Claire's pov
As I struggled to open my eyes,I felt a wave of weakness wash over me , and a deep sense of being exploited, I gradually regained my consciousness . Ouch , how did I get here ? The room seemed slightly familiar , but I couldn't quite place it .As I struggled to get to my feet, I glanced over at the bedside and saw it was empty.I suddenly realized that I was naked under the bed cover, then I felt a sour sensation down there .
Tears streamed down my cheeks , how can I overcome my carelessness ? I'm trying to understand how someone can lose their innocence to a stranger or even to a rapist.
The one precious thing that remained with me after my parents departed, leaving me to navigate this lonely world by myself .
The wound I have been trying to let go all this time found its way back.
THROWBACK ...
Am Claire Clifford, I was affectionately known as Cla by my parents. I was woken by my parents' voices. Cla ! Cla ! Cla ! Surprise !!!...
"We have a surprise for you, "my mom said. She handed me an envelope. I don't know but something in me felt a little bit scared, I found myself opening the envelope. Tears flowed down my cheeks, "was I meant to cry?" " Maybe they were tears of joy ", I told myself .
I had always wanted a younger brother. You must be wondering how it knew it was a boy. The test results were done five months ago, the envelope also contained the gender scan results.
It was truly a surprise, I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed my mom's pregnancy all this time. Now that I think about it, she had been eating a lot more than usual over the past few months and I'd noticed she'd gained some weight. I stared at my mom's slightly rounded belly, still small enough that I hadn't suspected a thing at the revelation was astounding, my brother was growing inside her.
My father's ringing phone snapped me out of my thoughts . It was a call from the hospital, an emergency. My father kissed my mom and her baby bump, and then me. It's a habit ingrained in him , one that not even the most pressing emergencies can make him forget.
My father's love for my mom is something I've always admired, and it's made me hope that one day I'll find a love like that for myself- a husband who loves me with the same kindness, care, and devotion . With a worried glance at us , he rushed out the door, leaving my mom and me in an anxious silence. My father was a respected doctor and a shareholder in one of the top three hospitals in town.
Growing up, I struggled with the pressure of living up to my father's legacy as a respected dot. It was one of the reasons I initially resisted pursuing a medical career myself. One of my birthdays my father didn't show up, and on my graduation day , he arrived late due to hospital emergencies . Those experiences left a lasting impression on me, and I hope to be more present for my own children's milestones , sparing them the disappointment I felt .
My dad had always wanted me to follow in his footsteps as a doctor and take over his legacy, but I think my mom's pregnancy with my brother might finally give me some breathing room from that expectation. My mom informed me that we 'd be going shopping to restock our kitchen essentials and pick up some baby items, before she left my room.
My phone started ringing immediately after she left. I knew it would be my best friend, Amanda , I was about to call her to share the exciting news. I really missed her. It had been one month since we saw each other . She went to the state to stay with her aunt for a while or maybe further her education there, she had always liked the idea of studying abroad. Amanda and I have been inseparable since childhood . We met at a young age and quickly became best friends. Our friendship even brought our parents closer and they've remained friends ever since.
Amanda's family life was very comfortable. Her brother, who is ten years older than her, had essentially grown up already. Her parents were financially secure and enjoyed a good life, providing a stable and loving environment for Amanda.
Amanda's brother works as a lawyer in a foreign country, having pursued a successful career abroad.
Hello PIC!, Amanda's voice came from the other end of the call . That's what we call ourselves which means PARTNERS IN CRIME. I shared the exciting news with Amanda, and she was thrilled. We chatted for nearly an hour, catching up and celebrating, until my mom called and we wrapped up our conversation.
I rushed into the bathroom for a swift shower and morning routine. After getting dressed, I stood in front of the mirror for almost a minute, admiring my reflection and marveling at how far I'd come, thinking to myself, 'I'm only 19, and yet I've grown into this beautiful, strong person.I hurried downstairs and found Mom almost finished with her preparations. I quickly grabbed my breakfast.
For three months, my family enjoyed a lovely time, and my mom's pregnancy progressed smoothly, with her nearing the due date. However, the unexpected happened, shattering our joy and anticipation.
I was in the kitchen with my mom, preparing dinner, when the doorbell rang. My mom asked if I was expecting anyone, and I said no. My best friend was out of town, and my dad never came home that early, so it was unusual.
I went to check who it was, but to my surprise, there was no one there. Instead, I found a box on the porch. I decided not to open it, thinking it might be for my mom. I closed the door and returned to the kitchen.
I asked my mom if she had ordered anything, but she said no. I handed her the box, and her expression changed. She looked scared. She hesitated to open it at first, but finally did. Inside, there was a picture of my dad with a beautiful woman. I couldn't help but stare at my mom's face, searching for answers.
Her expression was a mix of sadness and shock, and it seemed like she knew the woman in the picture. I felt a sense of foreboding, as if something was terribly wrong.
As I stood there, wondering who could be behind the mysterious picture, my mom quickly left the kitchen, visibly shaken. The moment she was out of sight, I grabbed my phone to call my dad, but fortunately, he arrived just in time.
I greeted him with a hug and handed him the picture. His expression changed instantly. He asked about my mom, and I told him she had rushed upstairs. Without a word, he hurried after her, eager to explain the situation and clear up any misunderstanding. I was relieved that he was there to handle the situation, as I was clueless about what was going on.
After finishing dinner preparations, I went to inform my parents that dinner was ready. However, I overheard my father's voice apologizing to my mom. He explained that the picture wasn't what she thought it was, claiming it was a coincidence that he met the woman at the hospital where he works. According to him, they ran into each other, exchanged greetings, and the woman asked to take a photo with him.
Although I wasn't intentionally eavesdropping, it was clear that my mom wasn't convinced by his explanation. After standing outside the door for a few minutes, I knocked to announce that dinner was ready. However, my father asked me to go ahead and eat without them, saying they would join me soon.
I headed downstairs to the dining room, attempting to eat, but I couldn't concentrate. Normally, I enjoyed sharing meals with my parents, but the silence was unsettling. The usual warmth and chatter were missing, making the experience feel empty. I managed to take only a small amount of food before losing my appetite. Feeling uneasy, I retreated to my room, hoping that by morning, everything would be resolved, and our household would return to normal.
After taking a shower, I lay down on my bed, but sleep eluded me. Despite numerous attempts to drift off, my mind remained restless. It wasn't until several hours had passed that I finally succumbed to exhaustion and slipped into the world of dreams.
I woke up to the sound of my alarm at 7:00 a.m. I decided to check on my parents and headed downstairs, but they were nowhere to be found. The untouched dinner from the previous night still sat on the table. I went to their room, knocked on the door, and heard my mom's voice inviting me in.
Upon entering, I saw her making the bed, and I helped her finish. As I looked around, I couldn't help but notice my dad's absence. I asked my mom where he was, and she explained that he had left for work early due to an emergency. I nodded, relieved that everything seemed to be returning to normal. Throughout the day, my mom appeared to be recovering from the pain and distress of the previous day.
My dad returned home in the evening, bearing gifts - a box of chocolates, which happened to be my mom's favorite treat. As it turns out, I share her sweet tooth, and she had been craving those chocolates for quite some time.
Three days after the incident, on Saturday, my dad took a break to spend quality time with my mom and me. Since my mom was still recovering, she decided to rest while my dad and I prepared lunch. We opted to make pancakes, my favorite dish, which my dad expertly prepares.
As we cooked and chatted, my mom relaxed in the living room, watching her favorite TV show. Suddenly, the doorbell rang, breaking the peaceful atmosphere. My dad asked me to go and check who was at the door.
I opened the door to find the woman from the picture standing before me. I couldn't help but stare at her stunning beauty and slender figure. It took me a couple of minutes to notice that she was accompanied by a young woman, possibly one or two years older than me. The young woman was also beautiful, and there was something familiar about her features.
Just as I was trying to place her, my dad appeared beside me, curious about the delay. His expression changed to one of surprise as he took in the scene before him. That's when it hit me - the young woman bore a striking resemblance to my dad, like a female version of him. I was frozen in place, unsure how to react.
We stood there in awkward silence until the woman politely intervened, "Please, may we come in now? Enough of the staring.