C1 Chapter One

Chapter one

I walked down the dark sixth street in Dallas,music pulsed from every bar and restaurant, the moonlight was dim tonight and the stars, the dust from a very busy day still hung in the air,it's a night life city. The cars kept running at high speed not minding who is the next victim they will bring down, my taxi didn't make it tonight so I had to walk down a bit to get an affordable cab.

I searched for my phone and ear buds, to listen to my favorite rhythm,Seasons.

Good music has always been my companion whenever I am clouded with thoughts.I played my favorite rhythm on repeat, soothing my mood,it still couldn't stop the war in my mind.

Thoughts filled my heart, the thoughts of losing my dad to cancer, the thoughts of my siblings Stepha and Dan dropping from high school.

Beating down my body everyday was really worth it, even though I was fed up with working at the fabs restaurant, I had to hold on till I get my dream job in a fashion house and possibly own mine someday.

I tried some modeling jobs but I had to give up because of pressure from men.

Walking away from Ben was a brave decision, after we dated for a few weeks,He couldn't hide his true colors.

“Charlotte, I know I hung around lots of ladies because of my kind of job, but you are the one I truly love.

Somewhere in my heart, I knew they were lies, I could see the insincerity in his eyes.True love doesn’t need to be this hard nor does it demand that I go into a competition with others, though I never let him get intimate with me.I would have been in the number of women he had toyed with their emotions.

I have heard of successful ladies who choose this path staying true to themselves.

My dad's words to me on a particular day at the hospital kept playing in my head.

Charlotte, I am sorry, I'm sorry I married your mum, you know she had many other men coming around her when I was asked her to marry me , I'm sorry I couldn't give you and your siblings the best.

Come on, dad, don't say that, I interrupted politely,dad you are the best father figure I know, you have always sacrificed for us before yourself, please don't say that, let's focus on you getting better and stop saying you are tired of fighting because you will leave this place pretty soon.

We had only lived in Dallas for a few years,we moved in because of dad's business , he had a life threatening issue with a business client, my dad started a real estate not so big company three years before he met my mum.

He always boasted that my mum was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and still is.With her radiant beautiful skin,curvy shape, Apparently, she could pass for a model even after four kids.I took the physical looks of my dad,Tall, brown skin with large bulgy eyes and obvious hips.

Mom, do you think that dad regrets moving out of California? I onced asked my mom.

My love, I believe your dad made the right decision,that man was really a ruthless man, even if others said his threats were empty.

Yeah mom, I know that dad meant well for us. Dad doesn't deserve to be here in the hospital. Why is life so unfair?

I saw the little tears in my mom's eyes.

"I know it is hard,she said, but we will all be fine.

Immediately I held her hands and spoke reasuredly to her, yes mama, we will be fine.

Different thoughts lingered in my heart,

Will things ever be fine? Our financial status was worrisome, I could probably walk in here someday and meet an already dead man.

The cab dropped me right in front of the St Peter’s hospital and I rushed in quickly, I was already some minutes late, my mom was waiting for me.

Charlotte Thomas, Dr Tom would always call me, he was a very professional and cheerful man, always beaming with smiles.

I knew my dad was safe in his hands, He was beyond a doctor but a friend to the family.

He was so positive about dad's health, You could tell that he cared for all his patients.

Good evening Dr Tom, I responded, how are you?

I'm alright Dr , how's my dad? "He's doing good for now and responding to treatment gradually.

Your mom is still around, he continued patting me on my shoulder,

Charlotte you are such a tough lady just like your mom.

Thank you doctor , I replied.

As Dr Tom was heading back to his office, I glanced over two nurses wheeling a patient down the hall,the man looked so frail and sapped and was hooked to an oxygen mask. I could hear his breath, that stirred up something inside me ,a wave of sympathy and fear.

"Poor him," I whispered, just to myself. My gaze shifted to the television mounted on the wall at the reception desk.

It's Dallas fashion week highlights.Tall, elegant models flaunting their gorgeous figures down the runway in sophisticated attires, I couldn’t help but get drawn with all my attention, That moment, the stress melted away as I admired their classiness and confidence in their outfits.

Rick John of oaks haven fashion house, I looked with so much excitement on my face, oh wow the fashion icon and drop dead gorgeous, he was been interviewed by some beautiful ladies and another lady by his side holding his hand, I felt this pang of envy in my heart.

Hey, Charlotte wake up, not in your weirdest dreams, men like Rick don't see girls like me or even fall in love with a girl like me, even if he did, it was only for the obvious reason, they are all the same.

Are you alright? Charlotte, my mom's voice brushed my ears.

I blinked, and flipped back to reality.

She drew closer and gave me a warm hug, typical of her.

How are you sweetheart? How was your day at fabs?

Before I could reply, she continued, Charlotte,your dad is fast asleep and the nurses are done with him, you look really pale, don't you wanna come home with me?

"No, Mama," I said, seeing the tiredness in her eyes, my voice soft but firm.

Few times, I call her “mama”

This time, my words were filled with the burden of the situation.

"Dad needs someone always by his side,"I continued, with his present state, we can't leave him with just strangers.

Mama,I know you are watching out for me, but I can handle this,my mind drifted for some seconds"

I realized I had grown stronger through the challenges.

Sometimes I wished I had a real man in my life who loved me deeply , but definitely not a man like Ben who is obviously playing games.

How long will I carry on? I thought, Am I ever gonna meet my knight in shining armor, like I see in movies? Just immediately,Rick, the guy from the fashion week on television, crossed my mind abruptly.

Oh Charlotte stop hallucinating,I spoke under my breath, still lost in thought,

Gently, my mom touched my hair, brushing away the stray strands that had gotten into my eyes.

“We don't deserve you my darling.

Before I could really process all the feelings, my phone buzzed, I reached for it from my bag,I pulled out to check who was calling.

It's was Naomi, my younger sister, Mom looked into my phone and knew it was time to go home.

I will call you when I'm home my darling.. she said and walked down the large hall,

Goodnight mum, I love you.

Naomi called again and I picked it up,

Hey Charl, hey Naomi, I said faintly

You sound like you need to rest, let me give you some minutes, ok, she said.

I just got to the hospital, I will call you

pretty soon, mum just left now.