Trapped in a Marriage

The sun beamed brilliantly today, casting a warm glow over everything in its path. The birds sang their hearts out, filling the air with a symphony of cheerful melodies for those who were barely making it alive.

As Gabrielle sat at the table, a spoonful of soggy cereal lay abandoned before her. Despite feeling a wave of revulsion, she couldn't bring herself to be upset. Her bank balance was perilously close to zero.

The chilly morning air wrapped around her delicate arms, a poignant reminder of her scant meals over the past day.

"Have you remembered to take your medicine?" She whispered as she hurriedly helped her stepmother to sit on her bed. Her stepmother was sick and bedridden, needing her care and attention.

After the devastating loss of her mother, Gabrielle's world was completely upended when her widowed father sought comfort in the arms of another woman named Laura, whom he eventually married. Gabrielle struggled to come to terms with the idea of her cherished family being torn apart by this new relationship. She was deeply hurt; it hindered her whole being.

Just as she began to come to terms with her father's new relationship, tragedy struck again. With her father's passing, Gabrielle was left with no option but to live the life that Laura was leading.

To her, she's the unluckiest person to have ever existed. Having to aid a woman she's not even blood-related with and working her ass off to provide for both their needs.

As she took in the gravity of the situation, fatigue crept into her eyes. The lack of sleep and potential dehydration weighed heavily on her. She's tired, more than her senses can take.

It pained her to see her stepmother looking pale and frail, unable to stand the sight of her in such a condition. Her eyes grew tired when she realized the weight of the situation, she was currently in. No sleep and is potentially dehydrated, she can't stand seeing her stepmother pale and weak.

"You have to get it together, mom." She sniffed, not knowing how she could pass by a day without shedding a single tear. "I cannot afford to lose another parent again."

Silence enveloped every side of the room. The only thing that was creating noise was the droplets of water coming straight out of their rusty roof.

"Hahaha!" Wild laughs rang in Gabrielle's ears. It is not uplifting, rather, it makes her feel uneasy.

"And I cannot leave you behind either." Gabrielle felt a pang of sting in her throbbing heart while she stared at her stepmother's empty, half-sane, and dull stare. She kept on fidgeting on the linen of her shirt while biting her tongue so as not to cry.

Her trembling voice couldn't get out. "Yeah... and I will leave now." It was an excuse so as not to see herself broken down.

She turned her back to her stepmother and did not say a word. However, she was taken aback when she grabbed her wrist and made her knees weak.

"Thank you..." It's almost as if it was said to make her stay.

She just nodded. It would be best not to throw another glance or else, it'll be hard.

Gabrielle dashed out of their door and took a long sigh before proceeding out. Countless thoughts filled her tiny brain, those that she knew she could not fight with.

Her footsteps became heavy as she entered each door in hopes of finding a new job.

Sighing loud enough, she clutched her bag. "This is better than not trying..." She calmly comforted herself. Carrying multiple resumes to submit in each stall she can see will always be engraved in her being, she is desperate.

"Uhmm, good morning?" The door chimed up as she entered. A frowning, potentially tired old woman was the first person she saw. Her sharp eyes took her to the edge, and she felt the need to stop talking.

She looked at her from head to toe, judging her whole being. Gabrielle felt like there was a lump in her throat and she could no longer talk. She is out of breath just thinking of how things will go.

"What is it to you?" It was the deepest and most irritated voice she had ever heard. There is a noticeable hatred in the tone and it's making her feel uneasy. "Unless you came here to eat, then I would most especially welcome you to your seat."

It was only that time that she realized she had come to the restaurant at the most unfortunate time. During peak hours, people rush to eat. No wonder her stomach started rumbling when she smelled the sweet scent of the braised pork ribs being served on the table parallel to her stand.

"Hey!" The old woman snapped at her, bringing her back to reality. "What do you need? I'm busy."

"I need a job." She straightforwardly, with no thoughts, spoke. 'My mother's health is declining rapidly, and I need to secure a job that pays me well. Please, I need to work." Gabrielle's voice seeks empathy from the woman in front of her.

There was a loud silence shared. "We do not have a vacancy right now."

The old woman attempted to leave, but she grabbed her hands. "Please! I know you're a mother too. I want my mom to live longer... and this job might just be the only turning point of my life." She tightened her grasp on the woman's hands as she continued to plead for help. She had never been that desperate her whole life.

Gabrielle couldn't care less about the attention she is getting. Even if the circumstances she is currently in are making her feel inferior, she could not give it a thought.

"Please..." tears started to accumulate in the sides of her eyes. Her cheeks turned red from embarrassment, and she was trembling, not from fear, but because of hunger.

She didn't release her grip; it seemed like she was holding on to her last hope. It was at that moment that the elderly woman surrendered, casting a remorseful and guilty glance.

"Alright, fine." She finally gave up. "Can you serve?"

"Yes!" She gladly accepted the job, with no more objections. "When do I start?"

"Now." her employer, a savior, instructed her. She followed her to the kitchen, wore the same apron as everyone was wearing, and started working.

"Do not slack off or else, I will fire you immediately." The old woman rolled her eyes, frustrated by the decision she made out of pity.

Gabrielle could only be thankful that the world spared her a job to start with.

"Thank you... thank you so much." She kept on repeating the words, looking like a beggar.

Gabrielle had no time slacking. Even if she is losing her mind with hunger and her energy has started to run out, she cannot possibly rest.

Sweat fell under her chin, her feet felt sore. She doesn't know when her shift will end, and neither when her struggles meet the end of the tunnel.

Luckily enough, she was able to reach it by afternoon without passing out. The rush hour ended and all she sees are minimal customers, wanting to be assisted.

"Good afternoon, ma'am..." Gabrielle greeted, forced a smile, and fixed her poise. She's pale, her lips are starting to dry out and she's nowhere like the energetic woman she was when she woke up. It was like she was running out of every droplet in her body and might cause her to fall ill after.

"How may I assist you?" She smiled faintly.

"Give me the menu." The woman, who seemed arrogant, ordered her around.

She sat on the chair with no manners, and threw her bag on Gabrielle, expecting her to treat her fairly.

Her patience is running dry. She had been dealing with all sorts of customers for as long as she can remember, and this might just become her turning point; she hated it.

She walked to the counter and asked for the menu. It wasn't at that moment that when she came back to the table, the woman instantly went feral.

"Where are my earrings?!" It was the loudest shout she had ever heard. It rang in her ear's multiple times, and it made her feel goosebumps.

It was the customer who treated her poorly.

"You..." The woman pointed her index finger at Gabrielle. She sweats really cold, gathering attention from the people inside the restaurant. "Give me... my jewelry back!"

She grabbed Gabrielle by the collar, the woman's breath stinks, and it was making her feel more nauseated.

"Ma'am, I am so sorry, but I never took anything from you. I never even stood near you." She calmly stated. She tried to get away from the grip by forcing her to let go of her, but she was no one to be budged.

"You dare lie, you bitch?!" She cursed her out.

"Ma'am, you're hurting me." Her neck felt like it was being strangled with the intention of murder. Her skin was being pinched by her collar; it was making her rethink her decisions.

"What is happening here?!" The owner of the restaurant asked. The commotion has gotten her to the edge and her raging eyes make Gabrielle feel terrified for her life.

"What will happen now?" she fidgeted her hands as the thought filled her head. It was plastered on her face; the fear was evident. Even if it is, she has no choice but to live with it.

She is not at fault, but the world isn't as beautiful and fair as the books designed it to be. To the arrogant woman, she's nothing.

Gabrielle is someone that can be destroyed with words, she is just a toy.

"This bitch stole my earrings!" The arrogance of the woman was enough to make Gabrielle tremble in fear.

"I never stole anything, ma'am. I merely went to the counter to get you your menu... and we never even touched." She defended herself, although it is clear that prejudice is starting to build.

She doesn't know what to do. Her eyes were filled with worry, she did not endure six hours of working only to be fired because of an inconvenient lie.

Gabrielle stared at her employer, wishing she'd take her side. "Please, believe it or not, I would never steal anything from anyone."

A long breath of disappointment escaped the old woman's mouth. She stared at Gabrielle and lost her composure, "I shouldn't have helped you."

It was like a stab in her chest. How can the woman change her mind just because she was subject to baseless accusations? How can someone be that cruel?

Gabrielle tries to remain calm even if she is flooded with extreme wariness and the pressure is building up. She stared at the clear gazes of the people around her, calling her a thief in different languages.

It was the most degrading minute of her life. Having to bathe in attention is a bad one. She cannot cry, she cannot plead nor kneel on the floor and beg them to help her. Instead, she was forced to accept fate.

Six hours of overworking herself was thrown to waste. She was forced to get out of the restaurant and was thrown with only 52 dollars as her payment; not even half of the minimum wage.

She cannot even buy her stepmother's medicine which costs nearly a hundred dollars. She cannot buy foods that can fill her stomach.

All along, it was all a waste of energy and she's hopeless of what her life will be.

She stared at the woman who did her wrong, cursing her in her mind. Her first clenched as she stood firmly outside.

She did not receive any apologies, there is nothing.

Stare of shame and gossip, she can't even clean her name.

The sun is going down and the darkness is starting to elope in the sky. Streetlights have started to glow and the warm tone of her surroundings makes her bluer than blue.

Gabrielle's eyes roam across the streets to see homeless people begging her for cents.

"Will I be like them?" She wondered to herself. Whilst all that, she felt excruciating pain.

She cannot bring herself to the thought of becoming just another beggar across New York's streets. While wealthy people dressed in warm and cozy clothes pass by her, she'll be praying to be magically one of them when she wakes up.

Gabrielle doesn't want to end up just another person who had her life thrown to waste, it makes her feel disgusted by her whole being.

Her feet brought her to some place she was not familiar with. Strange people, strange food, strange colors of walls-it was nothing she was used to seeing.

Gabrielle felt a pang of fear, she seemed disarray. She's had her head filled with so many things that she cannot function properly.

It was at that moment that someone held her hands. Gabrielle jumped on her stand and was stunned to see a beautiful woman in front of her.

She's got her brows pierced. Brunette, fair brown skin, sleeveless dress-Gabrielle could not take her eyes off of her.

"Are you alright? It looked like you're about to jump." The woman whispered in the air with a tone of concern.

Gabrielle was brought back to reality and saw herself standing at the edge of what felt like an ocean of infinite sorrows.

"I-I'm sorry... I am not sure how I got in here." She apologized and took a few steps backward. "I am Gabrielle Angelique... who could you be?"

"Clara." The woman smiled and offered her a handshake. "I am Clara Lanark."

Gabrielle felt like she just found herself a friend. Or perhaps, it was just the overwhelming feeling of finally meeting a person she could talk to without any restrictions.

She tried not to sabotage herself and act cool. After all, they are strangers. Gabrielle could not contain the look of distressed in her face and Clara is not stupid not to notice.

"What's the reason for your... you know, trying to commit-"

Clara wasn't able to finish her sentence when Gabrielle quickly intervened. "I wasn't trying to kill myself, no." She raised a protest. "I am just... I don't even know why I got in here."

She sounded like she feared whatever she'd think of her. The anxiety of being misunderstood took her sanity.

Gabrielle cares so much about her image, even if she's not supposed to. She cared so much about being perceived as composed even if she is indeed messy. What can a woman like her do? She is forced to always put an act in every aspect or ratio of her lifestyle.

She grew up never experiencing the joy of being pampered. She always has to stay put otherwise, her life will fall apart.

"You're so defensive and for what?" Clara laughed at her, mocking her anxious state.

"Also, you're holding resumes. Are you looking for a job?" Clara deliberately stole the papers in Gabrielle's hands.

It was one of the things Gabrielle hated. She loathed it when people took things from her without any warnings. She hates people that are sticking up their nose on someone else's business.

She closed her eyes as she calmed her nerves. "Yes." She shortly responded.

Rolling eyes and ragged breathing. "I was fired from my job minutes ago after someone accused me of stealing her earrings. And... Here I am, trying to make a living."

"Oh, is that so? Must be Karen." Clara laughed and held her little stomach, she thought it was that funny. "I worked in restaurants before as well. And when I tell you? There are thousands of people that will give several reasons to hate you just because they had a rough day."

Clara's eyes scanned the resume and a curl escaped her lips. At the same time, light ignites in the darkest path Gabrielle is currently taking.

For a while, she somehow believed Clara was sent as an angel who would help her with her needs. It felt like there was a light beaming behind her and she is the only person who can lift her up from dirt.

"You have such a beautiful face and a body as well." Gabrielle was creeped out by the sudden compliment. "You'd pass the evaluation as easily as I did."

"What do you mean?" Confusion filled Gabrielle's head. "Are you offering me a job right now?"

"Do I look like I'm not?" Clara's face palmed. She cannot believe she's seeing a beautiful woman yet does not know how to act like one.

"Well, perhaps you could use some help? And I am most certainly the only person who can lend you some help in this street." Clara claimed to be a savior, which is true at most.

"What is this job?" Gabrielle bit her lips as she asked. Curiosity filled her head; she started daydreaming about what could happen. "Is this decent?"

"I work at the bar," Clara said which made Gabrielle's smile fade eventually.

She does not want to entangle herself in a job that would only molest her principle and dignity. To Gabrielle, it was like jumping on a pit of fire and dying due to her own stupidity and recklessness.

"I'll pass, thank you for the help." It was the quickest decision she had ever made. Rejecting a job offer upon hearing it was on the bar? Gabrielle could not bear to taste such a state.

"Oh wait, hear me out!" Clara grabbed her bag and sounded as desperate as she. "It's not like you're going to throw your life out there."

"This is not some human trafficking job, alright? You should know that everything is caused by good deeds and the desire to help you rise from wherever you are standing right now." Clara said, making it extremely hard for Gabrielle to refuse again.

"And what do I expect myself to be once I enter such a job? Clara, I do appreciate your kindness, but I figure it'd be best not to make any decision that I might regret."

"Quite the contrary." Clara is starting to get annoying. "You might regret not accepting this proposal of mine."

Gabrielle let out a deep sigh. She doesn't like being told what to do, let alone being forced.

She did need the job, but what use could it be if she were to dance in front of men for money? She still has her dignity and purity.

"You won't be dancing in the bar if that is what you are concerned about." Clara read Gabrielle's thoughts.

"We need a waitress." She said, "It would be best to get the finest and most beautiful ladies, so here I am, begging you to please come with me and work with us."

Gabrielle's shoulders suddenly dropped. Her walls have been down, she certainly felt relieved upon hearing.

"You will make every man fall in love with you at first glance. I'm sure you'd do great." Clara reassured her.

Gabrielle did not have much choice and to reject the offer now will only make her look like a complete fool.

Clara looked desperate as well, she might need to give in now.

"So... what do you think?" Clara asked.

Gabrielle sighed, the longest sigh she had ever made.

"Yes." She whispered. "It's better than being homeless..."