HARRIET'S POV
Splash!
Betty pushed me, and the ice cream I was holding went flying. It splattered everywhere, covering the counter and the floor.
It even soiled my damn uniform!
"Watch it, girl!" Betty scolded, as though I was the one at fault here.
"How could you, Betty? Now I have to pay for this mess," I said, enraged and frustrated at the same time.
"Awww... poor Harriet is in trouble," she teased.
She really deserved a hot slap!
We were both waitresses at the ice cream shop, but she always acted like she was in a higher position than me.
"Just because I'm broke doesn't mean I'll be like this forever," I spat.
Betty crossed her arms and let out an evil laugh. "Look at you. Broke Harriet with a broke sick dad. Come to think of it, how are you going to raise a million bucks for his surgery? Huh?"
"That's none of your business," I replied, irritated.
"Is it even worth it spending a whopping million dollars on that old hag?" she insulted, referring to my dad.
This girl had exceeded her limits!
I grabbed her long blonde curls and landed a dirty slap on her chubby cheek before pushing her to the ground.
"That's what you get for disrespecting my dad."
Out of nowhere, the shop manager walked in. "What the hell is going on here?" she asked, shocked.
"Miss Lucy, look what Harriet did to me. I just asked her to be quick because there are quite a lot of customers waiting for their orders. She all of a sudden spilled the ice cream on the floor and let her frustration out on me," Betty lied, shedding crocodile tears.
I was wowed by her excellent acting skills.
"That's a lie, Ma'am. She intentionally pushed me, causing all this mess. I did this to her after she called my dad names," I tried to defend myself.
"That's enough, Harriet!" Madam yelled.
I was startled. Was she taking sides with that stinking liar?
"I won't tolerate such nonsense here. Instead of going to serve the customers out there, you were here exhibiting your fighting skills," she said.
Betty kept sobbing, just to worsen my case.
Tears blurred my vision as I listened to Miss Lucy's lecture. Yes, I had been a bit violent but she should have at least considered my side of the story.
"You are fired, Harriet! I don't want to hear another word from you. Out!" she fumed.
"But Madam, I -" I tried to protest.
"Are you deaf? I said leave!" She cut me off.
The tears that had welled up in my eyes streamed down my face. I removed my apron and placed it down before running out of the shop.
I was doomed!
My mind kept racing with the reality of my current situation. This job was my only source of income, and now it was gone.
I had dropped out of college after my dad's health took a turn for the worse, and I had taken the job to make ends meet and help pay for his medical bills.
Without this job, I was left with nothing. No income, no way to support myself or my dad.
What was I going to do now? I wondered. Desperation had washed over my entire being.
"Oh God, come through for me. Dad really needs me," I whispered to myself.
**********
I got to my tiny apartment after what felt like an eternity. I hurried into my room, ready to collapse on my old mattress and let my emotions pour out.
Just as I entered, my phone rang.
It was the doctor. I hesitated for a moment before answering. "Hello?"
"Hi Miss Harriet," the doctor's voice came through, sharp and clear. "I was calling to inform you that your father needs the procedure done as soon as possible. His life is at stake."
"I...I...uhm...please make all the necessary preparations for the surgery. I'll find the money," I stammered, knowing very well that I had no idea where I'd get the huge sum from.
"Alright," the doctor replied. And with that, he hanged up.
I sank onto my bed, covering my face with my palms. A deep sigh escaped my lips, followed by hot tears.
I longed for mom's support during this difficult time but she was no more.
As I let out my emotions, a sharp knock on the door broke the silence.
I froze, wondering who it could be because I wasn't expecting anyone.
I rushed to the door and peered through the peephole, but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw.
Behind the door stood three tall and imposing gentlemen, dressed in well-tailored suits and dark shades.
Their weird appearance frightened me. I wasn't going to open that door. Just as I turned to run back to my room, I heard a voice from behind the door.
"Open the door, Harriet, or we'll do it ourselves," the voice growled, cold and commanding.
My heart skipped a beat. Who were these guys, and how did they know my name?
Panic set in.
I sprinted to my room and locked the door, thinking I'd found a safe haven. But what happened next created even more tension.
The guys broke in!
I could hear their heavy footsteps getting closer and closer to my door.
They were going to break into my room any moment. With time running out, I knew I had only one option: to escape through the window.
But before I could make a move, the men burst in.
"Don't even think about it," the same voice warned from behind.
He had this thick Mexican accent that made me shiver.
I knew I was in grave danger. I was either going to be murdered or raped. Overwhelmed with fear, I turned to face them and began cowering on the floor.
"Please spare my life... I haven't done anything wrong," I begged.
The men burst out in laughter, making me feel like a helpless fool.
The gentleman I supposed was the main guy looked on his phone before locking his piercing eyes with mine.
"We've found her, boss," he said coldly over the phone.
I was still trembling with fear, unsure of who he was talking to or why they wanted me. The leader signaled to his accomplices, and they closed in on me.
With those guns tucked in their pants, I knew I couldn't do anything to save myself.
I pleaded with them as they grabbed my arms. "Please, don't take me away. My dad is sick, I need to take care of him."
But my words fell on deaf ears. I was dragged out of the apartment, helpless and terrified. Outside, a black SUV van waited.
The leader took the driver's seat while his accomplices tossed me into the backseat.
Squeezed between the two men, I fervently prayed for God to save me from this nightmare.
My eyes widened when one of the guys pulled out a syringe. I immediately knew it was for me. But before I could react, he had managed to jab the needle into my left arm.
I felt a sharp pain, followed by dizziness. My whole world began to blur but I couldn't do anything about it.
My head hit the seat and that was it…
I blacked out.