Today is the day, I'm about to leave the only place I've known for 18years. I stood before the mirror, my eyes fixed on the stranger staring back at me, this was a far cry from the person I was few hours ago, I was dolled up in a beautiful revealing dressed which showed off my slender waist to attract men.
I've live here since I was a child, I've grown up withing this cold, unforgiving walls but today I guess everything is about to change.
I've indeed heard rumors from older women about the outside of these world. Some said it was filled with happiness, laughter and care, others said it was filled with cruelty, darkness and wickedness. I didn't know what to believe.
The old woman who usually dolled us up stared at me with a smile. "You look beautiful dear", her smile almost looked pitiful. It was obvious she pitied me.
I forced a smile trying to hide the turmoil building inside me, her words were meant to reassure me but it only filled me with dread.
As she finished her work on my face, I couldn't help but wonder what layed ahead for me.
Who would buy me? What would they want from me?
The questions swirled in my mind like a tornado threatening to swallow me. I pushed them back, focusing on the present. I had to be strong, I had to be brave. If not for me but for my father who I'm not sure I'll see again.
I stood before the room elderly people were kept. My dad had relocated there since there was no need to stay in my room anymore because I wouldn't be there .
I took a deep breath before walking into the room revealing the familiar face of the man who raised me.
The man I called father, looked up at me from his seated position on the narrow bed. His eyes work out from the years of hardship locked onto mine. I saw yhe depth of his sorrow which he tried to cover with ith a half hearted smile.
I felt a lump form in my throat as I approached him. He opened his arms and I fell into his embrace. This embrace I will never get tired of, this embrace I'm not sure I would be able to live without. This embrace I will miss so dearly.
" Father", i whispered as my voice cracked with emotions.
"You look extremely beautiful dear", he whispered back, his voice trembled.
We sat there for a moment, holding each other, trying to memorize the feel of each other's embrace. "You're strong, you're brave, you're beautiful, you'll be okay",
Tears streamed down my face as I nodded trying to find the words to respond but they were stuck in my throat and all I could do was shake my head.
"I'll always be with you in here", he said tapping my chest. "No matter where you go, no matter what happens, remember I'll always love you till I die", he said cradling my face and wiping my tears with his thumb.
I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces as I looked into his eyes. This man who had taken care of me like his own, who had protected me, loved me unconditionally was now saying good bye.
"I love you so much", I wrapped my arms around him holding him as tightly as possible.
"Number 1, its time to go, come out right now", , Mr Arnold called out from outside the building as he assembled other girls.
"I love you too Eliana, always remember that", he whispered back as his arms tightened around me and I felt his tears fall onto my shoulder.
What was this dreadful feeling. Is this real? I have never been this said in all of my existence. Of course I feel sad when someone is killed or punished but this was another type of feeling I had never felt before. This one was filled with emotions, too many emotions. Would I be able to survive without him?
"Father, I'll love you until my last breath, till we meet again", I said with more tears streaming down my face. Thank God the woman who did my makeup was a pro if not it would be smudged by now.
This was the worst feeling in the whole entire world.
****
I stood in the dimly lit corridor with my wrists bound by cold, unforgiving chains as always. The air was thick with the smell of scent, fear and desperation emmiting from others. I wasn't alone, dozens of others, all slaves like me, waited for their turn to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.
My mind wandered back to father, wondering how he was faring. Had he been punished for showing me too much affection during our goodbye? Was he think of me too?
I closed my eyes, remembering the feel of his arms around me and the sound of his whispered words of encouragement. Tears formed at the corner of my eyes but I had to fight them back, for my father's sake.
The sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor growing louder with each passing moment. I opened my eyes to see a tall, intimidating figure approaching. His eyes scanned the row of slaves brought by my owner, his gaze lingered on each one of us before moving on.
When his cold eyes met mine, I felt a shiver run down my spine. There was something cold and calculating about him, something that made me want to shrink away but I stood tall even though I was no less than 5"6 tall. I knew I had to present my self as stron and desirable, If I was to have any chance of surviving. The man's eyes moved on but I knew I hadn't seen the last of him.
I was obviously just another commodity about to be sold, I took a deep breath bracing myself for what was ahead for the sake of my father and for my own sake too.