both my hands, a gasp left my lips as I stared at her in shock and surprise. She had tears in her eyes and her lips were quivering.
"Help us, Breanna, Only you can save us from this situation," She pleaded, I stared at her confusion.
"What situation… what happened?" I asked with a bit of fear inside me,
"Your uncle… your uncle had this huge debt to someone… and they wanted the money at any cost… She cried, "We don't have that much money with us," she sobbed,
"He… he.. sold you to them and... if you don't go with them… then they'll kill us all," She cried,
I didn't know what to say as her words blew my mind, "No… there has to be another way…" I said while trying to find any solutions and deny that.
"We… we will ask them to give us some time... or something," I said while glancing at Uncle,
"They won't listen to us…" Uncle said in helplessness,
"...only you can save us… please…. Save us from them… we are your family…. You have to save us…" she said with full of hope in her eyes which made me feel uncomfortable while tears rushed to my eyes.
"You need to go with those men," She said and my heart literally stopped beating,
"What?"
Author's Note:-
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