CHAPTER THREE

As Selena walked back home in the lonely street she got really scared cause if not for Howard it would have been a different story entirely, she ran into her apartment and was breathing heavily, she closes the door behind her and drops herself on the floor.

She was restless throughout the night, replaying the events of that day she knew something was off from the very moment she woke up from sleep that morning, the day felt strange, and she didn't know it was going to end like that at the end of the day. She has heard stories of girls getting assaulted and some were even killed after that. She couldn't wait any longer to get a good job and leave this area the crime here was just too high and just that night she would have been recorded as another victim.

She couldn't wait for it to be tomorrow already, maybe some good news might finally come into her lonely and boring life.

It was the next day, she doesn't remember how she had slept off even with the fear and worry in her heart. The first thought that came into her mind was that she was in Howard's arms last night, she suddenly remembers how he acted cold to her but at the end of the day he was an angel in disguise sent to save her, she wasn't an ingrate to be ungrateful.

She was going to stay in today because the previous day had stressed her out. She walks into the kitchen to make herself some coffee and just then she heard a beep from her cell phone. The first thing that came into her mind was she had gotten a job finally and she hears another one, she rushes to her cell phone in excitement.

As she reads the messages the smile on her face immediately disappeared. One message was she hadn't gotten the job at Wyatt's enterprise which was one of the places she had applied for a job. The other message tore her heart into pieces, her dad had been involved in an accident with his truck and didn't make it. Her hero was gone, she flings the phone and drops to the floor but something in her doubts so she called her mom only for her to confirm the fact that it was true. Why would her papa have to leave this world now, why couldn't he wait for a little longer?

It was heartbreaking enough that she had lost her dad but hearing her mother cry profusely over the phone made it worse. She needed to be with her but how she had exhausted all her money she couldn't afford a flight to Italy. So sad she can't be there for her mom when she needs her the most and probably might not make it to her own father's burial. The last time she had seen him he was healthy and strong he blessed her on her journey to the United States. If she had known that would be the last time she was going to see him she wouldn't have left and spent those months which happened to be his last on earth.

The worst part was that it was an accident, he was still working to provide for his family, and she was broken. If she had gotten a nice job and could take care of them, he wouldn't have had to drive a truck at that age. He shouldn't have died so soon, she felt miserable her whole world seemed to be crumbling right in front of her and there was nothing she could do about it she already did her best, losing her father wasn't in her plans, rolling from one end to another with tears gushing down her eyes nonstop. She had sworn to not give up on life no matter what but at this moment she was rethinking that decision suddenly she gets another message, she was scared to read this one, what if it was another heartbreaking message how then would she continue? She didn't want something else to make it worse for her, she cried for hours till she couldn't anymore. She got a horrible headache and was still on the floor when she slept off. Not a friend to console her neither does she have a partner to do that at this moment she was just existing.

She woke up and it was the next day, she finally took her phone to call her mom but suddenly decided to check her messages, and there was the message she had looked forward to for a long time now. She had mixed feelings about it both exciting and sad, why does it have to be now after she had lost her dad? She felt guilty, she hated the job cause but appreciated at least her mama and siblings were still there, she would go see them and take care of them. His papa would be so proud of her, she had to be strong for her family now.

"I miss you, papa," she says as she got up to go have her bath. She had not had her bath since the news of her father's death.

She picks up herself and heads quickly for the bathroom. She became curious as she remembered what the man at Howard had said the other day. She would have to sign a contract after getting the job and wouldn't be allowed to leave for the first five years. She has no choice but to accept this, which other option did she have anyway.

She gets dressed up in a white knee-length dress, and ties her thick dark hair up in a pony but decides to let it down as her eyes were incredibly swollen from crying profusely throughout yesterday.

She hurries to the bus station to catch a bus. And on her arrival at Howard, she was shocked to see her ex-boyfriend Howard Turner standing right in front of her.