Chapter 1 Resemblance

PROLOGUE

"I don't love you anymore, Lake..." I felt the corners of my eyes warm as I told him that.

"Is it Marlon?" he asked before taking a sip from the bottle of alcohol in his hand.

"Yes, it's Marlon whom I love now. Stop bothering me. You'll only make things worse for yourself," I said.

Suddenly, he grabbed my arm and threw me onto the bed.

"What does Marlon have that I don't, huh?" He moved on top of me.

"Stop it, Lake! I'm going home." I pushed him away but he pinned me down the bed.

"You're not going anywhere." He said before he kissed me. I tried to push him, but he was strong. I felt his tongue inside my mouth. His kisses moved down to my neck. "Let me go, Lake. They're looking for me at home."

His hand crept inside my shirt. I resisted even more. I kicked him, I pushed him, I did everything, but he was really strong. He lifted my shirt and bra, exposing my chest.

I begged him, 'Please, don't do this. Let me go.' I was crying. He didn't listen to me. He continued sucking my right breast while his hand was on top of my left breast. When he got tired of that, his hand moved down to my abdomen, then further down to my thighs. He squeezed and fondled, and then his hand went between my thighs. He pulled down my panties and started inserting his finger. I screamed in pain, but he didn't seem to care. I pleaded with him, but he ignored me. His lips returned to mine. He kissed me, and I bit him hard.

"Ouch!" He recoiled. I could taste his blood in my mouth. That's when I got the chance to stand up on the bed. I quickly stood and ran, but before I could reach the door, he grabbed my hair, dragging me back to his bed. He lifted my skirt and spread my legs.

He entered his manhood inside of me. Only half of it entered, causing me to recoil in pain. I pressed against the headboard and begged him to stop, but it seemed like he didn't hear me. He pulled me back to him and continued. I was crying in pain as he persisted. He repeatedly did that until I grew exhausted from resisting and crying. I let him exhaust himself with my body until he tired himself out and fell asleep.

I grabbed my clothes and put them on. I couldn't believe it happened. The man who almost worshipped me was the same man who violated me.

***

"Mama, buy me this." Kurt approached me, holding a bag of Cheetos.

"Okay, that's the last one, alright. Put it in the cart," I said. Shortly after, my son came up to me again, holding a box of Oreos. "This, mama! Can we get this too?"

"Baby-"

"Ma, don't call me baby! I'm six years old," he pouted.

I laughed. "Okay, Kurt. No, put those Oreos back. You've asked for so much. It's all junk food."

"Please, mama? Please?" He gave me that puppy-eyed look again. My son really takes after his father. Lake used to give me that look too. Kurt has inherited many mannerisms from Lake. He reminds me so much of Lake - the way he talks, the way he smiles, the way he walks... everything.

Kurt is the result of that night when Lake raped me. That night was the last time we saw each other. As far as I know, he's in Ethios. I have no intention of telling him about Kurt; I don't want him in my life or my son's.

"Okay, that's the last one, alright," I said.

"Yay!" He placed the Oreos in the cart.

"After finding everything I needed, I stood in line at the checkout counter. Because Christmas is approaching, the line is long.

"Mama, can I get juice for my packed lunch?" Kurt asked me. I forgot to get juice.

"I'll get it; you stay here," I said.

"Let me, mama! I'm getting bored here."

"Okay, hurry. Don't talk to strangers and don't go with anyone else."

LAKE'S POV

"Why are you drinking juice? That's not allowed." I turned to the person speaking. One of the grocery store clerks was scolding a child who was drinking juice. "Where's your mother? You need to pay for that."

"In line. We'll pay for it! We have a lot of money," the child replied, continuing to drink juice.

"Pay for it first before you drink it," the man said.

"I already drank it," the child shrugged.

I approached them. "What's the problem here?"

"Uh, sir, this child drank the juice without paying yet."

"Okay, I'll handle this. You can go back to your work," I said. The clerk complied. I faced the child. "What's your name?"

" Kurt," the child replied.

" Kurt, do you know that what you're doing is not allowed?"

"Yep."

"Then why did you do it?"

"Because I was thirsty, and the line was so long. I might die of thirst before we even pay for this."

I chuckled at the child's statement. This kid is awesome.

"Ok, get more juice and whatever else you want. My treat."

"Really?"

"Yes. And you can eat it here."

He ran, and I followed him. He went to get Cheerios, opened it, and began eating. He offered me some.

"Do you want some?" he asked. We sat in the aisle, eating Cheerios and drinking juice.

"Why aren't they scolding us?" the child asked, noticing that the clerks just let us pass.

"They can't scold me. I own this grocery and the entire mall," I said.

"Wow, I want to have my own grocery store and mall too. So I can eat whatever I want and get lots of toys," he said.

"Just do well in school and you can also own a grocery like this one. Wait, aren't your parents looking for you?" I asked.

The child suddenly stood up. "Oh right, my mom might be looking for me. Bye."

Kurt quickly ran, and I didn't see where the boy went. That boy reminds me so much of myself.

AVERY's POV

"Kurt, where have you been? I've been looking for you."

"I met a nice guy. He said he owns the grocery store and the mall. Then we drank juice and ate Cheetos."

"You're giving me a nervous breakdown. I told you not to talk to people you don't know."

"He was nice, mama."

"Even so! No PSP and Xbox for a week."

"But mom..." he protested.

"No 'buts'! Come on, let's go home!"