SHATTERED DREAMS, DESTINED HEARTS

Sarah Wright was five when her world crumbled. The car accident that claimed her parents left her at the mercy of her uncle, James Wright, and his wife Patricia. Instead of finding comfort in family, she found herself abandoned at Grace Wood Orphanage, watching through tear-stained windows as they drove away with triumphant smiles on their faces, Sarah felt a pang of pain, and her tears seemed to flow endlessly. Her uncle, who had always been her friend while her parents were alive, turned out to be an enemy overnight.

What was supposed to be her inheritance-her father's technology empire, Wright Innovations was taken away from her by her uncle and his wife, who abandoned her in an orphanage.

Three years later, they returned. Not out of love, but to acquire a free servant. Sarah spent her days cleaning their mansion, enduring Patricia's cruel remarks about her worthlessness. Her only solace was secretly reading business magazines, learning about the empire that should have been hers through papers.

Then came that night-on one of the days she worked as a bar attendant in a restaurant very close to her uncle's mansion, the VIP customer she attended to that night took advantage of her. He raped her!!!

He was drunk, the drink made his vision blur. At that moment all he saw was a beautiful young lady standing in front of him. Sarah, who was standing in a corner of the room, saw him stagger while trying to stand from his seat. She ran to him and asked, "Sir, are you okay?" But before she could process what was happening, she found herself struggling under his tight grip. She wailed and cried out for help, but there was no one nearby to save her, even if there were anyone around, no one would hear her voice from outside. Please don't do this, don't hurt me, but all her pleas fell on deaf ears, He was under the influence of alcohol. Her cries and his groans filled the private room. She detested the day she was born.

Adjusting her dress, she ran out of the private room and hurried towards the dressing room, where she cried her eyes out, her soft muffle was heard, and she cried in unbearable pain, the pain of losing her pride to a total stranger, the pain that comes with how he mishandled her. She was losing her mind, 'Why me? She asked, directing the question to no particular person.

The following months were filled with memories that were hard to forget, Sarah could no longer concentrate at work, she was always in deep thought, and her only friend, Beth, whom she had always been close to and her confidant, took notice of her, and could not help but worry. Sarah has always been a joyful young lady regardless of what life throws at her, but these days she's more of a shadow of herself.

Months later, Sarah was feeling so weak and tired she thought it was malaria and it wasn't serious when she got to work that morning. Beth noticed she was not fine and she had also seen her run to the bathroom multiple times today, so this time she followed her to the restroom. Sarah, what's wrong with you? She asked, I don't know, I think it's malaria.

What have you eaten this morning? You look pale, are you okay? Yes, I am, but have been feeling weak and tired recently, have you taken anything? What medication have you taken? Nothing, Beth, I'm fine, it's just malaria, I would be fine. You should visit the hospital, Beth insisted. Okay, I've heard you.

*After work that same day*

Sarah took a taxi, and headed for the hospital, he had already booked an appointment in the afternoon. On getting to the hospital, the doctor examined her and wrote some tests for her to run at the hospital laboratory. The lady who met at the laboratory welcomed her with a smile, took the test prescription from her, and glanced through it. She withdrew her blood sample and gave her a bottle, told her to go to the restroom and bring her urine. She did exactly as she was told and brought back the bottle. The lab technician told her to wait at the reception. She did exactly as she was told.

While sitting at the reception, her mind drifted back to the moments she was always happy, those times when her parents were alive and they lived happily together as a family, the day she lost her parent to the cold hands of death, the tragic death of her parents. Her life after the death of her parents, her stay at the orphanage. She felt a sting of pain in her heart, hot tears dropped from her eye and she wiped them with the back of her hand. While she waited, it felt like an eternity, the result was taking longer than usual, and she was becoming impatient. After what seems like forever, the doctor called for her. Miss Sarah sees me in my office. She followed the Doctor into his office. Please sit, the doctor said.

After she had sat down, the doctor smiled at her and handed her the test results, 'Miss Sarah, congratulations, you are eight weeks gone. What!!!! Sarah exclaimed, Hot tears ran down her cheek, and Sarah felt the remnant of her life was finally crumbling before her eyes. If there's another word for devastation, that was how Sarah felt now. Miss Sarah, are you okay? The Doctor asked. She took the test result and left the hospital without looking back.

CHAPTER 2

Sarah wandered through the streets, her mind a chaotic storm of emotions. Pregnant? The word echoed in her head, sending shivers down her spine. How could she be pregnant? How? She was lost in her world, she did not even know she was crying, and fresh and hot tears rushed down her cheek again.

She considered how she would explain things to her uncle and his wife when she got home, but she couldn't find any words. She kept asking herself, how she ended up like this, if only she had not lost her parents at a tender age, if only her uncle had not betrayed her father by taking over her father's company and refusing to take care of her. If only her uncle and his family had not taken away her inheritance...

How could she possibly bear this child, a product of the worst night of her life? The thought of raising a baby alone, with no family, no money, and no hope, felt like a cruel joke.

****

Hours later Sarah found her way back, home. She was welcomed with mockery by Patricia, her uncle's wife. Oh...... you just found your way home, said Patricia. Sarah, who was in no mood for her mockery tonight, went straight into her room.

Beth, on the other hand, has been worried sick, she had left numerous messages for her on her WhatsApp after she had tried calling her phone several times without a response. Sarah had no strength left in her, she lay down on her bed and stared into the blank space, then her phone beeped again, she looked at the caller and it was Beth, she picked up the phone, before she could speak Beth answered from the other end Sarah, have been worried sick, you've not been answering your phone are you okay? Hot tears ran down her cheek again, she hesitated, her lips trembling, and the weight became unbearable. In a voice barely above a whisper, she murmured, "I'm pregnant". Beth's eyes widened in shock. What? How? Who? When?

Hot tears rolled down Sarah's face, she could not bring herself to respond to Beth's questions, it was too much for her to handle. Beth is her only friend and confidant; they have been friends since she started working at the restaurant and they have been best of friends.

It's okay, Sarah, stop crying and go to bed, we'll discuss this tomorrow at work. After the conversation with Beth, as Sarah lay in bed that night, a million thoughts raced through her mind. Should she keep the baby? Should she get rid of it? She clenched her fists. No matter what, she had to be strong. If life had taught her anything, it was that no one else would fight for her.

*The following morning*

Sarah woke up with a banging headache, she had a very terrible night, she kept tossing and turning all through the night. Following her everyday routine, she woke up before everyone else did, did her chores, and left for work, but that morning she was feeling terrible, her body ached, and her taste buds were bitter; if there was anything Sarah detested, it was being absent from work. So, she took her bath, wore her uniform, and headed to work, her face was swollen from crying.

At exactly 8 a.m., Sarah got to work, and Beth, who was as well restless through the night, got to work around the same time, she hugged her and they both resumed work.

During lunch break, Beth and Sarah were seen discussing in the dressing room. She told Beth everything-the VIP customer, how he took advantage of her, and the pregnancy.

Beth, who had been listening to her, pulled her into a hug, her eyes shining with unshed tears. Oh, Sarah... I'm so sorry. She comforted her

Sarah, whose head was resting on Beth's shoulder, sobs, and both friends took turns crying, and all Beth could do was comfort her dear friend. Beth then asked her if he was a regular customer at the restaurant. I don't think so, Sarah replied. I have been working on the VIP floor for a while now, but that was the first time I was assigned to that private room. She said amid sobbing. "I can't have this child."

Beth sighed. Listen, I don't know what you should do, but you don't have to decide right now. Take your time and decide what you would do with the pregnancy.

CHAPTER 3

Days turned into weeks. Sarah struggled with morning sickness, exhaustion, and an overwhelming sense of loneliness. Beth was the only one who supported her, bringing her food and covering for her at work.

One evening after the close of work, Sarah met her uncle who had just returned from a business trip, and his wife Patricia waiting for her in their luxurious living room, she greeted them and Patricia was the first to respond in a sarcastic tone, "welcome Missy" then came her uncle thundered voice, who is the father? Taking a step back, Sarah's heart sank, her face flushed, her lips trembling, her chest tightened......

How did they find out, she thought to herself, then comes her auntie's voice, I have seen you vomit countless times and you have been so dull these days, so I mounted a surveillance on you, there and then I found out you are with a child, so tell us.... who is responsible? Sarah's heart sank, how could she tell her uncle that she did not know who was responsible for a pregnancy. How could she tell them she was raped by a total stranger, who would believe her? She thought to herself, hot tears streamed down her face....

Before she could open her mouth and speak, Patricia threw her a mocking look and said, I know you have been sleeping around, how shameless can you be? You are as pathetic as your parents.

Get out of here this minute and never come back. Patricia threw her out, leaving her with only the clothes she was wearing and a small bag containing her work ID and credit card. Sarah broke down in tears and cried her eye out, at that moment she had wished she was never born.

Patricia locked the mansion's huge gate and warned the security never to allow Sarah to set foot in the mansion again. She faced James who had a triumphant smile on his face and said "oh my darling James, we finally got rid of her, now we can enjoy the company without her interference". Yes, finally, I have been patiently waiting for a day like this, answered James.

Sarah, who had just been thrown out of the mansion, was seen sobbing, she felt broken and had no strength left in her, who would have thought that the same mansion that used to belong to her parent is now in the custody of her greedy uncle and his wife, and they went as far as throwing her out of the mansion that used to be her home, her safe place? At that moment, Sarah lost the will to live. Her mind flashed back to when James and Patricia used to be friendly towards her-when they showered her with numerous gifts, often when they came to visit. "What changed?" Sarah asked, directing the question to no one in particular.

With nowhere to go, Sarah, who had been roaming the street, put a call through to her only friend Beth, who picked almost immediately. Hey Sarah, what's up? They find out, her voice cracked. Oh, poor thing, where are you now? I have been thrown on the street, answered Sarah. What???? Thrown on the street??? Okay fine, where are you now? It's getting late, pick a cab and come over to my place, we'll discuss this when you get here.

It was almost 10:30 pm when Sarah arrived at Beth's place, she looked tattered and tired, she was drenched because it was raining heavily outside. Beth lived in a mini studio apartment, and she lived alone. Her heart broke for her friend, Sarah, who had been through so much and she's still going through tough times. Sarah broke down in tears as soon as she got inside Beth's apartment; she had been holding her tears, but right now she could not hold them any longer, her lips trembling, she held on to her tightened chest and sobbed uncontrollably. I am sorry you had to go through all this, Sarah Beth comforted her...... After she had cried to her satisfaction, Beth prepared bath water for her, and made her light dinner. Sarah ate in silence to her satisfaction and cleared the plates and also washed them, Beth took her time, allowed her to eat her dinner in peace, after dinner she broke the deafening silence, "What's your plan?" she asked, I am keeping the baby, she replied. I'm glad you made the right choice, Beth replied, we are in this together. She hugged her, and they chatted for a while before both drifting off to sleep.