Prologue
I was about 10 years old when life hit me with my first tragedy. I got to learn first hand what it meant to feel abused and robbed of my dignity. I should have figured that no man treated a child as if she were a 21 year old adult. I wasn't even sure what the meaning of adult was. I just felt honored that a highly respected man treated me with kindness. Or so I thought it was kindness, until I spoke one day to my teacher. I mentioned that my aunts husband always took me out on little trips. I guess she found that suspicious and asked me what kind of trips I went on. I mentioned our trips to the park or to the grocery store. He would make me hold his hand every where we went.
I mentioned how he would tuck me in at night and rub my back until I fell asleep. I even mentioned the accident where my uncle happened to walk in on me when I was taking a shower and stayed until I was done. I thought nothing of any of it. I thought every 10 year old got treated the same way.
Before I knew it, cops were Knocking on our door. My parents were being questioned while my aunt was surprised to be in such a situation. My aunt's husband was arrested on the spot. My aunt blamed me for everything that went on. She ended up leaving our house and moving miles away. She was my favorite aunt. I haven't seen her since. I'm not even sure her husband was ever released. I wouldn't be surprised if he was and they moved on together. My parents started working longer hours which left me alone more often than I should have been. Being an only child left me in a pit of loneliness.
The day I turned 14 my mom announced she was pregnant with twins. I was excited with the idea that I wouldn't be alone anymore. There would be two other little people for me to take care of. Every chance I would get, I'd rub my moms belly and speak to my siblings. I would tell them everything about my day. I would always look forward to feeling my mom's stomach kick with the life that was inside her.
Then one day the babies didn't seem as active as they usually were. I asked my mom why they weren't moving as much. She told me it was because they were sleeping. The look in her eyes told me a different story. The next day she made an appointment with her doctor. Turned out both my siblings were dead. I was crushed. My parents were devastated. I remember to this day going home from school and seeing my mom in her room. She was just laying there staring into space. I could only imagine what she felt losing two children so close to the end of her pregnancy. Days would go by and my mom would still be in her room.
Life seemed to move on for everyone else expect her. Dad would go to work and I would go to school. After all its only been the three of us. Having both sets of my grandparents die in a car accident. My mother's sister has been gone for years and my fathers brother decided to leave town and never look back. All we had was each other.
I graduated high school at the age of 17. It was no suppose to my parents since all I would do with my time was focus on school. I had no other activities that interested me. I would just spend my days going to school doing what needed to be done and going home. I was lucky enough to make 4 good friends. Amanda, Erica, Alandra and Janel. they have stuck by me through thick and thin. Amanda being the closest to me.
I remember walking into my house, ready to show my parents my college application. Dad was sitting at the kitchen table with his head down. My heart sank. I asked him what was going on. He just looked at me and shook his head. He told me that my mother died in an accident. I stared at him for what seemed like an eternity. No way could my mother be dead. That would be just cruel. Was this some kind of curse? Another accident. Turns out she was driving home and got hit by a drunk driver who had run a stop sign.
It just seemed like life was out to get us. I spent the next year of my life trapped in my home. I postponed going to college using the excuse that my dad needed me. When in reality I needed him but never saw him. He was practically living at work. I was in a state of depression using extreme methods to ease my own inner pain.
Chapter One
Watching the rain fall has always been calming to me. Relaxing every inch of my stressed out body. Putting me in a state of total relaxation.
"Is this seat taken." a thickly accented voice asked.
I looked away from the window into a pair of dark brown eyes. I couldn't speak. I could feel the heat going though my entire body. Great, embarrassment is just what I need now. I smiled and moved my over sized purse from the bench across from me.
I turned back to the window in hopes of ignoring further interaction with the man sitting across from me.
"Do you carry your whole house inside that purse?" His laugh all but made me jump out of my skin. Jeez he was still talking to me. Why? I've always been invisible to men.
"Very funny" was all I managed to say. His face seemed to light up even more.
"So you do have a voice, My name is Eli Gracia." His hand seemed to be right under my nose. I moved back a little and gave him my hand.
"Liana Marian." I said.
"Nice to meet you Liana. Great weather we are having?"
All I did to answer him was give a long sigh to express my love for this kind of weather. When I looked back at Eli he was just staring at me. Of course me being self conscious and all, I grabbed at my nose, hair, and face.
His throaty laugh filled the room. I don't know why, but it angered me. I grabbed my purse and started to rise from my chair. I felt his large hand grab my wrist. I instantly felt nervous. I jerked my hand away from him and ran out of the room.
I managed to run from him all while my heart was going crazy inside of my chest. It felt as though I was on the verge of a major heart attack.
