Chapter 4 Not again

It was already five years! A lot had happened. More were memories that hurt and, wouldn't stop hunting me.

The thought of that stranger satisfying himself with my body was a constant reminder that I let my guards down. I had managed to tell my best friend, Laura.

"Do you know him?," she had asked. "I did not see his face."

"Damn! Well, it happened, but you don't have to kill yourself over it. We make mistakes," she tried to console me.

"I was not supposed to make this; it's too costly."

"You can't change what happened. Move on, sweetheart. I've got your back." She assured me. She really surprised me. I had thought she would be mad at me, considering she had tried to stop me from going to L.A., even though I had a genuine reason to be there.

My boyfriend, Wayne, did not, as I expected, take the news kindly. He was furious that I allowed

a stranger take my virginity, something he craved. He had demanded that we go back to Santa Monica to find out about the identity of the man, but I had to talk him out of it. I didn't want another reminder of what should not have been. It took time, but he surely got over it.

It was not all bad news!

I had finally graduated as a psychiatrist, which had always been my dream. Not that it was smooth sailing, but my determination saw me through. My mother was a write off, so, I could not count on her for any financial assistance. I had to work two jobs to be able to make ends meet. I worked at the mall in the day, and worked as a caregiver at night. It was all worth it. I had graduated and was now working at one of the biggest hospitals in New York City. I was close to living the American dream.

My mother's drinking and gambling addiction continued unabated. In fact, it had deteriorated. She kept incurring debts she left for me to pay, as if it was an inheritance. She had squandered my late father's fortune through gambling. Yet, she wouldn't learn her lesson. Rather, she kept putting me into more trouble.

I had just dismissed a patient when I got a call from her.

"Jessica, please help me! They are going to chop off my hands!" She sounded so scared. My heart went cold; everything seemed to stand still!

"Damn! How could you have been such a mother!? How dare you gamble!?," I yelled at her, frustrated. Not that it was of any use. Her life was in serious danger and, she needed my help. Even though I hated her actions, I could not afford to watch her get hurt.

"Please, don't hurt her. I'll bring your money," I pleaded with their leader over the phone. "You better be fast. I don't f*cking joke with my money, motherfucker!" He hung up.

Quickly, I rushed out, stopped a taxi and, off we went, my heart racing.

I got there to meet her pinned down by two black-clad men. She was in pain. "Please help me, Jessica," she pleaded with me.

"Please, let her go," I said to the men.

"Not so fast!" Their leader, a huge looking man, said, half way with his cigarette. "See, I have your money," I said, showing him some dollar notes.

As if it was planned, they all laughed at me. It seemed funny to them, but it wasn't to me. "What's funny?," I asked.

"How much is that?," he asked, in between laughter.

"$500." I thought that was it. It was the usual. I was in for a surprise.

"Are you kidding me!? Your mother owes us half a million dollars and you're giving me what!" His countenance had changed.

"Half a million what!?" I asked the head of the casino. Maybe I didn't hear well. I didn't want to believe what he had said.

"You heard well," one of them said, confirming my fear.

Turning to my mother, I yelled at her. "Are you crazy! Why do you owe so much money!?" "I am sorry," she just said, as if that would get the debt off my face.

"You're sorry, really!? Where do you want me to get that money from!? Maybe I should let them just chop off your hands and pluck off your eyes. You don't deserve me! You stink!" I yelled the more. I just felt like leaving her to die there.

"Hey, you're creating a scene in my territory. Do you have my money?," he asked. He didn't even seem to care that I was victim of a f*cking mother.

"My entire savings is just $10,000. I have never seen half a million dollars. Where do you want me to get such amount!?" I just seemed to find an unusual courage. I was done with looking out for a dumb ass mother. But...

Seeing her in so much pain, I felt some sympathy for her. "She's still my mother," I thought to myself.

I tried to be a bit friendly to the casino boss​"Please can I write you an IOU and pay later? You

can take the $10,000."

"Bring her here," he ordered one of his men. Forcefully, he led me into a dark room. It was stinking and had such a strong odour. I feared for my life.