ONE

Since I was young, fairy tales have seemed like nothing more than bedtime stories told to kids with stars in their eyes. There was no prince charming riding in on a white horse to rescue a damsel in distress, not in my world growing up, it was just me and mom against the world. Dad's death changed everything. Mom spiraled into a dark place marrying one irresponsible man after another. The first man was a hopeless drunk. The second one, a serial womanizer, and the last, well he was an outright abuser. Violence became a regular visitor in our home, a brutal reminder of the broken family we once were.

When I turned 22, well I have had enough. I swiped the abuser's money and escaped with Mom, but the scars lingered, and it felt like I was the sole survivor of a shipwreck, even though Mom was physically there with me. Dad's death hit us hard, but I learned to soldier on. Mom, on the other hand, got stuck in the past. She was unable to move forward, and it was slowly killing her, both inside and out. Now, cancer had her in its grip, and I was left to fend for us. Juggling multiple jobs became my reality. My days were spent scanning groceries at the supermarkets, nights waiting tables at restaurants and weekends were a blur as I slung drinks in a club. The only day that I don't go to work is on Sundays but, every penny earned was a step closer to getting mom's lifesaving surgery. Luckily for us, the new pack we moved to welcomed us well….somehow.

'Isabel, are you zoning out?' Mercy, my colleague snapped me back to reality, waving her hands in front of my face.

'Sorry,' I stammered, pushing my tangled thoughts aside.

Mercy informed me that we were running low on beer, and she gestured towards the store.

'Go on,' she said. 'Start filling up the trolley,' she instructed, looking at me with pitiful eyes. She could tell that I was exhausted and barely standing.

I nodded at Mercy and went in search of a trolley. The continuous clinks of bottles offered me a brief escape from the harsh realities of what was waiting outside those supermarket walls. As I organized the bottles, a chill ran down my spine. The air shifted and I sensed Josh's unwelcomed presence before I saw him, my eyes rolled instinctively, for this wasn't the first time the married owner had crossed the line.

'Hey, Isabel you're looking good, as always.' he leered leaning against a shelf.

I forced a tight-lipped smile, trying to avoid his eyes.

'Josh, we've talked about this. I'm not interested.' I relayed my tone was clear and firm.

He chuckled dismissing my words, 'Common on Isabel, you know you deserve better. I am ready to give you a better life, I'm ready to give you more than these dead-end jobs.'

I sighed, mustering the strength to stand my ground. 'Josh, I appreciate the job, but that's where it ends. I have enough on my plate and I most certainly don't want to deal with this please let me be.'

He leaned in, his breath reeking of alcohol 'Oh for God's sake, Isabel you're a smart girl and I know you'll come around eventually.'

With an exasperated sigh, I continued my work, hoping he'd get the message but Josh, persistent as ever invaded my personal space. His hot breath grazed the back of my neck, a shiver coursing through me reminding me of the dark days, the dark experiences I had with my mom's ex-boyfriend something no one knew about not even my mom.

'Stay the heck away from me, Josh.' I declared my voice firm and tinged with irritation.

He chucked, the sound sending a chill down my spine 'Common Isabel, stop playing hard to get, I know you want this.'

I clenched my jaw, frustration bubbling beneath the surface 'You have a wife and four kids for God's sake. Don't you even respect your family?' I asked furiously.

His hand brushed against mine and I recoiled, resisting the urge to snap; the audacity of the man was alarming.

'Just one date Isabel, you won't regret it.' he persisted, his arrogance infuriating.

My patience reached its limit whirling around, I shot him a glare that could freeze fire, and I said 'No Josh, I have told you countless times that I'm not interested in your advances. I'm only respecting you as my boss, I've got a whole lot of problems and I don't want to keep dealing with your shenanigans anymore. Now leave me the hell alone.'

His grip tightened on my hair and before I could comprehend what was happening, his lips forcefully pressed against mine. I gasped, shocked by the sudden intrusion. His tongue forced its way into my mouth, carrying the lingering taste of his breakfast, bread, and alcohol. I recoiled, repulsed, and bit down hard on his lip, savoring the metallic taste of his blood. A twisted sense of satisfaction washed over me as he recoiled, anger blazing in his eyes.

'Don't you freaking touch me again!!!' I screamed in defiance, masking the fear bubbling within me.

In response, he slapped me with a force that sent me reeling backward. My cheeks throbbed, but I refused to back down instead, I retaliated, delivering a swift kick to his legs.

A string of profanities spilled from his lips as he clutched to his injured limbs yelling 'I'll freaking kill you, you stupid bitch!!!!' he spat venom, lacing his words.

Fueled by adrenaline, I didn't let him regain control I landed another kick, this time at a more vulnerable spot which brought him to his knees in agony.

'You freaking bitch' he hissed, crumpling in pain.

'I warned you but you didn't listen, don't you ever in your fucked-up life raise your filthy hands on me again.'

Josh still reeling from the pain, glared at me with so much hatred and yelled 'Get out of my damn supermarket you stupid bitch.'

His face was twisted in pain, I shot him a sweet smile, a smile that said a lot about my victory and how his words didn't have any effect on me. I yanked off the supermarket apron and hurled it at his stupid face, stepping over his sorry self, I made my exit.

Mercy must have heard the rumble because as soon as she saw me, her heart went out to me.

'Are you alright?' she asked with concern written over her face, she knew how much of a jerk Josh was.

I flashed her a bright smile, a façade I had perfected over the years 'I'm okay'

She eyed me skeptically 'Really?' she asked again.

I nodded, pointing towards the jerk, still fuming inside 'I'll be back to get my pay Dickhead.'

'What if he screws you over on that?' she asked.

I chuckled in a low but threatening way 'He better not hold my freaking pay unless he wants my fist in his face. Bye Mercy' I said as I gathered my belongings and smiled at Mercy who was waving at me.