| SCARLETT |

As I woke up to the sound of my alarm I rubbed my eyes and gasped taking up as much oxygen as I could , I sat up straight , my hands shaking , I  grab a glass of water and started drinking it to calm myself down , I stood up and went to the washroom and washed my face throughout with cold chilled water and my eyes feeling numb , my vivid dreams have started taking the turn where it feels like a reality , a reality which is cruel , a reality which I never want to live , in these nightmares not only am I bound in oppressive chains but I am screaming for help and no one is there , a sly man busy laughing at my condition while pouring a liquid on me , ahhhhhh , even recalling those nightmares give me chills and goosebumps while increasing my blood level and adrenaline in my body as if wanting to oppress me in real life as well . 

As I stand forefront the costly marble basin and look at myself through the mirror my eyes slightly red and numb while puffiness seethes out from it giving me the burning sensation that hurts. Ignoring my condition I use my favourite oil cleanser to clean my face and then apply the moisturiser after that I use two finger lengths of sunscreen on my face , I always take a bath after I am done with yoga and meditation so now I am going to the terrace to do some yoga . As I intake the toxic free air inside me I feel alive , twirling my jade pendant around my fingertips while it darted beams of sunshine I would rather say it reflected , well who cares .  I stood upright folding the yoga mat and  stretched my body . 

As the driver pulled in front of the office building and opened the door for me , I stepped out my right foot and then stood outside my car and brushed my coat while setting my hair . “Good morning miss ” …… “Good morning miss ” , after I was greeted by some employees Camilia reached to me “ Good morning miss Scarlett , the meeting room will be arranged in a few minutes and the investors are going to arrive within 30 minutes so by that time what would you like to do ?” “ Nothing special Camilia , I’ll just be sitting here!” , I responded to Camilia in a lazy manner and then she left to bring me a lemon iced tea which is my favourite , as I sat on the bench thinking about my life all the memories flush back to me from my childhood to my teenage and my adulthood. 

I was born in the countryside Gettysburg and was raised there by my mother till I was six , my father also used to live with us but he was a drunkard who used to live off my mother’s hard earned income and used to beat her until every inch of her dripped blood but on my seventh birthday she ran away far from home somewhere she could never be found , my father tried to find her so that he can snatch her money and buy more alcohol but when there was no sign of hope for finding her , he started beating me and sent me to various factories and working places so that I could earn money for him to buy alcohol , I didn’t know how to cook still he forced me to make him his favourite food which was flat bread and chicken sausage, once I even burned my hand but he didn’t even bother, and I just couldn’t live with that scumbag anymore so that night I packed my bag and as I was ready to leave I saw my favourite stuffed animal ‘ mister rabbit ’ so I grabbed him , I was not like my mother to leave anyone behind in this abusing household, my mother didn’t even think about what he would do to me and ran away alone when she could have taken me with her couldn’t she ? . Each memory of my childhood either has abuse or trauma while everyone here had a beautiful childhood then why is it so difficult for me to have one , wasn’t I also a child ? Didn’t I also deserve love ? Then what was it ? Everyone’s father was good but mine he was a drunkard and I will never forgive him for anything in my freaking lifetime ,  didn’t I deserve what every child deserves ? Was it too much to ask for a normal childhood ? . As my eyes filled with tears upon these thoughts Camilia came to me grabbing the iced tea which I ordered “ Scarlett dear , what happened darling, are you again recalling those tragic memories, Oh dear , the past is in the past , you see if those things would’ve not happened then you would have never reached here where you are now , the deeper the seed is sown the better the tree will be likewise the more of hardships a person goes through is to more likely become successful ” “ Thank you Camilia for always being there for me ” I responded “ No thanks dear , I’ll always be there for you ” she said with a bright smile on her face that made me forget all my pain . 

As I sit in the meeting room after being greeted by the investors who just arrived my thoughts puddled and drifted from the room and the profit margin to the face of Camilia , that woman has always been by my side in the times when I was happy and as well as in the times of sorrow . We first met in an orphanage where she worked as a caregiver, far from the city , people had abandoned that place and I went to do some donations over there and then I saw her standing alone at a corner so I approached her and said “what happened , are you okay ?” At that time she was 23 and I was still 19 and till date I remember clearly that what she said “ the chickens look sad ” and as I heard this I burst into laughter and then she followed the rhythm and eventually we got to know each other , at that time I was still building my company so I offered her the position of my assistant and she has proven that she is the most loyal employee of all , she not only sacrifices all herself for this job but also is ready to provide me assistance even besides work , that is a true employee and I am always impressed by her , however I don’t know that if she is impressed by her own self , her family is after her marriage but she doesn’t seem to find her other half ,  I would certainly advise her to stay away from these scary marriages and just enjoy your life to the fullest alone but her family won’t listen and if I pursue harder they might make her quit the job and I cannot let that happen , So yeah I just stay low . I had many lovers back when I was a teenager and each of them proved me to never love again and trust anyone , all of then were freaking liars or cheaters or just used me as a vessel for their entertainment , goshhhhh these thoughts make me boil my blood with anger , every face and every voice is just a puddle of black energy which I want to burn and then stuff it their mouth until they regret saying every letter of what they said to me and then I would take the knife and chop each inch until their souls beg to die , Ahhhh ! 

“ Miss I hope you liked the presentation and what would you like to say about it , should we proceed further? ” as my thought breaks when one of the employee said something and brought me back to the horrible reality “ yeah ! Please continue ” as I give them the signal to resume they begin with the next slide . 

The investors gave me a pretty decent deal and we agreed after signing the paperwork and doing the necessities of documentation , I slid back into my car , wore my earpieces played the best music of all time and drove my car at the fullest speed enjoying the lisd greenery that surrounded me and screaming ‘WOooooOo’ at the top of voice in short enjoying my freaking life and as I was in the middle of my crazy ride I saw a beautiful beach with sunlight that glowed that area and the ocean rumbling , so I decided to go to the beach and enjoy under the hot sun . 

As I, stepped out of my car and onto the sandy parking lot, the warm sunshine and salty air enveloped me, instantly lifting my spirits. The sound of seagulls filled the air, and I couldn't help but smile as I gazed out at the endless expanse of turquoise water stretching before me. I had been craving a day at the beach for weeks, and finally, here I was, ready to soak up every ounce of serenity the ocean had to offer. With a spring in my step, I grabbed my oversized beach bag, slung it over my shoulder, and made my way through the dunes, the soft sand shifting beneath my feet. As I emerged onto the beach, the sight took my breath away. The waves rolled in, their gentle lapping a soothing melody that seemed to wash away all my sorrows and worries. I breathed deeply, feeling the stress of the past week melt away with each inhale. I spotted a secluded spot beneath a colorful beach umbrella, its vibrant stripes flapping in the breeze, and claimed it as my own. With a happy sigh, I settled into the plush sand, feeling the warmth seep into my skin feeling as if I will drown in the sand . The next few hours were a blissful blur. I lost myself in the pages of a novel, the words dancing before my eyes as the sound of the waves created a calming background hum. Occasionally, I would pause to dip my toes in the cool water or watch a group of children building sandcastles nearby, their laughter infectious. A gentle breeze carried the scent of saltwater and my coconut sunscreen, transporting me to a state of deep relaxation. As the sun began its lazy descent toward the horizon, casting a golden glow across the water, I decided to take a walk along the shoreline. The sand was cooler now, and the waves tickled my feet as I wandered, feeling the ocean's energy coursing through me. I stumbled upon a cluster of shells, their delicate shapes and colors captivating me. I collected a few, admiring their beauty, and tucked them into my bag as mementos. As the stars began to twinkle in the evening sky, I settled back into my beach haven, feeling rejuvenated. The air was filled with the sweet scent of beach bonfires, and the distant sound of music drifted from a nearby beach party. I smiled, grateful for this day of solitude, yet connected to the world around me. As the night deepened, I reluctantly gathered my belongings, the beach's tranquility lingering within me like a promise. With a heart full of serenity, I made my way back to my car, the ocean's melody echoing in my soul, reminding me that sometimes, all I need is a day by the sea . 

As I drove away from the beach, the fading sunset painted the sky with hues of pink and orange. I felt refreshed, renewed, and grateful for the solitude. The ocean's tranquility lingered within me, a soothing balm for my soul. I rolled down the window, letting the evening breeze carry the scent of saltwater and the sound of seagulls into the car. The stars began to twinkle like diamonds scattered across the velvet sky. I smiled, knowing this day would stay with me, a treasured memory to revisit whenever I needed peace.