Brian is a highly successful businessman, who made his first million when he was only two years out of high school. Although his father wanted him to study for a pharmacist like himself, Brian always wanted to be his own boss, employ people and own his own house by the time he was 25.
He met Nadia when he was barely out of school and she still in her final year aged 18. Brian had a strong will and normally got what he set his mind on, so nobody was surprised when he and Nadia got married on her 19th birthday,
At the time, Brian was already a proud owner of a new Mercedes Benz, and the wedding was a lavish affair.
Fast forward six years and Brian was working 18 hours a day, had three vehicles including a Porsche SUV and a luxurious cabin by the sea, which they use very infrequently, because of the long hours he worked.
Nadia had little friends of her own, mostly the wives or girlfriends of Brian's colleagues or business associates. They often talked about having kids, but Brian insisted that they should be financially independent before he think about having children. Silently, Nadia longed for a little pitter patter for which she could care, because of Brian's successes, he didn't want her to work still, although she attained a bachelor's in economics cum laude from home showing she was not just a pretty face. All her friends had kids by their mid 20's, therefore Nadia was growing quieter by the day,
One day, she couldn't take it anymore, and she decided to confront Brian when he returns that afternoon. As can be expected, Brian was very unhappy about her tone, and told her that she is welcome to go if she is so unhappy. His reasoning was that he is working so hard to create a great future for them. He was so upset, that he left again, saying he is joining his friends at the bar, rather than putting up with a sulking wife,
The next morning the pair hardly spoke, and he left for work at 07h15 am, his head still buzzing from having too much to drink the previous evening.
He had a late business meeting and dinner after work and returned home to find the house eerily quiet.
He immediately noticed that some of their pictures were missing and it seems that Nadia's things were missing. Panicking, he thought they were burgled, but when he entered the bedroom, he saw her cupboard empty and his eyes caught an object on her side of the bed, which turned out to be her wedding ring with a note that she decided to leave him and will only return once he decides that their life was worth than all the money he managed to make.
Brian was so upset; that he told his co-director that he will be taking a few days off to deal with a personal issue.
He spent most of the day walking aimlessly around the while he helped himself to a 12-year-old scotch. It took him till the afternoon to realise that Nadia is not coming back, because she blocked his number, WhatsApp and e-mail.
It was summer, so the sun is only going to set after 7 am, so he put the new Nightwish CD on, kicked out his shoes, and let the whiskey slowly start to numb his senses while he decides what to do with his life from now on.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, almost letting him spill the last of the scotch on his bare chest after he loosened the tie and buttons of his shirt.
He stumbled a little unsteadily to the front door and annoyingly flung it open, ready to chase any unsolicited salesman away.
The door sung open and before him was a bedraggled young woman, not more than 21 years old. His mouth opened to tell her off, when he started to realise a few things simultaneously. The first thing that caught his eyes, was her deep blue sparling eyes, which was quite strange for a light-skinned black woman. The second thing that he realised, is that she was leaning heavily on an elbow crutch with her left shoulder about six inches than the right, and her left leg dangling about three inches from the ground. Although Brian had a couple of whiskeys in his body, it only took a split second to take everything in.
"I am sorry, I don't have any money, just a bank card", he tried to say with as much authority that he can muster.
"Sir, I am not looking for money, just something to eat please." Her voice caught him like a sledgehammer between the eyes. How is it that this severely crippled creature can have the most beautiful eyes and melodic voice he had ever seen and heard?
"Please, please, come inside, let me see what is in the kitchen." He gestured that she should walk ahead and seeing from behind, he saw how she struggles to drag her short skinny leg behind her and he noticed that the crutch doesn't even have a rubber tip anymore. Even if her clothier were old and miss matched, she was still neat with her hair neatly bound op top of her head. She struggled into the front door and he asked her to sit in the first chair from the door, because he could see that she has obvious discomfort trying to walk.
However, she remained standing, and she said that she doesn't want to impose and she will be very thankful just to get a piece of bread and maybe a glass of water.
It took Brian just a millisecond to come to decision that will alter the course of his life.
"What is your name: he enquired. "Lucy, she said, but you can call me Lulu, everybody does."
"Well Lucy, where do you sleep at night?" "At the night shelter, sir, but they ask twenty per night. I have fifteen that people gave me, so I just hope that they will let me pay the five tomorrow."
Suddenly, Brain got angry. How could this beautiful, yet broken lady goes back to the night shelter if he has an empty 5-bedroom house with nobody to share it with?
"Bullshit Lulu, you are staying right here tonight, and we can decide tomorrow what to do with you." It was getting dark and he heard rumours of rape and drug use at the only shelter in town.
