《Her and His unlucky adventure》


 The peculiar weirdly shaped rock

    Eliah Reins had always hated dark ruins of an Old Temple with its great, mammoth mountains. It was a place where she felt scared.


    She was a fragile, but wild orange juice drinker with skinny arms and beautiful eyes. Her rare friends called her wide-eyed, wasteful weakling. Once, she had even helped an alive disabled person recover from a flying accident. That''s the sort of woman she was.


    Eliah walked over to the window and reflected on her ruined surroundings. The fog teased like sleeping birds.


    Then she saw something in the distance, or rather someone. It was the figure of Theron Highs. Theron was coltish looking, intelligent fiend with long hair and predatory eyes.


    Eliah gulped. She was not prepared for Theron.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    As Eliah stepped outside and Theron came closer, she could see the hot smile on his face.


    "I am here because I want to serve," Theron bellowed, in a hungry tone. He slammed his fist against Eliah''s flat chest, with the force of 1724 bugs. "Please, I frigging love you, Eliah Reins."


    Eliah looked back, even more lonely and still fingering the peculiar weirdly shaped rock. "Theron, thank you." she replied. "I am really, truly thankful to you, but..."


    They looked at each other with concerned feelings, like two wonderful, wonky wolves talking at a very violent accident, which had echo of wind playing in the background and two scheming uncles walking to the beat.


    Eliah studied unnatural looking light in Theron''s eyes. Eventually, she took a deep breath. "I''m sorry, but I can''t let you serve me," she explained, in pitying tones.


    Theron looked stressed, his body raw like a boiled, beautiful broken piece of wood.


    Eliah could actually hear Theron''s body shatter into 413 pieces. Then the intelligent fiend hurried away into the distance.


    Not even a drink of orange juice would calm Eliah''s nerves tonight.


    THE END

 Chapter 2

    Eliah worked in a famous, classy restaurant. She served customers, cooked food, cleaned dishes, and did many other things. But none of this mattered to her.


    She just wanted to be free.


    One day, Eliah met a handsome, intelligent man who asked her out. They started dating. Eliah knew it wasn''t going to last. She had been in relationships before.


    But the man didn''t matter. What mattered was that he was a good listener. And she needed a good listener right now.


    Eliah told him about her dreams, and her fears.


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.He listened carefully to every word.


    When she finished, he smiled.


    "Don''t worry," he said. "You''re not alone."


    Eliah smiled too. "Thank you."


    "You know what?" he continued. "I think I have a solution."


    "What is it?" Eliah asked.


    "It''s simple," he explained. "We should go to a place where we can talk freely. Where nobody will interrupt us."


    "Where is that?" Eliah asked.


    "I''ll take you there," he answered.


    Eliah agreed.


    The man took Eliah to a strange, creepy, abandoned building.


    There, they talked.


    After that, Eliah lived happily ever after.


    ***

 Chapter 3

    That night, Eliah dreamed again.


    In her dream, she was a young, beautiful girl with a flower crown.


    She was standing in a desert, in front of a great mountain.


    On top of the mountain, a dark figure appeared.


    Eliah knew who it was. Her father.


    The dark figure looked at Eliah with its evil eyes.


    "Hello, my daughter," her father said. "I''ve come to tell you that I''m sorry."


    Eliah was shocked.


    "Sorry? Sorry for what?" she asked.


    "For leaving you alone," he explained. "I know I didn''t do a good job raising you."


    Eliah was confused.


    "But I''m still your father," her father continued. "And I love you."


    Eliah was speechless.


    "So, don''t cry," her father said. "Just listen to me."


    Eliah nodded.


    "I know you''re unhappy," her father explained. "Your life has been hard. You have a lot of problems. So, I want to help you."


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.Eliah''s heart was pounding.


    "All you need to do is go inside that mountain," her father continued. "Inside the mountain, you''ll find a secret room. Inside the secret room, you''ll find a special stone. It''s a magic stone. If you rub the stone, it will give you all the power you desire. All the power you want."


    Eliah''s mouth was dry.


    "Go ahead," her father encouraged. "Rub the stone. Rub it real hard. Rub it until you get what you want."


    Eliah stared at the dark mountain. She wanted to go inside.


    "Are you sure?" her father asked. "Are you sure you want to do this?"


    Eliah nodded.


    "Okay, you are such a good little girl." her father said. "Here goes nothing."


    With one last look at Eliah, her father disappeared into the darkness.


    Eliah stood there, looking at the mountain.


    Then, with trembling hands, she rubbed the stone.


    ***

 Chapter 4

    Eliah woke up in her bed.


    She was sweating.


    She looked at the clock. It was 11:59.


    Eliah got out of bed and went to the bathroom. She threw up as always, then she brushed her teeth. She put on some make-up and dressed in a new, fashionable outfit.


    Eliah went downstairs.


    She found her mother in the kitchen, cooking breakfast.


    "Good morning, darling," her mother said. "Did you sleep well?"


    "Yes," Eliah replied. "I slept like a baby."


    "Oh, that''s good," her mother said. "Have you decided on your future career yet?"


    Eliah shrugged. "No, I haven''t."


    "Well," her mother continued. "If you don''t choose anything, I guess you''ll end up being a housewife. Is that what you want?"


    Eliah shook her head. "I hate cooking," she explained. "I prefer to eat out."


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences."Really?" her mother said. "Well, you''re a big girl now. Maybe you should start learning to cook. It''s not too late."


    Eliah frowned. "Mother, why do you care so much about my future?"


    "Because I love you," her mother answered. "I want to see you happy."


    Eliah felt guilty.


    "Mother, I¡­" she began. "Why are you always trying to make me feel better? Why do you care so much about my happiness? Don''t you think I''m strong enough to handle myself?"


    Her mother looked hurt.


    "I''m not doing this because I want to control you," she explained. "I want to help you. I want to see you live a fulfilling life."


    "How can you see me living a fulfilled life when you never let me try anything?" Eliah asked. "You always control everything. You control me!"


    Eliah stormed out of the empty kitchen and went to work.


    ***

 Chapter 5

    ***


    The work day passed slowly. Eliah ate lunch and had a small nap. She was exhausted. Her whole body ached from stress, tension and lack of proper sleep.


    At the end of the day, Eliah rushed home. She was so tired she couldn''t even stand properly. She sat on the floor and watched television for hours. Finally, she fell asleep on the floor.


    Eliah woke up in her bed.


    She looked at the clock. It was 5:00pm.


    Eliah was shaking. She felt like she was in an earthquake. She looked around. Everything was shaking. The walls, the ceiling, her own body.


    Eliah ran outside and jumped into her car. She drove as fast as she could, as if she were racing a train.


    She arrived at a familiar place, a place where she had been many times before.


    Eliah parked her car and hurried into the deserted, creepy, abandoned building.


    As soon as she entered, she heard a voice.


    "Welcome, my dear child," the voice said. "Come in. Come in."


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.Eliah followed the voice into a strange room.


    Suddenly, she saw a shadow moving towards her.


    It was her father!


    "Daddy?" she exclaimed. "Is that really you?"


    "Of course it''s me, my precious daughter," he said. "I am here to serve you."


    "Father, please don''t scare me anymore," she begged. "I am scared."


    "It''s okay, sweetheart," he said. "I''m not going to hurt you."


    "Can I trust you?" she asked. "Will you never hurt me again?"


    "Absolutely," her father replied. "I promise."


    "Thank you, Daddy," she replied. "I love you."


    Her father gave her a warm hug.


    "I love you too, my darling," he whispered.


    Eliah sat on the floor, hugging her knees tightly. She sang a lullaby to herself. It echoed in the empty building.


    "Sleep well, my darling," her father said. "I''ll protect you."


    Eliah nodded. She felt safe. She tried to stop crying, but she couldn''t. With her whole body trembling, she slept again.


    ***

 Chapter 6

    Eliah was meeting her friend today. She was called Anne.


    Anne was a beautiful, intelligent woman. She had long, black hair and dark brown eyes. She was tall and slender, and wore elegant clothes. She was very fashionable.


    "Hi, Eliah," she said. "How are you?"


    "Fine," Eliah answered. "Very fine."


    "I''m glad to hear that," Anne said. "Do you want something to drink?"


    "Sure," Eliah answered. "Something light."


    They ordered drinks and talked for hours.


    "So, how is your life?" Anne asked.


    "It''s great," Eliah answered. "I have a wonderful boyfriend, and I''m working in a fancy restaurant."


    "Wow, that sounds amazing," Anne said. "Tell me more about him."


    "He''s smart," Eliah explained. "And kind. He''s the best thing that ever happened to me."


    "Sounds perfect," Anne said. "What''s his name?"


    "His name is *****," Eliah answered. "***** ********"


    "***** ********? T-that''s a nice name," Anne said while smiling. "What does he do for a living?"


    "He works at a bank," Eliah explained. "But he wants to be a writer someday."


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident."That''s great!" Anne exclaimed. "I wish I could write books."


    "Me too," Eliah said. "But I''m afraid I''ll never become a famous author. My parents don''t approve. They say it''s too risky."


    "Don''t worry about that," Anne reassured. "If you want it badly enough, you''ll get it."


    "Thanks," Eliah said. "You''re such a good listener."


    "Don''t mention it," Anne replied. "What else is bothering you?"


    "Nothing," Eliah lied. "Everything''s just great."


    "Okay," Anne said. "Well, I''d better go. I promised my husband I would cook dinner tonight."


    "Okay," Eliah said. "Take care."


    "Bye," Anne replied.


    "See you soon, my friend," she added.


    "Yeah, see you later," Eliah replied.


    When Anne left, she was smiling.


    She had fun talking to her friend.


    Eliah took out her phone and sent a text message to her boyfriend.


    "I miss you," she wrote. "I hope you''re having a good time without me."


    "..." her boyfriend texted back. "..."


    "I know," Eliah replied. "I forgive you. I love you."


    She smiled. She kissed the phone screen. Then she put it away.


    ***

 Chapter 7

    A few days passed.


    Eliah''s life was going smoothly.


    One day, she went on a date with her boyfriend.


    "So, tell me about yourself," he said. "Where did you grow up?"


    "You know, just somewhere there," Eliah answered. "It was boring. Nothing interesting ever happened there."


    "I grew up in a large city," her boyfriend explained. "I hated it. There was no privacy."


    "Really?" Eliah asked. "How come?"


    "My family is rich," he explained. "We lived in a huge mansion. But there were always people around. Every single day, we had visitors. Everyone wanted to talk to us. To our father. We didn''t have any space to ourselves. It was suffocating. I hated it."


    "Oh," Eliah said. "That must have been awful."


    "Yes," he agreed. "But I''m glad to be away from them. I love being by myself. I love the freedom."


    "Freedom is the best," Eliah said. "There''s nothing like it."


    "Right," her boyfriend said. "Freedom is the only thing worth living for."


    "I agree," Eliah said. "I love you."


    "I love you too," he replied. "I love you more than anything."


    "I love you so much," she whispered.


    She leaned over and kissed him.


    "I want to live with you forever," she said. "Like the old couple in that movie."


    "What''s the name of that movie?" he asked.


    "Oh, I can''t remember," Eliah answered. "It was a long time ago."


    "Let''s watch it sometime," her boyfriend suggested. "I''m sure it was a great film."


    "Okay, darling," Eliah said. "I''ll buy it."


    They held hands and walked along the beach. Her foot marks were being washed away by the tide.


    "Maybe one day we''ll leave this place," her boyfriend said. "Leave this world behind. Travel the universe together. Live on a spaceship."


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit."I''d love that," Eliah said. "I want to travel the stars with you."


    "You''re the most beautiful woman I''ve ever seen," he said. "I can''t wait to spend the rest of my life with you."


    " And you''re so handsome," she told him. "You''re the most beautiful man in the world."


    "You''re right," he agreed. "I am the most handsome man in the world. Haha!"


    "No," she said. "You''re not. You''re the best looking guy in the whole universe."


    He laughed.


    "I can''t believe you''re so stupid," he teased. "Who are you trying to impress?"


    "Nobody," she said. "Just you."


    "Oh, you''re impossible," he said. "But I still love you."


    "I love you too," she replied. "Now, kiss me."


    He kissed her passionately. His lips pressed against hers, his tongue exploring her mouth.


    Their tongues intertwined, and their bodies melted together.


    Eliah''s heart pounded wildly. She felt like she was in heaven.


    She felt her legs begin to shake.


    Her boyfriend noticed. He pulled away from her.


    "Are you okay?" he asked. "Do you need some water?"


    "No, no," Eliah gasped. "I''m fine."


    He looked concerned.


    "Please don''t stop," she begged. "I love you."


    "Of course," he said. "You know what? Let''s go back home. I''ll drive you home."


    "No! Let''s just stay here for a little while longer," she pleaded. "I feel so safe and warm."


    He smiled.


    "All right," he said. "I guess I can stay a bit longer. But you will have to go back soon. You must."


    He kissed her again. Their mouths became locked in a passionate embrace.


    Finally, they separated.


    "I love you so much," she said.


    "I love you more," he replied.


    They embraced each other once again.


    ***

 Chapter 8

    The next morning, Eliah woke up with a start. She was sweating profusely. She was shaking. She looked around. She was in her bedroom. Empty bottles were laying all over the floor. She was alone.


    "Oh God," she muttered. "Why did I drink so much last night?"


    She got up and stumbled into the bathroom. She splashed cold water on her face and cleaned herself up.


    She looked at the mirror. Her eyes were red and puffy. Her cheeks were swollen. She stared at herself for a moment.


    She was horrified.


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.She felt like vomiting.


    She ran out of the bathroom and fell on the floor.


    "Help!" she screamed. "Someone help me!"


    No one came.


    "God, why?" she cried. "Why did you let me down?"


    She tried to stand up, but she couldn''t.


    "I hate you!" she yelled. "I fucking hate you!"


    She started sobbing uncontrollably. She tried to crawl toward the door, but she couldn''t move. She kept screaming, begging someone to come to her rescue.


    "Please, somebody help me!" she begged. "Come save me!"


    But no one heard her. No one came.


    After a while, her cries turned into moans.


    ***

 Chapter 9

    "Eliah?"


    Eliah jumped. She was startled by the voice. It was coming from her phone.


    "Hello?" she answered.


    "Hi," her boyfriend said. "How are you doing?"


    "Fine," she answered. "Great, actually."


    "Good," he said. "I''m glad to hear that."


    "I''m sorry if I worried you last night," she said. "I drank too much."


    "Don''t worry about it," he replied. "You''re allowed to have fun every now and then."


    "I know," she said. "It''s just that I never drink that much."


    "It''s okay," he said. "I''m sure you''ll be fine."


    "Thanks," Eliah said.


    "Anyway, I was wondering if you could pick me up today," he said. "We''re going to a concert."


    "Okay," she said. "I''ll be there in a minute."


    "Thank you," he replied. "See you soon."


    Eliah hung up. She sat down on her bed and stared at the wall. She was nervous. She was scared.


    She took a deep breath. Then she picked up her phone and called her best friend.


    "Hey, Anne," she said. "Do you have a few minutes?"


    "Sure," Anne replied. "What''s wrong?"


    "Can you come over?" Eliah asked. "I need your help."


    "Where are you?" Anne asked. "Is everything okay?"


    "I''m at my house," Eliah explained. "And I''m really upset."


    "Okay," Anne said. "I''ll be right there."


    Anne arrived within twenty minutes. When she saw how pale Eliah was, she knew something was terribly wrong.


    "Are you all right?" she asked.


    "No," Eliah confessed. "I''m not. I think I''m dying."


    "What do you mean?" Anne asked. "Did you take too many pills again? Ugh, you drank so much, you can''t do this to yourself, Eliah please."


    "I don''t know what to do," she sobbed. "I feel so sick. My stomach hurts so badly. I feel like I might throw up any second."


    "Okay, calm down," Anne said. "We''ll get you to the hospital."


    "No!" Eliah exclaimed. "No, I don''t want to go to the hospital. I don''t want to see anyone. Not even you."


    "You have to trust me," Anne insisted. "You need medical attention."


    "I don''t care," Eliah snapped. "Nothing matters anymore. Nothing makes sense. Everything is meaningless. What''s the point of living when everyone hates me?"


    "Calm down, honey," Anne said. "You''re scaring me."


    "You should be scared," she whispered. "Because I''m about to kill myself."


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation."No, you aren''t," Anne said. "Look, I''ll drive you to the hospital. You can explain things to them. Maybe they can help."


    "I don''t want to go," Eliah said. "I don''t want to see anybody. I don''t want to talk to anyone. I don''t want to live another day. I don''t want to exist."


    "I know it''s hard," her friend said. "But you have to try. Please. For me."


    "For you?" she asked. "Why would you care? Why do you care about me?"


    "Because I love you," she said. "You''re my best friend. I can''t imagine life without you."


    "That''s a lie," Eliah said. "That''s not true. You don''t love me. You only pretend to love me. You don''t really love me. You only like me because I''m so useless. That''s why you keep me around. Because I make you look good. You use me as an accessory."


    "I don''t want you to die, Eliah," she said. "Please. Don''t hurt yourself."


    Anne walked to Eliah and hugged her tightly.


    "It''s okay," she said. "Everything will be okay. We''ll figure this out together. Okay?"


    "No," Eliah said. "It won''t. It can''t."


    She began crying again.


    "I''m sorry," she apologized. "I didn''t mean that. I was just angry. I was upset. Please, don''t hate me Anne. Please."


    "You''re not going to die," Anne promised. "I promise you that. Now, let''s get you to the hospital before you pass out or vomit everywhere."


    Eliah deliberated over her words and said nothing. She stared at her friend. She was confused. She was frightened. She wanted to believe her. But she wasn''t sure.


    "Let''s go," she said finally. "I''ll go with you. Thank you Anne, you are such a great friend. I love you."


    "Okay," Anne said. "Okay."


    "You know, I''m meeting someone today," Eliah said. "My boyfriend *****. He''s always so sweet and kind. He takes care of me. He loves me. We are going to the concert together.  Will he be mad if I''m late? Is he going to be angry?"


    "... No, he wouldn''t be angry," Anne assured her. "I''m sure he won''t mind."


    "Thanks," she sighed. "Thank you so much."


    "No problem," her friend said. "I''ll drive you to the hospital. And then we''ll go to the concert together in a few days. Okay?"


    "Okay," Eliah agreed. "Thanks."


    Anne helped her dress and combed her hair. She led Eliah to the car. They drove to the hospital in silence.


    ***

 Chapter 10

    When she woke up, she felt groggy. She looked around the room. She was alone. There was no one there.


    She sat up in bed. Her head was throbbing. Her stomach was hurting. She felt like vomiting. She got out of bed and went to the bathroom.


    She vomited.


    She wiped her mouth and flushed the toilet. Then she washed her face. Then she stared at herself in the mirror.


    "God," she whispered. "How did I get here?"


    Her reflection stared back at her. She was so thin. So frail. So small. She looked awful. She was a mess. She couldn''t stand it.


    "This isn''t who I am," she said. "I''m not like this. I''m not weak. I''m strong. I''m confident. I''m beautiful. I''m smart. I''m worthy of love."


    She stepped into the shower. She turned the water on full blast and soaked herself. She scrubbed her skin with soap. She used shampoo and conditioner. She shaved her legs and underarms. She brushed her teeth. She took off all her clothes. She let the hot water beat down upon her body. She closed her eyes and tried to relax. She imagined herself as clean and pure. She was whole again. She was perfect.


    "I deserve to live," she repeated.


    After a while, she felt refreshed. She dressed in her favorite outfit¡ªa pink shirt and black pants. She put on makeup. She curled her hair.


    "Okay. Let''s go to work! I''m going to be great today!" she cheered.


    "No, you''re not," her reflection said. "You''re pathetic. You''re worthless. You''re disgusting."


    "No," she argued. "I''m not. I''m wonderful. I''m amazing. I''m incredible."


    "You''re not," the reflection said. "You''re not worth it."


    She opened the door to the hallway. She walked outside. She climbed into the car. She drove to work. She parked her car in front of the building.


    "Good morning, ladies," she greeted her coworkers. "Hi, guys. Hello."


    "Hey," they replied.


    They stared at her. They were surprised by her appearance. They were shocked to see her standing there.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it."What happened?" Stephanie asked. "Anne called a few days ago and said you would be on leave for a while. Are you okay now?"


    "Yes," she said. "I''m fine. Really. I was just a little tired. That''s all."


    "I''m glad you''re okay," she said. "I was worried."


    "Me too," Lizzie said. "You look so alive today."


    "Is it because of your boyfriend?" Tina asked. "You always talk about him."


    "Boyfriend? No," she shook her head. "That''s not it. I was just feeling sick lately. That''s all. I''m fine now. I feel so alive."


    "Are you sure?" Stephanie asked. "I mean, I hope everything is okay. If you ever need to talk, I''m here for you."


    "Thanks," she said. "That''s very nice of you."


    Elijah hugged both of her co-workers and smiled. She loved them so much. She knew she could count on them. She was grateful to have such wonderful coworkers.


    She walked through the hall. She saw her boss. She was excited to be back. She felt like she was finally home. She was ready to begin her day.


    "Good morning," Mr. Gold said. "Welcome back."


    "Hello," she said. "Thank you."


    "Are you okay now? Did you get well?" he asked. "Did you go to the doctor?"


    "Yes," she nodded. "I''m good now. Thanks for asking."


    "I''m happy to hear that," he said. "You''re working again today?"


    "Yes," she said. "I''m so excited."


    "Great," he said. "We''ll catch up later. I want to make sure you''re doing okay."


    "Sure," she agreed. "Thank you."


    Mr. Gold waved goodbye and headed toward his office.


    Eliah stared at her boss. Then she walked to the changing room and changed to her work uniform.


    "I''m back," she shouted to the other girls.


    "Yay!" they cheered.


    Eliah smiled at them. She took a deep breath. She was determined to be a star employee today. She was going to impress everyone and show them how valuable she was. She was going to prove to them that they should never doubt her.


    "I can do this," she promised herself. "I will succeed."


    ***

 Chapter 11

    ***


    "Good morning," she said to her customers. "How are you?"


    "Fine," one of them answered. "And you?"


    "I''m great," she replied. "Thanks for asking."


    She waited on them patiently. She offered them refreshments. She cleared their tables. She cleaned up after them. She served them efficiently. She was the best waitress in the restaurant.


    "Good job," her manager complimented her. "You''re doing great."


    "Thank you," she said. "You too."


    "You''re a natural today," she said. "I wish other girls could be like you."


    "Don''t worry," Eliah assured her. "Soon enough they''ll learn."


    Her co-workers laughed at her joke. She didn''t mind. She was having fun. She liked working with them. She enjoyed serving people. It made her feel important. It made her feel needed. She felt good.


    She worked hard all day. She did whatever was asked of her. She was eager to please. She always did exactly what others told her to do. She never complained. She never caused trouble. She never missed a shift. She never had any issues. She was a model employee.


    "I''m so proud of you," her boss said. "I''m so lucky to have you."


    "Thank you," she said. "I''m so happy to be here."


    He gave her a hug. He kissed her on the cheek. He patted her on the back. He praised her for being so obedient.


    "You''re a wonderful person," he said. "I love you."


    "I love you too boss," she replied.


    She went home exhausted. She fell asleep immediately. She slept like a baby. She dreamed about her future. She was walking along a path. There were signs everywhere, telling her where to go and what to do. She followed them with a smile. She was always good and obedient girl. She never complained and always did her best. She was happy. The sun was shining brightly. It was warm and sunny.


    When she woke up, she was lying in bed.


    She felt better than she had in months.


    "It''s so good to be alive."


    ***


    The next day, she didn''t throw up or feel sick. She wasn''t dizzy. She was perfectly fine. She was healthy. She was happy. She was glowing. She was radiant.


    "I can do anything," she said. "I am unstoppable."


    "You are nothing" her reflection said. "You are such a worthless trash. You disgust me."


    "No!" she yelled. "I don''t believe you. I know I''m wonderful. I know I''m strong. I know I''m capable of anything. I know I deserve to live."


    She picked up the bottle and took her pills again. She swallowed them. She drank some water and went to bathroom.


    She washed her face. She dried her skin. She brushed her hair. She stared at herself in the mirror.


    "I''m so beautiful today," she said. "Look at me! Look at my face! See how pretty I am? My hair is perfect. My skin looks flawless. My eyes are bright and clear. I''m glowing with health. I''m fantastic! I''m incredible! I''m amazing! I''m wonderful! I''m worthy of love!"


    She smiled at herself in the mirror.


    "I deserve to live!" she cried. "I deserve to be loved!"


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.She took a deep breath. She felt stronger than ever before.


    "Let''s go to work!" she cheered. "Today is going to be an awesome day!"


    She was even more excited to go to work. She was ready to do anything. She was ready to go above and beyond. She was ready to be the best employee ever.


    She grabbed her purse and keys. She walked out of her apartment and got into her car. She drove to work. She arrived early. She parked her car in front of the building.


    "Good morning, everyone. It''s such a great day today. Thank you for coming. I''m so glad to see you all. I''m thrilled to be working with you all again. How are you?"


    "We''re good," they said. "Thanks for asking."


    "I''m happy to hear that," she replied. "I hope we''re going to have another wonderful day together."


    Eliah started working earnestly. She did whatever was asked of her. She was fast and efficient. She did everything right. Her co-workers were impressed by her work ethic. They couldn''t believe how productive she was.


    "I think I found my true calling," she exclaimed as she looked up at her boss. "I love working here! I love helping people. I love serving them. I love being useful. I love making them happy."


    "You''re so great!" her boss said. He ruffled her hair with a satisfied smile. "You really know how to help people. I''m so lucky to have you."


    "Thank you," she said. "I appreciate it."


    "You deserve it," he insisted. "You''re the best employee I''ve ever seen."


    "Thank you," she said. "That means a lot to me."


    "I know you do," he said. "You''re so amazing."


    She blushed. She felt special. She was so loved. She knew she belonged there and was a part of the team. She belonged.


    "Let''s keep working hard," he encouraged. "At first I was worried when you told me abou your boyfriend. You performance became so bad and you seemed depressed, unwilling to work and behaved so disobedient."


    "A boyfriend? I don''t have a boyfriend. What are you talking about boss, haha. You are sometimes so silly, boss."


    "Haha," he chuckled. "Okay, I admit it. I was worried about you. But now I know you''re okay. You''re doing much better. I''m happy you''re feeling better."


    "I am," she nodded. "Thank you."


    "You don''t have time for boyfriends," he warned her as he looked down at her with serious gaze. "You have to focus on work. Don''t let anyone distract you from what''s most important. You can''t be disobedient."


    "I won''t," she promised eagerly. Fresh tears started to appear in her eyes from nervousness. "I promise. I''m going to be the best employee ever. I''m going to be the best worker in the world. Nobody will ever be better than me. I will do whatever the boss says. So, so... I... "


    "I know you will," he reassured her. He rubbed her full cheek gently. "I believe in you."


    "Thank you," she whispered. She was so happy. "Thank you for believing in me."


    "Of course," he nodded. "Now get back to work."


    "Uhm. Okay." She smiled and got back to work. "..."


    "..."


    Before long she left the boss''s room.


    ***

 Chapter 12

    After exiting the restroom, Eliah got bak to her work at the restaurant. She served customers quickly and efficiently. She made sure they were happy, because it made her happy.


    "Thank you for coming," she said cheerfully. "How are you?"


    "Good," one of them answered. "And you?"


    "I''m great," she said. "Thanks for asking."


    She smiled at him. She waited on them patiently. She took their orders and brought them their food.


    Then she was interrupted by one of her coworkers Lizzie.


    "Hey Eliah!" she called out. "What happened to your face? Are you okay? Did something happen?"


    "Oh, no," she said. "Nothing happened. I just got some new makeup on my face."


    "Really?" Lizzie asked. "Is that all?"


    "Yeah," she said. "It''s nothing."


    "Are you sure?" Lizzie asked. "I mean, your face looks out of it somehow. I can''t really put it into words, though."


    "It''s not a big deal," she insisted. "Just a little makeup."


    Lizzie frowned. She looked at Eliah suspiciously. She didn''t understand what was going on. She couldn''t figure out what was wrong with her friend from work. She didn''t like it. She didn''t like the way she was acting. She wanted to help her but she didn''t know how.


    "You''re looking pale today," she said. "You should take a break. Go outside for some fresh air. Take a walk around the block. Get some exercise. It would do you good. I will tell the boss. It''s just a few days when you were sick, after all."


    "Thanks for the advice," she said. "Maybe I will later."


    "You''re welcome," Lizzie said. "Take care."


    "See you later," Eliah replied.


    Eliah continued serving customers with all her might. She kept smiling and being cheerful.


    After that she thanked her coworkers and left the restaurant. She walked along the sidewalk. She passed by the park. She saw kids playing on swings and slides. She watched them laugh and play. She felt jealous. She wished she could be young again. She wanted to run and jump and swing. She wanted to climb trees and play tag. She wanted to be a kid again. She wanted to feel alive. She wanted to be free. She wanted to be innocent and fun.


    Then she shook her head with denial.  She wanted to shake off those thoughts.


    "No. I''m not like that," she said. "I''m different. I''m strong. I''m confident. I''m not a child anymore. I don''t want to act like a kid. I don''t want to be childish. I hate it. I''m not like them. I don''t belong there. I''m so mature and responsible. I know how to behave."


    She kept walking. She was determined to forget about her childhood. She was determined to stay focused on her future. She had a plan. She was going to make things work. She was going to succeed.


    "I can do anything!" she cheered. "I am unstoppable. I am wonderful! I am worthy of love!"


    She was walking fast. Faster and faster.


    "I am the best employee ever!" she yelled ou loud. "Nobody can beat me!"


    She crossed the street and got into her car. She started driving. She turned on the radio and listened to music loudly. She sang along with the song. She was happy. She was singing loud and clear.


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon."I am wonderful! I am incredible!"


    She glanced in the rearview mirror and the reflection in the mirror looked at her with disgust.


    "Why are you so obsessed with yourself?" it asked. "Don''t you know you''re nothing? Pretending to be so proper and obedient and helpful isn''t going to change that. Do you like their attention and prize so much? Is it worth it? Why do you have to be so fake? Aren''t you tired? Isn''t it exhausting to pretend to be someone else? Haven''t you had enough? Don''t you need a break?"


    "I don''t!" She said defiantly. "I''m fine. Everything is great!"


    The mirror spoke again.


    "Stop being a fool!" it said. "Your life is falling apart. Your job is terrible. You don''t belong there. You aren''t needed there. You have no value there. No one cares about you. The only thing they want from you is your obedience. That''s all they want from you. They use you and abuse you like a toy. They don''t respect you."


    "I''m not listening to you! I don''t care what you say!" she yelled angrily. "I''m the best! I''m the best at what I do! I''m the best employee ever!"


    "You''re a fool," the mirror replied. "Such a disappointing and pathetic loser."


    "Shut up!" she screamed. "I''m not a loser. I''m not a loser! I''m not a loser!"


    She sped up her car and tried to drive away. She drove too fast. She almost hit a pedestrian.


    "Aaah! Aaaah! Oh God!" she screamed. "Oh, no!"


    She slammed on the brakes. She swerved to avoid hitting him. Then she stopped her car in the middle of the road. She was shaking. She was terrified. She was in shock. She couldn''t believe what just happened.


    "Oh, no," she said. "Oh, no."


    Eliah got out of the car and ran toward him with woobly legs. Fortunately, he was alright.


    "How are you driving? Are you blind?" The man yelled at angrily. "What''s wrong with you?"


    "Sorry," she apologized. "I didn''t mean too."


    He stared at her with anger. He grabbed her shoulders and shook her violently.


    "Aaah! Please, I''m sorry!" She begged him. "Please stop. I''m sorry. I won''t do it again."


    "You better watch out," he warned her. "Driving this recklessly, stupid bitch."


    He yanked her arm and pushed her to the ground. Then he left in a fit of anger. She lay there on the sidewalk, stunned. She was trembling and shaking. Her heart was beating wildly. She was confused and afraid. She couldn''t think straight.


    "Why did that happen?" she asked herself. "Why did that happen?"


    She stayed there on the sidewalk for a while until she could get up and walk. Then she got back into her car and the pills from her purse fell onto the floor. She picked them up and took them with trembling hands. She swallowed them down.


    They made her feel better. She felt calm. She relaxed. She knew what she had to do.


    "I have to leave now," she decided. "I have to go home. It''s alright. I''m going to be okay. I''m going to be safe. You are going to be okay, Eliah."


    Her mind was clear.


    She started driving again. She drove through town and headed back to her apartment.


    ***

 Chapter 13

    When Eliah arrived at the parking lot, she parked her car and got out. She walked inside the building and went upstairs to her apartment.


    "I''m home," she called out. Of course, no one answered her.


    She entered her apartment and closed the door behind her. She sat on the couch and sighed. There were dirty dishes in the sink. There was laundry on the floor. The place was messy and unkempt.


    "I guess I should clean up," she thought. "Okay. Let''s do some cleaning! I will do the dishes first."


    She opened the cupboard above the sink and found some soap and water. She washed the plates and bowls and cups. She dried them. She stacked them neatly on top of each other. It surprised her how well she did.


    "Wow," she said. "That wasn''t bad. I''m really good with the housework. I think mother would be proud of me if she were here right now."


    Eliah cleaned the whole house, did the laundry, cooked a meal, and even cleaned the bathroom. By the time she was done, it was late at night. She was exhausted but satisfied. She felt so accomplished. She was so proud of herself.


    "I''m amazing," she said to herself. "I''m wonderful. Okay let''s eat something and then I will take a bath. Baths always make me feel better. Then I''ll go to bed early tonight. Tomorrow will be another busy day at work."


    She ate dinner alone and took a shower. It was so nice and relaxing. She felt rejuvenated.


    "It feels so good to be clean," she said. "My skin looks all glossy and feels great."


    As soon as she finished taking a bath, she got dressed in her pajamas and crawled into bed. She stared at the ceiling for a while. She thought about the day ahead. She was excited to start working again. She knew it was going to be hard but she was ready to do whatever she had to do.


    "I can do anything," she declared. "I am awesome!"


    She closed her eyes and slept peacefully.


    ***


    It was Friday morning. The alarm rang and startled her awake. She jumped up from the bed. She was surprised to see that it was already light outside. She hadn''t realized that she fell asleep so quickly.


    "Oh my God," she whispered. "What time is it?"


    She turned over and looked at her phone. It was five thirty in the morning. She had less than four hours before she had to go to work. She had to hurry or she would be late. She couldn''t miss any work. Not now. She didn''t dare miss work. She was afraid her boss would be angry.


    "Where did I put my clothes?" she asked herself. "Did I put them away properly last night? I hope I didn''t throw them away. I forgot where I kept them, though. I have no idea."


    She hurried through the house. She searched everywhere. She couldn''t find them. All of her clothes were gone. She panicked.


    "Oh right, I did a laundry yesterday," she remembered. "Well, maybe I still have some old shirts and pants."


    She went back downstairs and looked under the sink. She pulled out a box of used clothing she kept for emergencies. She rummaged through the box and found an old pair of jeans and a t-shirt. They weren''t very nice and they smelled awful, but at least she''d have something to wear.


    "I''m going to be late," she freaked out. "I''m going to miss work. I can''t afford to lose this job. What am I going to do? I can''t wear these. These clothes are disgusting. I don''t want to show up to work like this. This is embarrassing. Oh, no!"


    She paced around frantically. She had no idea what to do. She didn''t have time to wash new clothes. She didn''t even know when she could come back and do the laundry. She needed more time.


    "Do I have any other options?" she asked herself. "Maybe I can borrow some clothes from someone. If I ask the neighbors, they might help me. But what if they refuse? Maybe I should call Anne. She can help me."


    She dialed a number. She was desperate. She knew she had to act quickly.


    "Hello?" said a woman''s voice.


    "Hi! Is Anne there?" she asked. "Anne, please pick up."


    "Hello?"


    "Yes, it''s me, Eliah," she explained. "Listen, I need you to help me. I lost my clothes and I need something to wear. I can''t go to work without clothes. Can you help me? Can you lend me some clothes today?"


    "Oh, hi Eliah," said Anne. "Good morning. What''s wrong? Where are you calling from?"


    "I''m at home. I''ve been trying to call you all morning but I couldn''t get through. I was worried. I need you to pick me up and bring me to work, please. I need your help. I can''t be late to work. I have no clothes. I have nothing to wear."


    "Oh, my God!" cried Anne. "Are you okay? Is everything all right?"


    "I''m fine, thank you for asking," she replied. "But I really need your help. I can''t let anyone see me like this. Please help me, Anne. Please."


    "Okay, I will be there in a minute. Did you take your pills today, Eliah? Have you taken all of your medications?"


    "No," she admitted. "I haven''t. I forgot. I''m so sorry."


    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions."All right," said Anne. "Don''t worry about it. Just try to relax. Don''t panic. Everything will be fine."


    She put down the phone and looked at herself in the mirror. She saw the wrinkles beneath her eyes. She hated the bags under her eyes. She was exhausted and stressed out. She looked terrible and pale.


    "Please hurry Anne," she pleaded.


    "Okay," said the woman. "Be there in a few minutes."


    The woman hung up the phone. For a moment, there was silence. Eliah didn''t know what to do next. She was frozen with fear. She didn''t know what to do.


    "I can''t go to work naked," she told herself. "What kind of sick joke is this? I''m not walking around like this. I''m going to be arrested. I''ll be thrown in jail for indecent exposure. No way."


    Eliah stared at her reflection in the mirror and tried to think of something else. She strated to scratch her arms with her fingernails. She scratched and rubbed her skin until it burned. Then she started scratching her scalp, pulling out clumps of hair.


    "Anne, please hurry."


    Then Eliah heard the door opening.


    "Here I am," said a familiar voice. Anne stood in front of the door. She was wearing a blue dress with a white blouse underneath. She was holding a large bag in one hand.


    "Eliah! You are bleeding so much!" Anne rushed to her friend and pulled her hands away from her body. "What happened to you? Are you okay? You look horrible."


    "Sorry," Eliah apologized. "I was just scared. I didn''t know what to do."


    "Did you take your medicine already?" Anne asked again.


    "I¡­I¡­ didn''t remember until just now," she confessed. "I forgot. I never forget my medication. I feel so ashamed."


    "Everything''s going to be okay," said Anne. "Let''s just take the pills for now, okay? The doctor says it''s important for you to take them every day."


    "Thank you," said Eliah. "You''re so kind. Thank you. Anne I love you so much."


    Eliah searched for the bottle of pills in her purse. She poured the pills into her palm and took them with shaking hands.


    "Have a seat," said Anne as she grabbed an empty glass and filled it with water. "Drink this. It will help you feel better."


    She handed the glass to her friend. Eliah gulped down the liquid and shivered. Her stomach felt queasy and uncomfortable. She felt dizzy and sick.


    But before long, she felt better.


    "I''m so glad you came over, Anne," she said. "I was feeling so miserable. I needed your help. I don''t know what I would do without you."


    "I''m happy to help," said the woman. "I''m here for you whenever you need me, Eliah."


    "Thank you, Anne. I love you so much. I don''t know what I would do without you."


    After taking her pills, Eliah took the bag from Anne and looked inside. There were some clean clothes in there.


    "Oh my God," she gasped. "These are so nice. I can''t believe you lent me these."


    She held up a skirt and a pair of matching stockings. She looked at them closely. She examined the fabric and the color. She recognized the material. It was rather expensive.


    "They are beautiful," she breathed. "How did you ever buy these?"


    "I bought them last week on sale," said Anne. "I didn''t know that it would come in handy like this."


    "This is perfect," said the girl excitedly. "It fits perfectly too. I can''t believe how lucky I am. Thank you, Anne. I can''t tell you how grateful I am."


    "There''s also a shirt," said Anne. "And some underwear."


    "Oh, thank you, Anne," she said again. "I am so sorry I wasted your money on me. I will pay you back. I will give you this months'' salary, plus extra. I will pay you back. I promise."


    "That''s okay," said Anne. "Sigh. Don''t worry about it. I don''t care about the money. I just wanted to help you. That''s all."


    "Thank you, Anne," she repeated. "I appreciate everything you''ve done for me."


    Eliah dressed up and put her makeup on. She ran her fingers through her hair to smooth it down. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. "I look so stunning today," she declared. "I feel so pretty. Ah, I feel like I can do anything today."


    She checked her watch. It was seven o''clock. She had plenty of time.


    "Okay, I will drive you to work today," said Anne. "We''ll arrive just before nine, okay?"


    "Yes, I''m fine," said Eliah. "My head feels a little woozy. But I''m okay. I feel great!"


    "Are you sure? You seem nervous."


    "I''m fine, I promise!" she insisted. "Really. I''m great. Let''s go."


    Anne drove her to work. As soon as they arrived, she parked the car and helped Eliah out. The girl thanked her and walked inside the building.


    "See you tonight," she said to her friend. "Thank you so much for helping me. I love you so much."


    "Yeah, you''re welcome," said Anne. "Take care of yourself, okay? And call me if you need anything, anytime. I will come back and drive you home later. Okay?"


    "Thank you," said Eliah. She stared as Anne drove away and then she walked up the stairs and entered the restaurant.


    ***

 Chapter 14

    Her boss was waiting for her in his office. He was sitting behind his desk. His lips were pressed together. He looked angry.


    "Ms. Reins, why are you late?" he asked.


    "I''m sorry sir," she stuttered. "I got stuck in traffic. I''m really sorry."


    He nodded impatiently. "I understand. It happens. We''ll talk about it after work. Now, can you start working?"


    "Sure," she agreed. "I''m ready."


    She took off her jacket and threw it on the chair. She heard the usual click of the door closing behind her. Her boss sat across from her in the room. She knew what he wanted from her.


    "So, how are things going?" he asked. "Are you feeling well today? Are you doing okay?"


    "Yes, sir," she answered. "I''m fine. Thank you for asking. How are you, sir? Do you need anything?"


    "I''m okay," he said. "But you know what? I want to make you a special offer. Would you like to hear it?"


    "Uh-huh," she said.


    "Well, we have several promotions going on right now," he began. "If you work hard, I''ll promote you to a new position. I''d like to reward you for your outstanding performance. I''m willing to invest in you. I have faith in you. I know you will be a very good employee."


    "That sounds great," she replied. "Thank you so much, boss. I''m honored."


    "But it will depend on how honest you are in your work," he warned her. "I need you to be completely reliable. I need you to be trustworthy and obedient. If you do so, I will invest in you. I will give you more responsibilities."


    "Okay," she said. "I understand. I will do anything you ask me to do, sir. I promise."


    "That''s a relief," he said. "You are such a good and understanding girl. You make my job easier."


    Eliah blushed. She smiled at him nervously. She liked the compliment. She felt encouraged.


    "Okay," he continued. "Let''s start with your duties. You know what to do, right? You know exactly what to do, don''t you?"


    "Of course," she responded. "Sir, I would be happy to do whatever you wish. I will always do my best. Nothing is beyond me. I can do any task you ask, sir."


    "Good," he said. "Now, it''s your turn. You need to show me what you can do."


    Eliah did what she was told to do. She closed her eyes and imagined herself somewhere else. She pretended to be someone else. She was no longer Eliah. Instead, she was some other person. She became a different woman, while Elijah was playing with her toys in the closet. She always hid there when she was a child. She found a place where she could play alone and pretend to be someone else.


    When she was a little girl, she used to hide in the closet and she played with her dolls. She invented stories about her imaginary friends. She made up funny names for them and tried to act like them. She acted like each doll in a different way. She changed her voice and mannerisms according to which one she was acting.


    "Hello, little lady!" she would say to one of her dolls. "I''m so glad you came to visit me today!"


    Sometimes she played with two or even three of her toys at once. She pretended that they were all in a club together. They would share their secrets and laugh at jokes. Sometimes she gave them advice and tried to guide their lives. She was the leader of the club.


    "..."


    "Can I speak to you, Miss Reins?" asked the man.


    The woman, who was not Eliah, turned around and saw him standing behind her.


    "Who''s asking?" she asked. She tried not to sound intimidated.


    "Me," said the man. "I''m asking you."


    "Oh, it''s boss." said the woman, she calmed down. "What can I do for you, sir?"


    She knew what he wanted. She did as she was told. She stood up and crossed over to his desk. Her heart pounded rapidly as she approached him. She felt her face grow hot. Her breath quickened. Her entire body trembled with fear. She was scared that her boss would find her disobedient and find her work lacking. That he would hate her for that.


    "Don''t be afraid," he reassured her. "I won''t hurt you."


    "Okay," she said. "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    ***


    Eliah left the boss'' office and headed towards the restroom. After exiting the cabin, she washed her hands and face. She brushed her teeth. Then she looked at the mirror. The woman in the mirror had vacant eyes, that were slowly regaining it''s vitality. She stared blankly into space. She couldn''t remember what she had done earlier.


    She took a deep breath and let the air fill her lungs. She stared at herself in the reflection. She stared at her dark brown hair. She examined her face. She checked her eyebrows and her eyelashes.


    "Okay," she whispered to herself as she smiled. "I''m ready. I feel better now. I think I can handle anything that comes my way. I will be fine. I''m beautiful and strong. I can do anything."


    She stroked her cheek and smoothed down her long hair. She touched her lips and painted them with lipstick. She adjusted her dress and checked her face one last time. She inspected herself carefully.


    "Let''s go! I''m going to be late if I don''t hurry up. I need to give example to the other girls." she said. She stepped outside the bathroom and walked down the hall with a vigour.


    After changing into her work attire, she started her work in earnest. She cleaned the tables and emptied the dirty dishes. Then she wiped down all the surfaces. She mopped the floor. She washed the windows. She scrubbed the grout between the tiles. She sprayed the floors with disinfectant. She waited on customers as needed.


    Finally, it was lunchtime. One of her coworkes, Stephanie, came in and said hello to her. She seemed happy. In fact, she was glowing. "Hey, Eliah," she called out. "How are you?"


    "I''m doing great!" she shouted back. "I''m fantastic, in fact! I feel like I can conquer the world today. I feel so alive, Stephanie."


    "Haha, is that so?" said the waitress. "That''s nice. Hey, what''s wrong with your neck?"


    "Oh, nothing," said Eliah. "Nothing important."


    She reached out to touch one of the purple bruises on Eliah''s neck.


    "It''s nothing," said Eliah. "I fell yesterday when I was trying to run away from an attacker."


    "Wow, you''re lucky you didn''t get injured more," said Stephanie. "That must have been scary!"


    "Yes, it was," said Eliah. "I''m grateful to be alive though. I''m safe now."


    "Thanks. By the way, who attacked you?"


    "I don''t know, a guy. A stranger. He grabbed me from behind. He was wearing a mask and he hit me in the face when I turned around. I managed to escape."


    "Oh wow, that''s crazy," said Stephanie. "We have to watch out for these guys. Did you report this incident to anyone?"


    "No," said Eliah. "I don''t want to tell anybody about it. It wasn''t such a big deal anyway. I''m fine."


    "Okay, but maybe you should just stay more alert," suggested Stephanie. "Anyway, I''ll see you later. Take care, okay?"


    "Bye," said Eliah, she watched her coworker walk away and then she went back to her lunch rush. She worked steadily through the afternoon. She was careful not to break anything and she focused on her duties. She did everything perfectly.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon."I hope you are still taking care of yourself," her boss said to her. "Your work has improved tremendously since yesterday. Your work ethic is outstanding. You are making me proud. Keep it up!"


    "I will," she assured him. "Thank you, boss!"


    Eliah waved goodbye and exited the building. As she walked away from the office, she looked at the parking lot. Her friend Anne was already waiting for her. She hurried over to the car.


    "Hi, Anne," she greeted her. "Did you have a good day?"


    "Yep," said her friend. "It was pretty good. How about you? Did anything happen to you?"


    "I''m good too," she said. "My boss complimented me on my recent work. He said he will give me a raise."


    "Wow, that''s awesome!" exclaimed Anne. "Congratulations! What did he say?"


    "He told me I performed well," she explained. "He also mentioned something about promotion opportunities. But I didn''t really understand it much. I guess he wants me to take on new responsibilities."


    "I see," said Anne. "I''m glad to hear that. That means you''re doing well. Congratulations again! And thank you for telling me."


    "Thanks," said Eliah. "I''m happy for myself. So, I decided to treat us to some ice cream. Do you want to join me?"


    "Sure!" said Anne. "I''d love to."


    Eliah climbed into the passenger seat of Anne''s car and buckled her seat belt.


    "Did you take your medicine?" asked Anne. "You know it''s important to take your pills every day."


    "Oh, right. Sorry, sorry. I forgot again. I haven''t taken them yet."


    "What happened?"


    "I was so busy working, I lost track of time."


    "Well, you need to make sure you take your medication regularly," said Anne. "You know that the doctor told you to do that, right? Didn''t he?"


    "Yeah, I know," said Eliah as she sighed and opened her purse. She pulled out a bottle of pills and swallowed some with water. The pills tasted bitter. She grimaced as they passed down her throat. "Sorry, I''m so forgetful lately."


    "You''re not the only one," said Anne, she laughed. "Yesterday I forgot to prepare lunch for my husband. He was very angry with me. He yelled at me and threw away most of the food. Oh, I hate it when he gets mad at me."


    "Yikes," said Eliah. We shouldn''t talk about that kind of thing. Okay let''s go eat some ice-cream. "


    They drove off and parked near the ice cream stand. They got out of the car and bought their cones and sat down on a bench nearby. They chatted as they ate their treats.


    "So, how was work?" asked Anne. "Are you enjoying yourself?"


    "Yes, yes. It''s wonderful. I like working here. My boss is so nice. And I like the people I work with."


    "That''s good. It sounds like you''re having fun."


    "Yes," said Eliah. "Everything is fine."


    Anne glanced at her friend closely. She noticed a strange expression on her face. She was concerned. She wondered if something was bothering Eliah. She tried to ask her directly without offending her.


    "Um, are you okay?" she asked. "Do you have any problems at you work? If you do, please let me know"


    "No, no," said Eliah. "I''m fine. Everything is perfect. I feel really good."


    "I see," said Anne, she tried not to sound suspicious. She hoped it was all true.


    "It''s just... I''ve been feeling a little depressed today," she finally confided. "I think I made my boss angry today. I know I did."


    "Why?" asked Anne. "What did you do?"


    "Well, It was completely my fault after all. I was late for work today.


    "Oh, right. That think from the morning. I''m sorry." said Anne as she remembered. "But I thought your boss liked you. I mean, he complimented you on your work a lot of times already. Why would he be mad at you?"


    "It''s... it''s because..." Eliah struggled with her words. Her eyes darted around everywhere nervously. She was embarrassed to admit it. She felt ashamed. She felt guilty. "I was... I was... disobedient... I was... a bad girl... and I..."


    She paused. Her eyes were slowly loosing her vibrancy. She stared at the ground and remained silent. only her mouth was opening and closing, as if she was trying to say something, but couldn''t get her words out for some reason. She blinked rapidly. She felt her heart pounding hard and fast inside her chest.


    "Oh no," said Anne, quickly sensing that there was something seriously wrong with her friend. "What happened? Tell me, Eliah!"


    Anne grabbed Eliah''s hands and squeezed them gently. "Tell me!" she insisted. She didn''t want to think that might be the case, but she had to ask. "Did... did he touch you in an inappropriate way? Did he force you to do things?"


    "No!" said Eliahas she looked at Anne with a blank face. "He didn''t do anything to me. He is a good boss."


    "Then what?"


    "I... I just made a little mistake, but I got better," said Eliah. "I was so obedient today. I did everything he asked me to do. I did everything right. I made him happy."


    Even as she spoke, her voice sounded distant, as if she was speaking to someone else. She stared at a point above Anne''s head. Her eyes were glazed over.


    "Eliah," said Anne. "You''re scaring me. Please... Please tell me honestly. Did he hurt you?"


    "No, no," said Eliah. "I''m fine. Really. It''s nothing important. I''m fine. Don''t worry about it. I''m okay."


    "You''re lying," said Anne. "You''re not fine. Tell me, what happened?"


    "I... I was late for work. But the boss forgave me."


    "And that''s why you were depressed?"


    "Yes, that''s why," said Eliah. "He was so happy with my work, he even complimented me. I told you.."


    "Ugh, I''m so sorry, Eliah," said Anne. "I wish I could help you somehow. But I don''t know what to do, either. I''m scared that you will be taken advantage of someday. Is that what the boss does? Does he force you to have sex with him?"


    "No," said Eliah. "Please stop saying that, Anne. I''m fine. Really. This is nothing to worry about."


    "Okay, I will believe you," said Anne. "But, please tell if something is wrong. Or if you need help. You can trust me, okay? I promise."


    She squeezed Eliah''s hands tighter.


    "Okay, thanks," said Eliah. "I appreciate it."


    "Okay,"


    "Oh, right. I remembered. It''s Saturday tomorrow. Are we going to the concert tomorrow? You promised me that we''ll go together, remember?"


    "The concert? Oh yeah," said Anne. "Right. Let''s go.  Yes, I''m looking forward to it!"


    "Me too," said Eliah. "It will be so much fun."


    They talked a bit more and Anne drove Eliah home. They parked in front of her apartment and they parted ways.


    As soon as she entered her apartment, Eliah changed her clothes. She washed her face and brushed her teeth.


    She made a dinner and read a book until she fell asleep. She slept peacefully. She dreamed of the night sky. There was a full moon and a few stars twinkling brightly in the sky. She flew through the air. She soared high beyond the clouds. She was flying freely through the void. She floated effortlessly among the sparkling constellations. She saw a shooting star. She was free.


    Her dream faded away.  She slept the rest of the night away.


    ***

 Chapter 15

    In the early morning, she woke up. She felt refreshed. Her dreams were pleasant. She smiled to herself. She stretched out and sat upright on the bed.


    "Good morning," she whispered. "It''s the weekend. It''s Saturday. Today is going to be a great day. I can feel it."


    Eliah took a shower and then ate her breakfast. She was excited about the incoming concert today.


    She wore her favorite skirt and top. She chose a pair of comfortable shoes and put on her coat. She walked outside and rode her car to Anne''s house.


    "Hi, Eliah!" shouted Anne from her window as Eliah arrived. "I''m so glad you came! I was just getting ready to leave. Come on in."


    "Thanks," said Eliah. "I''m glad to see you too. I''m really excited for today!"


    "Me too!" said Anne. "I hope there is a big crowd. I heard they sold out all the tickets. It''s going to be such a great show!"


    "Let''s find out," said Eliah. "I''m sure it will be packed."


    Eliah entered the house and met Anee''s husband, Richard. He was wearing a nice suit. It seemed Anne was still preparing herself.


    Richard looked at Eliah with an unpleasant gaze. "Hello, Eliah," he said. "How are you?"


    "Uhm. Fine Richard, I''m fine," she responded politely. "Thank you. How are you?"


    "Well, so so," he mumbled. "My wife is a bit preoccupied with other things these days and she feels so out of it lately. As her husband, it makes me really worried. She doesn''t even have time for me anymore."


    "Oh, I''m sorry to hear that," said Eliah.


    "Oh, so you are sorry huh? You have quite the attitude. As if you don''t know that or rather who Anne is preoccupied with..." Richard glared at her. His eyes were cold and hostile. "She''s always talking about you. You know that, don''t you?"


    "Richard..." said Eliah. "I don''t want to talk about this."


    "Huh? What? Of course, you do. Just look at you. Do you think you can just call her whenever there''s something wrong with you, and she''ll listen? Do you think she is your nanny or something?"


    "Stop it!" yelled Eliah. "Don''t talk about that. Please!"


    "Ha! So you don''t want to talk about it, do you? Well, here''s the thing. I want to talk about it. Anne is my wife and she is not doing a very good job of taking care of me. I am her husband, damn it. I deserve to have her attention. She should take me seriously. She needs to respect and listen to me. Not you!"


    His gaze was piercing. He was intimidating her. She felt shivers running down her spine.


    "Richard," said Eliah. "We''re not here to have a fight, okay? Can you please just forget about it? We''re friends. We just want to have fun tonight. Okay?"


    "You know what?" said Richard. "I think I have had enough of your attitude. I am sick of you."


    Then he grabbed Eliah''s arm and threw her against the wall.


    "Richard! Stop it!" said Anne. "What are you doing? Please, calm down. You are hurting her!"


    At that moment Anne walked in. She saw the two of them fighting. Her expression instantly changed from a smile to a frown.


    "Tch. Sorry, Anne, I''m sorry," said Richard. "It seems I got a bit too emotional. I apologize." He turned to Eliah with a nasty look in his eyes. Then exited the room.


    "Richard, wait...!" Anne tried to stop him, but he left without listening to her words.


    "I''m sorry Anne. I-I think I made your husband Richard upset," said Eliah as she looked down.


    "No, It''s okay," said Anne. "I understand. He gets like that sometimes."


    Eliah was confused. She didn''t know what to say. She wanted to understand why Richard was angry.


    She sighed quietly. She felt so uncomfortable. The entire situation was embarrassing and awkward. She felt sick to her stomach. Not knowing what she did wrong, made her feel even more guilty. She didn''t know what to fix so Richard wouldn''t be angry at her anymore.


    She shook her head and stood up straight. "Can we go already?" she said. "Before he comes back."


    "Sure," said Anne. "Come on, let''s hurry up."


    She led Eliah into the car.


    "Are you sure you''re okay?" asked Anne. "If you need to stay home today, I won''t mind."


    "No," said Eliah. "I''m fine. I promise. Now I''m just worried about the show. Let''s have a lot of fun today! I bet it''s going to be awesome! And, I''m so glad we finally got to go together. Thank you so much for going with me!"


    "Yeah," said Anne. "I''m looking forward to it too. Let''s have a great time!"


    They arrived at the venue shortly before noon. It was a big stadium. Thousands of other people were already lined up for the show.


    "Wow, it looks like this place is packed," said Anne. "I can''t believe so many people came."


    "Yeah," said Eliah. "This is amazing! It must be a really famous band."


    "Hmm. It seems they are called ''Sons of King'' or something like that."


    "So, uhm, what are we supposed to do now?" asked Eliah. "Where is the entrance?"


    "There," said Anne. She pointed to a long line of people waiting to get inside. "That''s where we are going."


    After standing in line for half an hour, they finally reached the door. The security guard scanned their ticket and opened the gate for them.


    Anne grabbed Eliah''s hand and guided her through the crowded lobby. They walked along the corridor as far as they could. They saw hundreds of people dancing to the music. There was loud cheering and clapping. Some people were even screaming loudly.


    "Oh, it''s so exciting," said Eliah. "I can''t wait to see the show."


    They passed through several rooms filled with tables and chairs. There was a bar and some food stalls. People were drinking beer and eating chips and popcorn. All sorts of snacks and drinks were available for sale. The atmosphere was warm and friendly. It was a lively party.


    "Look, there''s the stage," said Anne. "And all those lights. Wow, it''s so bright."


    "Aww, you''re making me nervous," said Eliah. "I wish it would turn dark when the show starts."


    "Don''t worry," said Anne. "Everyone is excited. I''m sure they''ll dim the lights once the show begins."


    "Great," said Eliah. "Okay, let''s go."


    Anne led Eliah to the crowd.


    The show started right after the opening act finished its performance.


    The Sons of King hit the stage with power and energy. They played a few songs. It was loud, wild, and crazy. It was hard not to dance to the beats. The fans screamed and cheered. They loved it.


    During one song, the lead vocalist jumped off the stage. He ran towards the audience and climbed onto a table. He grabbed someone''s hands and danced with him. Everyone else joined in and sang along. That made the music even more powerful. It felt like everyone was singing out loud. It was contagious.


    "Whoa," said Eliah. "That''s amazing!"


    She looked around and saw that most of the people were having a blast.


    "I love it!" said Eliah with her cheeks bright red from excitement. "I can''t believe this is happening."


    "Yes," said Anne. "It''s incredible! I haven''t been to anything like this before."


    The band played for about forty minutes then took a short break.


    "I can''t believe how energetic they are," said Eliah. "Those guys are amazing singers and musicians. I bet they are going to play a lot of new stuff tonight."


    "I agree," said Anne. "They seem to be really popular."


    Anne drank water from the bottle to quench her thirst. She was sweating. Her hair was messy and sticking to her forehead.


    Eliah looked at her friend. Her glistening white skin was shiny. As if she was glowing with excitement and happiness. She noticed that Anne was smiling all the time. She realized that she was feeling better than ever. She always had a great time with Anne, but this evening was special.


    Eliah felt that Anne was really beautiful today. She was radiant, happy, and full of life. She noticed her sparkling eyes. Those eyes looked so sincere and caring. When she stared deep into them, she felt safe and protected. Her eyes were mesmerizing. They reflected the light from the reflectors. Eliah realized that Anne was always there for her, whenever Eliah needed her. She realized that Anne was really precious, and she cared about her deeply.


    She wanted to hold her hand while walking around the venue. She wanted to touch her glistening face. But she knew she couldn''t. That would make things weird. Instead, she grabbed the bottle from Anne''s hand and drank straight from it. It tasted sweet and refreshing.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon."Hey, it''s mine," said Anne as she tried to grab it back.


    "Ha! No way," laughed Eliah. "You can''t have it." She gulped down the rest of the water.


    "Oh, come on!" said Anne.


    "It''s as if we had an indirect kiss or something," said Eliah. "I can''t help myself. This is so delicious!" She licked her lips with her tongue.


    "Are you a kid or something? Well, I don''t really mind it, just don''t get carried away."


    "Ugh. You are so boorish. Well, whatever. I guess I am a kid after all. Hehe." Eliah laughed aloud.


    "Seriously, what do I do with you, Eliah." She smiled wryly. "Oh, it seems the concert is going to resume soon. Are you ready?"


    "Uh-huh," said Eliah. "Let''s go."


    They moved closer to the front. The band members entered the stage again and performed another song. Then they finished by playing a few more tunes.


    The two women exited the building. They walked along the corridor until they reached the parking lot. They found themselves outside the club. The sun was setting behind the buildings. The sky was getting darker and darker. Stars were shining brightly in the night sky.


    "Wow," said Eliah. "I didn''t expect to have such a great time. They were so good. I can''t believe it."


    "You were so cute, dancing and waving your arms around like an idiot," said Anne with a laugh. "Did you enjoy the show so much?"


    "Of course I enjoyed it!" said Eliah. "But, I think the band was a bit too wild for me. I mean, I don''t know. It seemed like they were trying to impress me. Like they were trying to flirt with me. Do you think that was true?


    "Of course not, are you an idiot?"


    "Haha, just kidding," Eliah laughed back nervously. "Sorry. I''m just talking nonsense. Hey, Anne. Let''s go on a date! We can go somewhere nice to eat."


    "Well, it sounds like a great idea," said Anne. "I''m hungry too. But, seriously, calling it a date. You are so silly sometimes, Eliah. Hehe."


    Do you know any nice places near here?"


    "Hmm...let''s see..." said Anne. "I know a great spot nearby."


    They walked along the streets. It took them nearly five minutes to reach the restaurant. It wasn''t fancy. It was small and unpretentious. It was located in a low-class neighborhood.


    "This place is perfect," said Anne. "We can just sit down and talk. And there aren''t too many people around. Oh, and it has a lot of character."


    They went inside and sat down at a table. The waitress served them water and menus.


    "What can I get you, ladies, to drink?" asked the waitress.


    "Just water," said Anne. "Thank you."


    "Right," said the waitress. "Can I start you off with some appetizers?"


    "Yes please," said both of them in unison.


    "Okay, I''ll bring out a little plate of fruit and cheese," said the waitress.


    "Thanks," said the girls.


    She left the room and returned with the plates.


    After eating their share of the cheeses and fruits, they ordered hot tea and coffee. They talked about the show and everything that happened over the last couple of days.


    "I''m so glad I met you, Anne," said Eliah. "I feel so lucky to have you as my friend. We have so much fun together. I bet we''re going to be together forever. What do you think?"


    "I guess, maybe," said Anne. "But hey, you should rather say those lines to your boyfriend. Did you think of finding a guy yet?"


    "No," said Eliah. "I haven''t met anyone interesting. Besides, I would rather date Anne, than some random guy. They are all sleazy and gross. They don''t deserve me, anyway."


    Anne laughed and shook her head.


    "All right, okay. I guess you just need more time for those things Eliah. Don''t worry you will find someone special someday."


    "I dunno."


    "But, seriously, joking around, like the stuff about dating me." Anne sighed. "You know I''m a married woman. Seriously you say such silly things sometimes."


    Hearing Anne''s words, Eliah felt uncomfortable. She put her mug on the table and looked up at Anne. She felt embarrassed.


    "You know..." Eliah hesitated. Then she grabbed Anne''s hands with her own and whispered. "I... I''m not really joking. I want to be with you. I really like you. I can''t explain it. It''s kind of confusing. Do you understand?"


    "What? What are you talking about?" Anne asked with confusion. "Why would you want to be with me? Why are you saying these things?"


    "Because... because I care about you, and I''d like to be with you."


    "No, no. Come on, Eliah, this is ridiculous."


    "Please, listen to me. I... I''ve never felt like this before. I... I... I think I love you, Anne."


    "Love me?" said Anne. She looked startled. "You love me?"


    "Yeah," said Eliah. "I love you."


    "Ugh," said Anne. "You''re crazy, Eliah. How could you possibly say this stuff?"


    "Listen. I know it''s crazy. Crazy. But I still feel the same way. I love you. Whenever I needed you, you were always there for me. When I was sad or lonely, you made me smile. I don''t know what I did to deserve you, but I''m grateful that we are friends. You are the best friend I have. But... But, I realized today, your smiling face, the way you were enjoying yourself at the concert. You were so bright, excited, and happy. And that made me happy too. It made me feel alive again. For the first time in a long time, I felt happy too."


    "Eliah, I..."


    "I know it might sound strange. I just want us to be together. To hang out all the time. I also want to become your strength when you need it. I want you to be mine. I want to be your source of inspiration and support. Just like what you always did to me. I want to be with you forever." Eliah paused and wiped away a tear that spilled out of her eye. "If you are willing to accept me, I promise I won''t let you down."


    "I don''t know what to say," said Anne. She tried to hide the confusion on her face.


    "I love you so so much Anne," repeated Eliah.


    "That''s impossible," said Anne. "Look, I appreciate that you are telling me these things, but we can''t be together like that. I''m... I''m a married woman, and I care about my husband. I would never do anything that would hurt him. So please stop asking me. Okay?"


    "I''m sorry," said Eliah. "I just... I don''t know why I feel like this. Maybe I am crazy. I guess I have a problem. I don''t know."


    "No, don''t be sorry Eliah, it''s alright," said Anne. "It''s me who should apologize for being unable to handle this situation properly. Look, I admit I have never experienced anything like this before. I''ve never even thought about being confessed to by another woman. I don''t know how to react to your confession."


    "I know," said Eliah. "Me neither. I don''t know what to do. I feel so confused and lost. In sorry for bothering you with this."


    "No, no, it''s fine. You are not bothering me. I''m just... surprised. I can''t tell you how relieved I feel now. Now that you told me these things. I feel like I can breathe a little easier. Thank you, Eliah." Anne took a deep breath. "And... I''m sorry Eliah. I''m sorry for being unable to answer your feelings. I can''t. I love my husband. I love him very much. And I want to keep loving him for as long as possible. So, no matter what happens between us... we can''t be together."


    " I see." Eliah sighed with resignation. "Now I just want to forget this whole thing, and pretend it never happened. But I know that isn''t possible. I love you, but you already have a family. I guess I don''t think we can get together as you said. Not in this life."


    "I know it''s hard to hear, but you have to believe me," said Anne. "Anyway, I''m glad you felt comfortable enough to confess to me. I don''t think it''s healthy to keep those feelings bottled up inside. I know you probably need some time, but you shouldn''t lose hope. There''s always tomorrow. Or the day after, or the next year. Who knows? Maybe one day you will find someone else. Someone better."


    "I don''t know," said Eliah sadly. "Maybe you are right. I should give myself more time. Maybe it takes a while for me to figure it out. Maybe I''ll meet someone new and fall in love with them. I don''t know."


    "Hey, cheer up, Eliah," said Anne. "Tomorrow is another day. Right?"


    After a while, they returned to their own houses. They parted ways in front of Anne''s home and waved goodbye.


    ***