Chapter 5 Thoughts

Harper staggered into her apartment, barely holding herself together. She couldn't show up at the orphanage looking like this-disheveled, tired, and aching all over. A quick glance at the clock told her it was 10 a.m. She still had time before her 12 p.m. shift. Maybe a soak in the hot bathtub would help ease the throbbing pain in her muscles. Just as she was about to strip off her clothes, her phone rang. It was Mia. "Harper, I'm so sorry!" Mia's voice sounded frantic. "I saw you with a guy and thought you were safe with him. I got so drunk that I couldn't call you.

It was only when I was about to leave this morning that the bartender gave me your purse. I got so scared. Around 4 a.m., a guy picked up and said you were safe. I insisted on talking to you, but he said you were tired and needed to rest." "I figured you were busy couldn't find you and you promised to be with me within seconds but I think that guys presence turned your senses off", replied Harper Mia sighed, a small smile tugging at her lips . "So, who is this mysterious guy who made you so tired that you couldn't even pick up your phone?" she teased. Harper laughed nervously. "I have no idea. I was hoping you could tell me." Harper chuckled softly, her mind flashing back to fragments of the previous night. "Well, I guess we'll have to figure that out together. But first, I need to get myself cleaned up and ready for work." As she hung up the phone, Harper couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and amusement. Who was that guy? And why did she feel so at ease when she was with him? Reason why she hated clubbing she vowed to share her virginity with the one she loved and secondly this ordeal was supposed to be a nightmare for her but deeply she liked it which was strange all she couldn't understand and why she ran away was because she didn't know his intentions about her if his plan was to use her or help her but why did she trust Jake the stranger so easily tears brimmed down her eyes of how unfortunate she felt instead of finding love she found fear gripping her she has been confused about the male gender all her life. She decided to let those thoughts simmer in the back of her mind as she prepared for a long, hot soak in the tub. Later that day Harper went to the orphanage she was so tired the afternoon shift she had was stressful she planned on meeting with Mia today which was impossible be she was tired and Mia had a night shift . After her exhausting night shift, Harper slumped onto her bed, too tired to even say hi to Ma'am Agnes. She barely managed to kick off her shoes before sleep claimed her. Two hours later, Harper found herself in a dream, reliving the previous night's events. She was wandering in a foggy, dimly lit place, unable to see the face of the man she had been with. She felt a surge of panic. How did he look like? She couldn't remember. All she knew was that she had given her virginity to a stranger because of that one drug. Harper woke up with a start, her heart pounding. Tears began to stream down her face as the reality of what had happened sank in. She felt violated, confused, and utterly lost. In the middle of the night, her soft sobs attracted the attention of Sister Agnes, who came to Harper's bedside. "What's wrong dear, a penny for your thoughts ?" Agnes asked, her voice gentle and soothing. Harper couldn't bring herself to explain. How could she tell sister Agnes she had a one high stand with a stranger in a club they won't be proud of her. She just shook her head, burying her face in her pillow. Sister Agnes sat beside her, rubbing her back in slow, comforting circles. "Whatever it is, you're not alone, Harper," she whispered. "You're safe here. Take your time, and when you're ready, we can face it together." Harper clung to those words, trying to find some semblance of comfort. She didn't know how she would move past this, but with Sister Agnes by her side, she felt a tiny flicker of hope. She wondered how she was going to tell Mia tomorrow without Mia blaming herself Mia won't be happy with everything that happened so she decided to keep it a secret from herself and Mia that will be better for all of them. She took the plan B cause she didn't know if the guy use protection or not and she prayed he wasn't sick.