TENDER NOTHING

Elena slowly opens her eyes, she felt like her head was spinning and could see the room rotating, she struggles to get up but was so weak, it was only then she noticed the IV injected to her, she slowly scan through the room and was now fully conscious of the fact that she was at the hospital. A nurse walks into the ward, seeing Elena awake, she smile.

" You are awake! How are you feeling?"

" Why am I here?!"

" You don't remember anything? You fell down the stairs, you were brought in by your mom, I think you should be more careful" Hearing the nurse mention the word 'mom' she felt her blood boil and could gradually recall what happened that day.

" Thanks nurse, was my dad here?" Elena ask hoping on the heavens that he still cares about her and was worried

" No! Just your mom and sister"

" Oh! Okay"

ELENA'S POV..........

Having been trying so hard for my daddy to look at me even just once again with those fatherly eyes filled with love, but what happened to that man who couldn't do without hearing my voice, that man that always made sure I was happy and okay, I feel like he died that day mom died, he was hoping Mrs. Clara would fill that void mom left but all Mrs. Clara ever did was destroy what was left of our family.

I gradually close my eyes hoping to travel straight to Dreamland, but sleep was so far away, I was even afraid to close my eyes for the fear of seeing the face of those men who constantly abused me.

The voice of Mrs. Clara and her daughter Kayla woke me up, as I open my eyes, I could clearly see that look of disdain on Mrs. Clara face, she placed a mischievous smile on her face and spoke.

"Finally you are awake!! I taught you were going to stay here for another day"

" Are you saying am been discharge today?"

" Off course! You left Mr. Ameren at the club alone and horny, he was infact very exasperated beyond endurance, I had to seek the service of one the girls working at the bar to calm him down"

" Kayla was here, you would have offered her to him to calm him down" I spoke and a hard slap from Kayla landed on my cheek .

" You do not speak about me in such manner, you are the slut not me" Kayla exclaimed. Few years ago, I would have shed tears right at this moment, but I was now stronger and able to endure all their maltreatment.

" Is that all I mean to the both of you? He smashed my face on the desk, he brutalized me and yet all you care about is the money you make from it, from my body, my dignity!!" I spoke trying as much as possible not to show my weakness, but the tears was already forming right above my eyelid.

" Your mother was a slut and that all you can ever be, what do you expect, to be carried as a princess? I advise you to get up from there, we've got work to do......ooh I mean you got work to do!"

" Am sorry, but am not going with you!!" I spoke and they both gave a derisive laughter.

" You think you have a choice, sorry darling but you don't! You don't get to decide what you do, it entirely up to me!!"

" Then watch me!!" I forcefully withdrew the IV from my vein, got up from the bed and then giving Mrs. Clara one last look, that tears have been holding up for long finally fell from my eyes down all the way to my neck. I walked out of the ward not looking back and hoping I never get to see their face ever again.

" Mom are you letting her go?" Kayla ask

" Relax! She will come back, she has no where else to go"

That was the first decision I ever took for myself and that was the best. I had no where to go but I choose death rather than going back to them.

I was lucky to have found two jobs at a time, I work at a restaurant at Rochester and also work at the mail office mostly delivery. It was difficult having to spend the cold night every day on the street but despite it all, I was determine never to go back to the mansion.

Shivering in the coldness of the night while I lay down the street of fort point , there was a sudden noise coming from the garage close to the pizza shop at Norwalk East Ave, I got up and could tell it was really late, I began to shiver not from the cold, but from fear of what might be going down there. Out of curiosity, I took few steps close to the garage and I could get a view of what was going on there. I could see men arguing in low voice and then one of them pulled out a gun from his back pocket and without hesitation, he shot the other party, I was too shock and screamed loudly, realizing the predicament I was in, I held my mouth with both my hands in an attempt not to be heard but it was too late, they all look towards my direction and my next instinct was to run.

I took to my heels as fast as I could without a second thought, and I could hear their footsteps chasing after me. Running towards the next street, I could see a car driving toward me, where could the driver be heading to at this hour, I wondered but then again I taught this was God's way of helping me. Realizing how close the men after me were, I quickly dive through the open of the car, the driver was in shock and I was now conscious of the fact that I could fall right away from this moving car and get myself killed.

" Help me please!!" I pleaded with the driver cause my life was obviously at his mercy right now.

AUSTIN'S POV......

The day had been really hectic, I was having constant nightmares about my deceased fiancée Maya and it was really affecting my assiduity to work, I had to seek medical advice. It was late and I was coming back from the medical center at East avenue when I saw a girl rushing towards my car, She had a sculpted figure which was twine-thin. Her waist was tapered and she had a burnished complexion. A pair of arched eyebrows looked down on her sweeping eyelashes. Her delicate ears framed a button nose. A set of dazzling angel-white teeth gleamed as she blew gently on her carmine-red fingernails while running towards me, I was astonished by her flowing moon shadow-black hair, Her enticing constellation-blue eyes gazed at me over her puffy heart shaped lips. It was a beauty to behold and for some moments, I was lost, and then seeing her jumped into my moving vehicle, I became more confuse

" Help me please!!" she pleaded with those blue eyes, I didn't want to get involve with a stranger but I knew she would get hurt if I acted otherwise. I slow down the car, held her arms and drag her fully inside the car. The moment she was inside the car, I increase the speed of the car and didn't stop until we got to my mansion at Pennsylvania.

" Thank you! Thank you SO much sir" she spoke gazing at me with those blue puppy eyes.

" It okay, this neighborhood is save, there is a hotel few blocks from there, I think you should check in"

" Sorry......but I don't have any cash on me"

" That your problem, not mine, I did you a favor by saving you from those thugs, you should be the one offering me cash and not the other way around."

" I understand Sir, and am really grateful, but please let me spend the night here, just today, I will be out of here by morning before you even notice"

" You expect me to bring in a stranger into my home, am sorry I can't. I suggest you find a solution to your problem" without waiting to hear another word from her, I walked inside, made sure the gate was close before heading upstairs.

As I dip myself inside the bathtub, my body was slowly betraying me. Ever since Maya died two years ago, I haven't had a good sleep, every moment I close my eyes, she is always there tormenting me, despite every treatment prescribed by different doctors, none of them seem to be effective enough to help me have even just an hour of sleep.

I got out from the bathtub, tie my robe around my waist and walk to the window, I wanted to be sure she left but to my surprise, she was there, lying on the floor in the cold, I couldn't watch her any longer, I quickly dress up and rushed outside to her.

The moment the gate fling open, my heart skipped, I was scared of the fact that he might ask me to leave the premises. I had no way of knowing the exact time, but I could tell it was really late. At that moment, I began to consider if I should go back home but remembering how much abuse I would have to face both physically, mentally, and emotionally, I became reluctant to even consider the thought.

" Why are you still here?" He ask the moment the gate open, he was wearing a night robe, water still dripping from his head down to his shoulder.

" Please sir! Once it morning, I will leave, I promise!!"

" You mean you intend spending the whole night here, are you not feeling cold?"

" It okay sir, am use to it"

He looks at me from head to toe like he was considering what to do with me, he heaved a sigh and spoke

" Come inside! "

" What?!!" I ask not sure of what I heard

" Come inside, it too cold out here!"

I quickly followed him before he gets a second thought, entering into the mansion, A big house, the kind in which most American kids dreamed of growing up. Secluded among trees on one of new York most exclusive streets, it had turrets, gables, dormers, balconies, a screened-in front porch, a free-standing garage, a gazebo, a pool, formal gradients, calm but I could also feel it loneliness ranging from the trees, flowers and even the rocks.

" Do you stay alone?" I ask but there was no reply from him.

The moment we walked into the living room, stood a middle age woman supposedly in her fifties, she was wearing a uniform that identify her as a maid and an apron was tied around her neck down to her shoulder. As she stood there, I could tell she was obviously waiting for us.

" What would you like to have Miss?" She ask and I was obviously surprise by the warm gesture.

" Anything at all" I obviously would appreciate anything at that moment cause I was extremely famished.

Within few minutes, I was serve a plate of steak with a mouth watering sauce, this woman must be a magician, how on Earth did she know my favorite was steak.

Without thinking twice, I began to prey upon the innocent steak while the young man walked upstairs without saying a word to me.

" Am Mrs. Lucy, but you can call me Lucy, what your name?" The middle age woman who has been watching me eat ask . Her look was domineering, and her aura was an intimidating one.

" Am Elena"

"You are welcome Elena, once you are done here, I will take you upstairs to the guest room, where you take a warm bath before you can finally rest"

" Okay, thank you ma'am".

The moment I was done with the meal, I followed her away from the kitchen into the main hallway to the right, is a large sitting room. The fire place, situated on the wall facing east, it has a tall mantel of Birchwood with turned spindles flanking a rectangular mirror supporting a tapered good. The hearth is set with dark patterned tiles design with light blue and white floral tiles surrounding the firebox. The cushions are made with rare leather and fiber materials. The ceiling is painted pressed metal with a curved crown molding. Walking down the hallway to the stairs, there is a center arch columns and molding with ornamental keystone designs. The haunch of the arch is angular rather than curved. She halt at the second floor right before a door by the left and gradually turn to face me.

" This is the guest room, if you need anything, do not hesitate to contact me, or any of the maids, there is a landline inside, you can always make use of it"

" Okay. Thank you ma'am!" I spoke and without another word, she walks away, I fling open the door and as I walked in, I was greeted by the sweet fragrance that spread through the entire room, the sweet design of the walls was beauty to behold, as I walked in, I jumped on the sofa, it was so soft and inviting, rushing into the bathroom, I couldn't be more excited, I dive into the bathroom, the fragrance of the bubble smells fresh and nice, it was definitely strawberry.

I lay there for hours in the bathroom, it was nearly two weeks I took a real bath, and I couldn't be more grateful for these.

After I finally came out of the bathroom, I hung a bath rope around my shoulder and fell on the bed.

I was fast asleep when I heard sounds coming from the next room, I got up, gaze at the clock on the wall, it was 2: am, that was definitely whimpering and it sounded like the gentle man's voice. I got up, got out of the room and walk towards the room where the sound was Coming from, the door was open, I gradually walked in, he was having a nightmare.

" Sir! Are you okay!!" I spoke definitely not expecting an answer, he was sweating restlessly, I could see trace of tears dripping from his eyes and I knew instantly that he had a traumatic past. I took his left arm, place it on top of mine, I gently stroke it and quietly began to sing him a song. Slowly his temperature began to cool down and in few minutes, he fell asleep.

AUSTIN'S POV.........

As I open my eyes, it was morning already, I couldn't believe that after two years of sleepless nights, I finally had a night of rest. Unable to grasp the mystery behind my new development, I got up from the bed and was so surprise beyond imagination to see the strange girl sleeping beside my bed.

" Hey!! Get up!! Why are you here?!!"

" Sorry sir!" She spoke as she struggles to stand up, I got to take a close look at her, she seems weak, but despite it all, she was the true definition of beauty.

" Why are you in my room?" I ask her again the moment she was fully awake.

" Sorry sir! I haven't slept for days, I needed a good sleep but you were crying in your sleep......."

" So? How is that any of your business?" I ask

" I taught I needed to calm you down before I can get a good sleep.......so I was trying to calm you down, I didn't know when I fell asleep"

" I see.... You can leave now, like you promised just for the night"

" Sure! I will just take a shower and be out of your skin before you know it" She spoke and was about walking out of my room but then I realize I don't even know the name of this angel who helped me through the night.

" Hey! What your name?" I ask her.

" Elena!"

" Nice to meet you Elena, am Austin"

" Thanks a lot Austin for letting me spend the night here, I will leave you to rest now" her smile reminder me so much of Maya, I felt like that was Maya standing before me.

After I dressed up and was heading downstairs, I could hear the maids whispering to their self.

" It was a huge shock to me when I walked past Mr. Austin's room and I couldn't hear any sound, so I taught to myself, is he dead......"

" Why would you even think such!!" Amira exclaim

" You can't blame me, since two years ago I started working here, there hasn't been a single day Mr. Austin slept peaceful without making strange sounds but yesterday was a miracle, I had to peep in other to be sure he was alive and to my greatest amusement, it was miss Elena, lying beside him singing him a song"

" A SONG?!!" Amira and Margret ask in chorus.

" Why would she sing him a song, is she a mermaid?" Margret ask and they all laugh together.

I walked into the kitchen and immediately there was total silence.

" Is breakfast ready?" I ask, sat down at the dinning table facing the kitchen.

" Yes sir"

As Lucy dished out the meal, I was constantly looking at the hallway, I couldn't hold it any longer and decided to ask.

" Where is Elena? Go tell her breakfast is ready"

" Am sorry sir but she left"

" She left? Why didn't you inform me that she was leaving?"

" Sorry sir..... we taught you were aware"

" How long has it been?" I ask, stood up and without Waiting for a reply, I ran towards the gate.

I ran for few miles through the street of Pennsylvania but there wasn't any trace of her, why am I suddenly angry, why am I feeling this way towards a stranger I know nothing about her, besides I was the one that asked her to leave but here am I foolishly searching for shadows.

I arrived at doctor Maxwell's office at the medical center at East avenue, I already called him to inform him I was coming, the moment I walked in, the receptionist let me in.

" How are you feeling today?" Maxwell ask

" Am fine. I surprisingly had a good night rest"

" By night rest you mean you slept for some seconds?" He ask.

" No! I actually slept for hours"

" And how is that possible?" Doc Maxwell ask noting it down on his laptop right in front of him.

" It a long story bro"

I narrated to him how I met Elena, took her home and how her presence was able to give me comfort enough to make me fall asleep.

" Why did you asked her to leave? You have been writing lots and lots of check just to be able to close your eyes even for just an hour, but despite all the money, it hasn't been working and then free of charge your prayers are answered, so am curious why did you let her go?"

" Am in this situation because of a woman, and you expect me to bring in a stranger and keep her there forever just because she helps with my anxiety"

" At least you should have tried to find out more about her, like her address, contact and even place of work just in case you might need her again"

" Doctor! That how women works, they get close to you, make you feel like you can depend on them until slowly they ripe you away of everything you have"

" Austin! Every woman is not Maya, because Maya betrayed you doesn't mean that what all women does, maybe you just need to learn to love again"

" Seriously! That the kind of advice you can give me as my doctor?"

" No Austin that the kind of advice I can give to you as a friend, don't dwell on those pain, they are going to destroy you"

" Enough with all that, that not why am here"

" Then why are you here"

" I was curious, we tried therapy several times but it didn't work, you tried other different method, you even recommend me to other psychiatric but there was no improvement and then just like that because she sings me a song, all my depression and anxiety goes away, don't you find it strange?"

" Well I must say medically it strange but emotionally it not impossible, come with me let run a few test"

I followed doc Maxwell to the lab and series of test were done on me. Days went by and I just couldn't stop thinking of Elena, she was there for just a day but it like she left a mark on me.

I arrived at the office, there was a situation and my team of scientist were already waiting for me.

" Boss there is a problem at the lab" Kenneth my personal assistant spoke

" What happened?!"

" We encountered a problem with the prototype for the CACHE" hearing the IT guy Ray spoke, I quickly got up as I clenched my fist so hand trying as much as possible to act cool.

" That prototype already undergone trial so can someone tell me what the fuck happened, we are suppose to launch it in a month!!"

" Am sorry sir, but I think the fault is from the lab technician, she might have failed to properly analyze the project which might have resulted in her not dictating the virus on time"

" There is a virus on the prototype? What kind of virus are we talking about here?" I ask already furious.

" Multipartite virus!"

" What!! Where the hell is Sophie right now?"

" At the lab"

Without another word, I hurried to the lab. The CACHE is a technology I put all my energy into especially during my most difficult moment, it is meant to be my biggest achievement and that is why am determine even if it means loosing everything else just for the CACHE to be launched.

" Sophie what the hell is happening?!" I ask the moment I arrived at the lab.

" Boss! You are here! Am sorry this is happening........"

" Sophie I don't need apology right now, what I need is a solution, what do we do?"

" I don't know boss but the virus was coded and sent as an encryption"

" Were you able to trace the IP address?"

" No. We are still working on that" as Sophie said those words, I was so depressed and overwhelmed, I knew that from the beginning of these project, my competitors have been trying to sabotage this technology but just when I thought we are way passed the complicated stage.

" Boss! I know of someone who can help us" Ray suddenly spoke and I felt a ray of hope again.

" What are you waiting for, go get him immediately"

" Sir it a lady, she is an IT expert but she might not be willing to help"

" And why is that?"

" She works for KODAC TECH........"

" Up until yesterday!!" Sophie interrupted.

" She quit?"

" No. She got fired"

" Why would they fire her if she is as good as you say?"

" That what am surprise about, but I think we need to try first"

" Sophie, go back to the office and get me everything you can on this IT lady, I want it as fast as possible"

" Yes sir!" Sophie spoke and left the walls of the lab.

ELENA'S POV.......

I was working a part-time job in a café, this was my final year in college and I was trying really hard to make it out.

Brewing a cup of caramel macchiato for a customer, The homey aroma of the coffee is one of the reasons I love working here cause it draws my soul into it's cocoon for those moment.

" A cup of caramel macchiato for you ma'am!" I spoke beaming with excitement.

" Thank you dear, it always lovely to see you, have a nice day" A regular customer who works at the law firm few blocks away spoke with she finally walks away.

" So this is where you have been hiding?" A voice spoke, I knew immediately who it was even without looking at her, it the voice of the same woman that has tormented me all my life.

" Mrs. Clara?"

" Yes it me! You think you could really run away"

" What are you doing here, this is my working place"

" Then let go outside and talk"

" Fine! Give me just few seconds"

I wasn't afraid of her any longer but her presence was traumatic for me, making me remember those lonely nights I was molested and abuse crying and screaming for help at the top of my voice, but she was always at the door and never rescued me.