Vera’s POV.
After spending time at the cafe with the men I went to work. But I find no single concentration.
My mind was fogged with thoughts about who I really was.
However, no matter how much I think about that, nothing seems to make sense to me.
I was born in wealth.
But why was it that I was taken away?
Faint memories remind of
the time I was taken from place to place to seek refuge but I can’t remember
the woman’s face clearly.
Why did forget something so important about my life?
“Girl? Are you kinda sick or something? You look so not yourself at all.” Connor’s voice pulls me away from my thoughts.
“Yeah, I feel great. Just this new school shits, eating up my damn time.” I smile at him.
“Ah, how’s that a problem? I can cover up classes for you, trust me.” He winks, snidely.
I bark a laugh at his offer just as I remember him telling me about dropping out of school because it wasn’t his thing.
“Damn, dude. I ain’t taking that offer. Bless you.” I laugh and he does too.
“That’s some bullshit I can’t pull up with.” He intones after our laughter ends.
“Yeah, you told me.” I remind him.
The manager calls Connor and he leaves. But I decide to leave and head to Sage’s workplace.
*
*
*
I walk tiredly into the pub. It’s already nightfall and I expected to see hordes of people here.
I make my way over to the counter and take a seat, shrugging.
Sage’s yet to notice my presence as she’s busy serving the orders of the customers.
“So, what would you like, miss?” I hear her voice as she walks into the partition.
Raising my head, lock my eyes on her and she gasps.
“Damn, Vee?” She huffs. Walking closer, she holds my hand. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here. What’s up?” She asks, cheerfully.
But on seeing the look on my face she wriggles her brows, a concerned expression on her face.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
Sighing I say. “Met some dudes today who said something I never knew about myself, Sage.”
She gives me a curious look and asks. “And?”
“Sage, I don’t know who I really am. I possess wealth I can’t even finish. Not even my tenth generation would.”
Sage shoulders slump. “How’s that even possible?” She asks and I shrug, baffled.
“Dunno, girl.”
I perk up as something occurs to me. I look her over and say. “And you know what? Her name is Helen. My mother. The woman I told you David made a promise to.”
“That means, he knows something.” She says knowingly and I do too.
Just then, Sage sinks her hand into her pocket and brings out a picture of a woman who has just the same features as me. And in her hand is a little girl. My exact replica.
“That’s what I was able to get after searching his bedroom last night,” Sage whispers.
Taking the picture from Sage, my head twists a bit. My vision cuts short as blackness dot it.
And that’s when I remember it all.
What happened that night.
**Flashback***
Somewhere in Greece.
The small gated community my mom brought me to had been welcoming. Although as I small girl, I cried at first. That was because Mom didn’t stay back.
She brought me to my aunt’s place and left. She promised she would be back but I still cried.
However, my aunt took care of me. I was already starting to get acquainted with my new home until my mom burst into the house one of the nights, panting.
“What happened, Helen?” Aunty Thea asks, looking at my mom.
When I observed her, she looked pale but as the little girl I was, I didn’t understand what was happening.
My mother panted and looked over at Aunty Thea.
“I have to take her back, aunt. I’m sorry.”
“Why?” she had only stayed a few days. Why take her now?”
“I can’t keep Vera here for long or else…”She looked at me and then back at Thea.
Suddenly, she tugged Thea away and whispered something to her. I didn’t hear what was. I only held my teddy bear to my chest as they returned.
Aunty Thea crouched to my level and fingered my hair. Then she said. “Vera dear. You’ve to go with your mom.” She told me and I nodded.
After a while, I clutched my mother’s hand as she led me out of Aunty Thea’s house and into a black Sedan car.
And then we dived into the road my mother drove recklessly. All the time she’d look back as if someone was watching her.
She had fear in her eyes. Tears on her face but she held strong, driving as she could.
In between, I asked her. “Mommy, where are you taking me to?”
She looked at me and touched my hair. A smile crowded her face. “Somewhere safe, my baby.”
I grinned, not the least worried because I was with my mom.
But suddenly something happened.
I found our car tumbling over.
Fear gripped me and I screamed, calling for my mother as the car rolled over the bridge.
“Mommy!” I called.
I heard her whimpering in pain.
“I’m coming to get you, Vee.” She said but her voice was faint. Not audible enough but I felt reassured.
I waited in pain, I felt the drip of blood from my body.
I cried. But before long, blackness crept into my vision.
And I gave in to it.
I woke up later, only to find myself in a hospital. That was strange. Everything felt strange.
I had band-aid all over my head and some on my arms and legs.
I didn’t remember how I got there or what happened before. Nothing felt familiar except the fact that I was with a woman. A woman whose face I couldn’t remember.
I stayed at the hospital for days. I guess, three days. And on the third day, the CPS workers came and took me.
I was with them for about a month before David Truman came and took me.
I was only a child then. I knew nothing. I remembered nothing. Except the silhouette of a woman and me running from something unknown to me.
>>>>>>>>>
Sage looks baffled after I tell her everything I remember from when I was younger.
“That’s strange. Why would she keep you at your aunt’s place only to come back a few days later and pick you up?” Sage asks.
“I dunno, Sage. I’m confused as well.” I mutter.
“Hmmm…you said you’re wealthy? Have territories? Who do they belong to?”
We both look at each other thoughtfully but no answers come.
Suddenly, Sage leans over and whispers.
“I guess, David might know your mother. If he made a promise to her, then you have to find out. David Truman knows the answer to these questions.”
She taps my shoulder and whispers.
“It’s time you find out who you really are, Vera.”
I nod at her in agreement.
Tonight I have to find out what David’s keeping from me and why.
I leave Sage’s workplace and head back to my apartment.
Getting in, I see the cluster of dishes my housekeeper made in the dining but I have no appetite to eat at all.
Instead, I feel the strong urge to vent.
And so for the first time, I dash into the mini gym room David created for me.
Standing in the dark with sparring mitts on my hands and a punching bag before me.
In the darkness of the night, I hit and beat, sweating as my mind ran a mile a minute with thoughts.
I don’t stop even when I grow tired, I only send hits upon hits as I lay in wait for David.
The only man that has answers to my questions.
My heart zing in anticipation the very moment I heard the front door opening and closing with a low thud.
And I know it’s about time.
The cool air bites my skin when David enters the room, his brooding presence crowding the empty room.
Turing ever so slowly, I ask.
“Who am I?”
To be continued.