Rosaline's POV


Tears stream down my face as I listened to my own father rain insults on me, with my mother on the couch glaring at me.

"You little whore!" He slaps me hard across the cheek.

"You think you're now a hotshot for bagging an interview in Woods Enterprises? You now have the guts to talk while I'm talking?"

I sobbed heavily.

"No father, I'll never tal…." Another slap lands on the same cheek. I stumbled a few steps back before finally catching myself.

"What did I say about talking while I'm still talking you piece of shit?" I whimper.

"You will not go for that interview, got it? You're going to go to your room and forget about that stupid dream and interview. You will never amount to anything so don't bother to waste money like that."

I nodded my head as fast as I can just so I could be free from his hold. He squeezes my arm tightly.

"Yes…yes father I'll never mention anything about the interview!" Feeling so helpless, I let my sobs overcome me and bit my bottom lip from crying out in pain.

"Good." He releases his grip on my arm and patted my head before dismissing me like a dog.

I immediately ran to my room and shut the door, not daring to lock it. Knowing what would happen if I ever tried to have my own privacy.

I cry and sob until no tears came out and I'm now heaving. Is this really how I want to live my life? Being reduced to nothing but filth? Not only did my parents hate me, my only sister derived joy from seeing me battered and beaten and she never hesitates to rub more salt on my injuries.

I felt ashamed to show my body off most times cause I was covered in bruises and almost everyone who sees them, gives me this pitiful look and I absolutely hate it.

Applying for the job at Woods Enterprises was just me putting a letter in a bottle, throwing it out in the ocean and hoping a pirate finds the letter.

I had no experience whatsoever, I only applied out of curiosity because any slightest opportunity I get to leave this town? I'm gone.

So being invited next week for an interview gave me a little bit of hope that I never thought I had. So I made up my mind that night that I was going to get out of this hellhole and go for the interview.

And so I started packing my bags.

Knowing fully well that my sister is probably not back yet, and my mom and dad must be heavily drunk in drugs by now made me smile.

I slowly and carefully opened my room door, trying as much as possible to make as little sound as I can. Having the door wide enough for me to slip out of, I smiled wildly at myself.

Tiptoeing to the living room, I peeped through the door to see my dad and mom sprawled on the couch with drugs everywhere.

I then tiptoed to my dad's room, rushing to where I knew he kept his money and a spare phone, I took all the cash I found there and his spare phone. I also took a gold chain for plan B. In case I run out of money quickly. He owed me this much.

I hurried out of his room to my room and packed as much corporate clothes and shoes as I can, most of them belonging to my sister. She also owed me this much. Once I had everything in my suitcase, I took a pen and paper and wrote the shortest goodbye I could.

It was now 10:45pm and I had to leave quickly to the bus-stop in order not to miss the last bus going to the train station.

I arrived just in time and hopped in the bus, sitting by the window side, I turned on the spare phone I stole from my father and sighed when a picture of my sister came up. I'm not surprised.

I quickly sent an email, informing Woods Enterprises that I'll be on time for the scheduled interview. I then dialed my only best friends number that I had stored at the back of my mind.

She answered after three rings.

"Rivera here, who's this please?"

Tears immediately filled my eyes as it's been ages I heard from my best friend, she was the only one who kept me sane in that town and when she told me she was moving out with her parents, I felt like a light in me darkened.

"River, it's me.." I sobbed.

"Rose? Oh my God Rose! What happened to you? Where are you? Who's phone is this? Why are you calling by this time? Are you okay? Did something happen? What's going on?"

I smiled at my friend who just asked me a million questions without giving me the chance to answer any. Typical Rivera.

"I ran away from home, and you're the only person I thought of calling. Do you think you can help me with a place to stay for a few days? I promise I won't be a burden to you or your family." I sniffled.

"Jesus Christ Rose! Of course you're welcome to stay with me for as long as you like, what happened Rose? Why did you run away from home?"

"It was too much for me to bear River, I got fed up."

"It's about time you got fed up. Took you long enough you potato."

I smiled eye to eye, I never thought I'd get to hear her call me that. For the first time in 5 years I felt relieved, and....happy?

"I'm about 5 minutes from the train station, how do I get to you?"

After sending me a detailed text of her address, I embarked on my journey to a new beginning.

*****

𝑨𝑵: 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚, 𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒐𝒓 𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒗𝒐𝒕𝒆, 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆. 𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆.