TIMOTHY.

I wake up today earlier than usual. Thankfully I've got no lectures this morning so I can go to Felicity. I was unable to sleep last night, I kept thinking about her. When I was finally able to squeeze in some sleep I dreamt about her: She was sitting on grass, smiling at me, I was watching her, drinking in her beauty as I drew her in all her glory.

I get up from my bed and I take a nice warm shower. I know she doesn't bother about appearance but I make sure to put on my finest casual outfit. I dab on some cologne and a lot of perfume that I'm almost choking in my own scent. I've never felt so nervous to see someone, I'm always so confident, but she brings out the soft side I never knew I had.

I put on my shoes and comb my hair, after a look in the mirror I head out the door. My parents aren't out yet, it's really early. It's a good thing they're not out, they still haven't accepted my love for Felicity, if they keep hounding me about her, I'll just have to move out. I should have moved out a long time ago but my mother wouldn't have it, I'm her only son you see, and she says she'll miss my presence dearly if I leave. I love my mother and my father too, I just don't like the way they treat people who aren't as fortunate as we are, it is completely absurd!

I open my car door and get in, I turn on the ignition and I waste no time to speed off. I soon arrive at her house because the roads were not busy. I get out of the car and run straight to her window.

I bend down, and as usual, I knock on the window. I wait there for about two minutes but there's no reply. She probably knows it's me and is intentionally ignoring me. What have I done to upset her so badly? I wait patiently but after a while, I realize that she's not coming out. I'm not leaving here without an explanation, I push open the window and I crawl in. It smells strongly of alcohol in here, she doesn't strike me as a drinker. I look ahead and my heart stops breathing at the sight in front of me. Felicity is sprawled on the ground, she has blood on her face and she looks completely lifeless.

I rush to her and I grab her delicate body in my hands. "Felicity," I yell and I shake her body, I'm in a state of panic right now. I'm relieved when I see her eyes slowly flutter open. She looks at me as though she cannot believe I'm here. She looks terribly frail, I hate seeing her this way. "What happened to you, love?" I ask worriedly. She opens her mouth to speak and then she shuts it, she tries to bring up her weak hands to my face but she can't, I help her by taking the hand and placing it on my face slowly. "Don't worry I'm here," I coo, as I rub her hair soothingly.

There's water on her table. I grab it for her. I've always wondered why she always has water and food on her table. She sits up a little with my help, I bring the water up to her lips and she gulps it down and wipes her mouth with the back of her bruised hand. She shifts a bit and the sleeves of her long-sleeved shirt roll up slightly to reveal terrible injuries on her arm. "Goodness gracious!" I exclaim as I take her hand in mine. I roll it up completely and I see a long line of injury. She quickly retrieves her hand as soon as she sees what I'm looking at. "Who did this to you?" I ask indignantly.

"Sports," she says quietly. I'm no fool, I don't buy this her sports excuse anymore, unless the sport involves wrestling with lions, then it's impossible.

"Don't lie to me," I say firmly, she looks away. "Look at me," I say, and I gently turn her face to meet mine, I look into her eyes, all I see is fear. Who is she so terrified of? "What happened?" I ask gently, this time, still staring into her eyes. "Please tell me, tell me and I'll help you."

She takes in a deep breath and shuts her eyes, she seems to be contemplating something in her mind. "My mother," she says softly with her eyes still shut. My eyes do the opposite.

Her mother? Why will her mother do this to her? This is insane! Inhumane!

I clench my fists at my side and I start getting furious. "Your mother did this to you?" I ask in a deathly tone.

FELICITY.

He seems enraged. I do not know why I told him the truth maybe it is because I cannot bear to lie to him anymore, he does not deserve lies. He has been nothing but wonderful to me, I cannot keep on treating him like a fool with the lies I tell. I watch as he passes through different stages of anger, I am scared for what he will do. When the pot-bellied beast almost took me, Timothy beat him silly. What will he do to someone who has been abusing me for years? Someone who carries the title of my mother? He told me once that he will kill for me, I know that he is not bluffing.

"Why on earth will your mother do this to you?" He raises his voice.

There is no point hiding the truth from him anymore. I place my hands on his shoulders and urge him to relax. He is turning red from anger. I explain everything to him, I tell him about what my life was before all this madness, I tell him about the day the madness began, I tell him about the years of hatred that led to abuse. I also tell him about Madams most recent revelation to me.

"She makes you call her Madam?" He asks, bewildered. "I'm sorry but she's absolutely bonkers!" He exclaims. "She looks so normal, like a decent human being," he says. "What I don't understand is why you're still here," He says, incredulously.

"She is my mother, if she loved me once, she can love me again," I cry.

He gets up and paces around. "it's like a prisoner being set free from prison and saying 'no, shut the bloody doors, I'm alright in here," he scoffs. "When you're set free you run. A caged bird won't waste the opportunity to fly free once its cage is opened, your cage has been unlocked," he says, pointing at the window "so fly free my love."

"I cannot," I say weakly. "I cannot stand her not loving me, she's the only family I have. I will never know my father, Timothy. I need my mother." I try to make him see reason.

"That woman is not your mother," he raises his voice. "She was only your carrier, that's all she did, she carried you in her belly and pushed you out. She has no right to be called a mother. A mother loves and protects her child, she doesn't ruin her child's life," he says furiously.

"Please calm down," I stand up.

"How do you expect me to calm down after such gobsmacking news? I'm not going to stand here and watch you die, I won't let Madam or whatever the hell she calls herself kill you." He turns around and heads for the window, I run to him and hold his hand.

"What are you doing?" I panic.

"What do you think I'm doing my love? I'm putting that crazy woman behind bars. And you're coming with me."

"Please don't," I plead. "She will never kill me, she was only drunk yesterday."

"I can't let you stay here, I won't watch you die. How do you know she won't kill you? She obviously left you here to die," he seems amazed by how I am defending her. I too am amazed.

"Timothy please, I have endured this for years. I am only giving her a little more time."

"No Felicity, this is madness," he says.

"Please, if you love me like you say you do, you will not report her" his eyes soften a little. "Please," I say and I bring the phone down "please," I cry.

He relaxes a bit "I can't bear to watch to suffer," he cups my face in his hands.

"I am fine Timothy, I am strong," I assure him. "Nothing will happen to me," I say staring into his eyes. I was just weak a few minutes ago, but ever since he came, I do not feel that anymore. He gives me strength.

"If she lays a finger on one hair on your head again, I'll kill her with my bare hands. I'll be coming here every day, if I find one tiny scratch on you, I kid you not my love, I'll kill her," he says and he brings his forehead to mine and rubs my chin with his thumb soothingly. "I'll kill for you, I'll do anything for you," he assures me.

"I promise you that if she lays a finger on me, I will leave. But I will do so on my own, I cannot drag you into this mess, into this life. I am a mess."

"That's nonsense, my love."

"You deserve better," I press.

"You're the best," he says.

"What if I turn out to be like her? Her parents did not love her, she is abusing me. How do you know I will not turn out to be like her? What if I turn out to be a murderer?"

"She's evil because she has hate in her heart, your heart is too pure, you're incapable of harming another."

Why does he have to be so difficult?

--

We sit on my mattress and talk about everything and nothing. This man is my strength but also my weakness. He brought up the topic of reporting Madam a couple more times and every time I shut down the idea. Maybe I am crazy, maybe some of her madness has rubbed off on me, but I cannot report her. She is sick, she is hurt, it is not her fault. She was deprived of love, she suffered and maybe I can help her.

I lay on Timothy's legs and he strokes my hair, I feel much better already. He smells so good, I wish I can stay like this forever.

"I love you, my Cinderella," he says, and then he trails kisses down my face.

He is too sweet, I cannot help but smile. I love him too, but I do not know why I am not saying it out loud.