Cassidy shut her eyes as if that would protect her from her predator that was about to devour her without mercy.
Suddenly, she began to hear lashes as if someone was being beaten up.
She opened her eyes forcefully and saw two men exchanging fistful blows.
She was shaking dreadfully when the second man plodded towards her.
The first man was in the pool of his own blood already.
She withdrew as sweat broke out on her palms.
Her palpitating heartbeat could be heard - she inched backwards on the ground.
This stranger stretched his hand to reach out for her.
Cassidy stared at his hand; her heartbeat and the beating of the pulse in her ears rose hysterically as she held her breath unconsciously.
" Take my hand."
His hoarse voice sent unease down her spine.
She touched his hand and he drew her up from the ground where she lay helplessly.
This stranger's hand was leathery and worn.
His fingers bore the deep crevices and cracks that only came with age.
Cassidy found herself wondering how an old man could be so strong to rescue her from a monster.
She sighed in contentment as they walked out together with her hand intertwined in his.
She stood with her mouth wide open as she realized that the stranger that had saved her wasn't an old man but a young and handsome man too.
A sad smile appeared on her face when she realized that he had left her hand.
Although the contact was gentle, she could still tell that he lacked human warmth.
A part of her was itching to ask questions like what his name was ( but most of all thank him for saving her life.)
Each time she opened her mouth to speak, she found herself saying nothing.
And this stranger didn't want to speak.
They both trudged absentmindedly till they got to Crescent.
Cassidy felt a need to thank him before leaving.
" I... I... want to thank you for saving me earlier," she stuttered.
And for the first time, she saw him smile shyly and his eyes glowed.
It was a refreshing sight to see.
This gladdened her heart.
At least, she knew he was human.
But before she could summon courage to ask for his name, he trailed off the road walking weakly.
Deep down, she felt something was wrong with him and she wanted to call him back to maybe give him food or shelter ( if her mother consented to it.)
****
Cassidy's breath hitched when she found out that her mother had been searching for her.
The mood wasn't soothing at all as her mother stormed her way into the centre of the sitting room after Cassidy closed the door.
Mrs Nicholas stared at her daughter sharply - contemplating what she should say first.
She crossed her arms and a deep frown etched on her face.
" Cassidy, I'm so disappointed in you.
Cassidy squeezed her palms together as she waited for the incoming lecture.
" Do I even have to spell it out for you?
I'm working hard to help you in every aspect so that your father wouldn't be so dissatisfied with you. We're supposed to work harder to earn his love and affection for you.
" You don't want to listen to me, so what exactly can you do?
How much are you going to disappoint me?
Your father recently scolded me for not teaching you well, and despite that, I still care about you and I'm willing to wait for you to snap out of it, but you don't seem like you've any intention to repent at all."
Cassidy thought that everything would be fine if she just gritted her teeth and endured it.
She thought everything would be fine if she just ignored her mother's hard glare.
It'd always been like this, so getting scolded once or twice wouldn't make any difference - that was what she thought.
Her mother arched her thin brows and stomped her feet steadily.
Cassidy turned her gaze downward because she didn't have a sane answer.
What part was she going to begin from?
.... that she went in search of someone her mother claimed not to know?
Or that she was almost raped?
Or that a stranger whom she couldn't find out his name had saved her from a stigma that would stick to her in life like a second skin?
Mrs Nicholas, her mother, would never understand any of those.
When she opened her mouth to explain, her mother cut her shut.
" You know that you're ill, don't you?"
Cassidy didn't reply.
" Yet, you go out so early and return home late.
" Today, I've been waiting for you to come back to take food to your father in his office."
The more Cassidy heard, the more she felt indignant about it.
Why was it always her?
Her father despised her incompetency.
What use was it?
Cassidy's head went numb when she realized how familiar the scene was.
" I have to attend an event in place of your father. You only have to put this food in his office. Don't disturb your father's work.
Mrs Nicholas had handed it over to Cassidy with a gentle smile.
" If you meet your father, don't forget to give him words of encouragement. Your relationship with your father might turn better.
" Don't be stubborn this time."
Cassidy breathed heavily and frowned.
" I know you're struggling, but don't blame your father too much. He's actually caring if you know how to coax him. You need to be more patient with him."
Cassidy felt cheated about this.
Why were they the only ones who had to be careful and considerate about their father's needs?
This was wrong.
She wanted to voice it out but her mother groaned helplessly.
" Let's stop arguing about this. Now, go. Your father is waiting."
*****
When Cassidy arrived at the hospital where her father worked, she walked straight to the gynaecology department ( greeting other doctors she bumped into.)
She pressed her ear to the door, and even if it was faint, she could hear gasps and moaning sounds inside.
There was also a man's grunt and a woman's giggle, also a creaking sound produced by some rigorous movement.
One did not need to look to know what kind of action transpired beyond the door.
Despite having a clue that something was wrong inside, she still opened the door and witnessed a disgusting sight of her father and a young woman with a nurse outfit entangled on top of the sofa.
They tarnished her innocent eyes forever by showing such a vulgar scene.
After that, her father, who had already despised her before that, started treating her like breeze.
Cassidy just couldn't bring herself to break the news to her mother ( who desperately clung to her father like her life depended on it.)