The Repentance: Chapter 1

“Do it again!”He threw the papers on the floor for me to pick up.They were scattered all over the floor.Not again.Should I give up? How many more days am I supposed to put up with this? Every day I hear the same thing and keep quiet.Why can’t I speak up? It’s not like I did anything wrong.No, I cannot stop now.I am almost done paying off my mother’s debt.I do not know whether to be angry at her or feel sorry for her.I mean, she’s dead.But still, she left me all alone to pay off the debt.Just one more year.One year until I am free.Then I’ll leave this horrible city and live a happy life.Just one more year.”This is the worst report I have ever seen! I have read better from a three-year-old! Get out of here now; I do not want to see your face here anymore! You can pack your things and get out!”“No, please, I will have this report done by tomorrow morning.Please give me a chance.” I cannot get fired now.”Please, I’ll do anything.”“Anything?” That grin.The same grin he had when we had a team dinner.He got up from his chair and walked towards me.No, I should not have said that.He’s getting too close to me.Why can’t I run away?”You know, there’s no one here, and I’m pretty angry.With all this pent-up anger, I don’t know what to do.” He stroked my face and brushed my hair out of my face.”I think you can help me, don’t you think? That’s if you want to keep your job.” I couldn’t do that.Tears were streaming down my face.Should I? If I do, I can keep my job, pay off Mom’s debts, and finally get out of here.That’s a good thing, isn’t it? I’m sure I’m not the only one who has to do this.”Y-yes.How can I help you?”“Well, since you asked, how about we go to my house? I’m sure you can help me relax, if you know what I mean.” I could hear how happy he was.It’s okay.Just for one night, A few hours later.I couldn’t bring myself to open the door and let myself fall onto the cold floor.Is this me? I’d promised myself that I wouldn’t do such a thing.There was nothing I could’ve done.I don’t know how this could’ve happened.No, what did I do.I can’t stop crying.The tears ran down my cheeks like a waterfall.Why did I do this? I feel disgusting.I wanted to scream, but nothing came out.I just sat there and cried silently to myself.I couldn’t get up or move.I just stared into the darkness.What if I just gave up everything? What if I died? Then I wouldn’t have to worry anymore.No.Stop it.I’ve to be strong.If I give up now, the last 25 years will have been for nothing.Only one year.With all the courage I’d left in me, I finally opened the door and put on a big smile.I’ll be fine.”Hey, I’m home.Do you want to order something?” Silence.Where the hell is she?”Laura, where are you?” Silence.She told me she was at home.Where’s she now? Did she hear me? No, she couldn’t have, could she? I was very quiet.I didn’t even ring the bell.Scratch.What was that? A scratch.I must be imagining it.Scratch.What’s she doing? That noise is coming from the attic.What if she’s hurt herself? The house is pretty old, and she’s hurt herself before.This feels different, though.Something’s not right here.”Laura? Are you right?” Silence.No, something is wrong here.The house suddenly feels very cold.The once bright and cheerful house has turned into a place that scares me.The stairs have started to creak.How long has it been broken?”Laura? Are you there?” Still nothing.”You know, I’ve been waiting for this moment for more than five years.”