CHAPTER 1 - MY DREAMS
When I was a kid I read an article on Stephanie Thompson, a supermodel in the 90s, telling how hard she worked towards achieving her dreams, and how it got harder with each passing year. When I read her article, I noticed similarities between us but still differences too. We shared the same belief as a little girl, the same cresent struggle in the formation of a young adult at 23, and especially, we believe in the light at the end of the tunnel.
Still, we were different. We did not grow up in the same neighborhood nor were we even born in the same country. However, we were still that little girls with big dreams.
*******************************
I'm from a striving family of three; My mom and my little sister, Abigail were the only family I had. We lived in the slums of New York. My sister Abigail just turned 19 and she was already loose. We'd always fight because she doesn't get that I know what was best for her, besides, I'm her elder sister and I have a responsibility to guide her. She works at a bar and she's had multiple abortions ever since she turned 18. My mum well, she's always emotional, nonetheless, I still feel everything Abigail and I are passing through is her fault. Why would you force yourself on someone broke? I mean, it was obvious he didn't love her, or even want her, especially after she'd brought in "baggage" - us, to keep him tied down. Abigail is just so loose like her, I guess the fruit doesn't fall far... Now she claims to regret her actions. Funny enough she still drinks and smokes... I've come to accept that she's just a rugged woman. But I'm not gonna turn a blind eye to Abigail who's going down the same path. As for me, I guess I'm the clout chaser. I've always dreamt of being a model, it's almost psychic. I was that one girl who felt like everything was possible with all the strength of my heart.
*****************************
It was a pleasant sunny afternoon when I went for a walk. As I passed through our neighborhood, I clutched my purse and kept looking over my shoulder. You should expect the worst from the dudes here. I heard a hiss, knowing I was the one being referred to, I turned.... and there was a man who looked 40, but should be like 30. I rolled my eyes at him and spun on my heels. However, he covered the distance between us in a flash, grabbed my arm, and pulled. Naturally, I came easily but I wasn't about to take a shit. Not from him nor anyone else in this damned hellhole.
"Get your hands off me you slime ball, the f*** you want?" I yelled, pulling my arm. However, the effort was futile and he grinned wickedly. My heart was beating faster, the world seemed to tilt a bit around me, and my fear of this place was shoving itself in my face.
"Feisty," he whispered, breathing sharply. "Turns me on. You're even prettier than your sister, bet you'd be much better in bed..." Suddenly, he forced a kiss on me. I bit him and kneed his groin. The salty, coppery taste on my tongue told me I bit hard enough, I spat his own blood on him, feeling powerful. However, two hefty men appeared and I made a beeline for the exit, screaming for help. I ran onto the road and so many things happened at the same time, everything seemed to slow down, like time was trying to accommodate so many entries and suddenly, something struck my side.
*******************************
Car horns were blaring but he didn't care. He'd just run a young lady over. However, he was stuck in denial for a second before his brain kicked into action. He rushed out of the SUV and rushed to the front, there she was, a few feet away.
"F***!" He swore repeatedly, rushing and taking her in his arms. She had a few scrapes but he was more worried about what might've happened within. He looked around for anything; support, clues, help, all he spotted were the two men slinking into the shadows. "Oh s***!" He managed to carry her into the Bentley Bentayga and sped away, setting the car's GPS for the nearest hospital. His eyes kept darting between the road and the unconscious lady lying across his back seat. He'd taken his eyes off the road for just one second, one, and she appeared from nowhere, nowhere.
His tyres screeched to a stop in front of the emergency entrance and nurses rushed to meet him, pulling a stretcher along. He left the engine running and leaped off, assisting them to get her onto the stretcher. They checked her vitals as they wheeled her away, and another nurse tried to get details from him. However, her voice was drowned out by everything else. He'd just gotten his license back, after the last one. In a fit of panicking, he slammed a huge wad of cash on her notepad, rushed into the SUV, and sped off.
**************************
I came to slowly, first I noticed the world was black, it was a bit scary, but then, I caught a lavender scent, nice and sweet. It had a soothing effect, at the same time, the sir on my skin felt damp, and conditioned. Then the sounds, they seemed afar off and droned so I couldn't make words out. I raised my right arm, opening my eyes at the same time, slowly at first. The room seemed fuzzy and everything had an outer layer or two added, like they were phasing. Slowly, my eyes adjusted and things came into focus. I could see my hand, and I turned it to see the back.
My mom was sitting beside me, crying, I tried to sit up but suddenly, the doors swung open, and Abigail ushered the doctor in. A nurse came with him and they held me down, running a few tests on me. First, my vital signs, then the doctor, pointed his light at my eyes, poked my feet, just the normal check-up. Though I felt like lead, I felt like time was crawling for me, and once they were done, she gave me a shot and everything went black, but this time, my body welcomed it.
**************************
I came to again, this time, it felt like I had just gotten up. I yawned and stretched. Suddenly, I screamed, as pain shot from the side of my body and all over. This time, my mom rushed to my side, calming me. I felt a bit tired but at least, the fuzziness was gone. Everything came with the normal stark contrast.
"It's gonna be ok baby," she cooed.
I hugged her and sobbed, what happened to me? Did I damage my chances at modeling? I shivered in fear.
"It's gonna be ok, let me call the doctor," she consoled me, the best she could, breaking our embrace. Then she backed away till she got to the door and left.
I sat there, feeling hapless, then I felt my side, on my left. There didn't seem to be any deformation. I could still feel the pain though, a dull throbbing along that side. I sighed in relief, it wasn't too much of a problem then. I felt pressed so I moved the blanket away and swept my feet off the bed. There were slippers on this side, a touching gesture on the part of the hospital. I slipped them on gingerly and got to my feet, all good. However, once I took the first step, I knew something was wrong. The door opened then, and my mom, as well as, the doctor, was just in time to see me crash in a heap of broken dreams.
******************
" I just want to start up my modeling career," I said, sobbing. It was already the third time I'd broken down this morning and once more, my mom tried to comfort me. A month had passed since the accident and I was still recovering.
"You have to at least get better. You can't turn up at an audition looking or walking like the toddler from Henry Danger."
Yeah, as you might've guessed, she wasn't doing a good job. I needed to leave the environment.
"I thought the doctor Dave moved the appointment for next week," she asked, as I picked up my hospital card from the fridge.
"No mum, he rescheduled. I got to go now. Bye." I said, rushing as fast as I could with the walking aid.
The sound of her walking aid attracted onlookers but I didn't care. I could hear the whispers but to me, that's all they were and I slowly made her way to the hospital.
At the hospital, I met a nurse and explained myself but the nurse couldn't attend to me because there was no appointment. I heaved a resigned sigh, prepared to leave. But then,
"Excuse me, are you Sabrina?"
"Yes I am, ma'am" I replied, smiling wanly.
"I was the nurse that was in charge of taking care of you, you seem worried and lost. Any problem?"
"Please I need your help!" I gripped her hand in two of mine.
"What is the problem dear?"
"I was looking for Doctor Dave, maybe he should have the answer to my question. Do you by any chance know the stranger who paid for my hospital bill? The person ran into me with a car?"
"No I don't dear, but I'll try to find out from the reception."
Sabrina hadn't figured out why she wanted to see who this stranger was. Her neighborhood had convinced her that nice people ceased to exist a while back and this singular act of her savior stood against that statement. She had to know it was.