Tears

I was carrying about three bottles, the place was full of people and strange aromas, some were dressed in dark clothes, others simply had nothing on, I had never heard of this place before, "Paradise".

My body was quite drunk, so I tried to get up a few times, I would buy a night with a gigolo from this club, I wouldn't give my virtue to my future husband, on the contrary, it would be the dishonor of both families, that would be his punishment, no one had the right to make me suffer such an atrocity, I had dreamt of getting married, but not like this, my father had crossed the line.

I stumbled around the place until I tripped over a huge toned back, his rich aroma filled my nostrils, this was definitely the candidate.

"I will pay you whatever you ask for, if you give me a night with you," I said while hiccuping, the man started laughing, but he still had his back turned, which only fueled my anger. Who did this miserable man think he was?

"What's so funny? Aren't you a man? If you work in this place, I don't think you have much morality, so just do your job, I'll pay you very well."

That was all I had to say to get his attention, I couldn't make out his face clearly, I was too drunk, I felt his tongue entering my mouth, his taste overwhelmed me, making me lose all sanity, I never thought my body would give in so quickly.

My head was pounding horribly, what had happened? I tried to move, but something was occupying the other side of my bed, I woke up quickly, only to realize that I wasn't in my bed, and that I had slept with a man, I couldn't see his face clearly, I was afraid to wake him up if I moved.

As best I could, I got out of bed, but a pain in my abdomen reminded me of faint images from last night, my body on top of his, his mouth exploring my soul, his hands taking away my innocence, what had I done? What had I gotten myself into?

I searched for my clothes all over the place, until I saw them on the side of the room, I walked quietly, quickly dressing myself, I took money from my purse, I didn't know how much a service of this magnitude cost, so I took everything I had, leaving only a few bills for the taxi.

I placed the money on the bed, but on the first bill, I wrote "I'm sorry" with my lipstick, that was the truth, I felt so sorry for everything that had happened. I was about to leave when he rolled over in bed, revealing a beautiful rose tattooed on his side, I couldn't admire it further because he started to wake up, so this was the moment to run away.

I arrived home past nine, my father was furious, he had taken out his anger on my mother, I looked at her with pity, but it wasn't up to me to defend her, it was up to her to save herself and come to me.

"Where were you?" he shouted angrily, I didn't even stop.

"In the world, living what little remains of my singleness."

I couldn't hear what he was saying, I locked myself in my room, after taking a shower I slept all day and all night, I woke up the next day when the sound of my phone managed to revive me, as best I could, I answered, it was Marina, I had forgotten about the florist.

"Marina, I'm sorry, I overslept, give me twenty minutes and I'll be there."

"Sam, San, you have to come! It's on fire!"

"What are you talking about? What's on fire?"

"The florist!"

I didn't know how I got there so fast, but in ten minutes I was outside of my little dream, watching it burn, I screamed and cried a lot, while Marina hugged me, my life was ruined, I had to marry a stranger, to complete my little refuge, my effort had been consumed in the flames of hell, but I was sure that this was my punishment for standing up to the great Maximus.

After three hours, the fire was finally under control, there was nothing left of the place.

"Miss, it seems the fire started in the breaker, it was a circuit, we're very sorry."

"Believe me, I'm the one who's sorrier."

I entered the place, the high temperature was still felt, everything I had fought for was gone, everything I had dreamed of was reduced to ashes.

"You will pay dearly for this, Dad, I swear it."

Take Marina to her house, not without crying and hugging for a while, we promised to see each other again, but I knew that would be impossible.

I wanted to drive home, but at a red light, an image came to my mind, the beautiful rose from that man, so another bright or foolish idea crossed my mind, I didn't even have to think about it.

I arrived at the mall and entered the tattoo shop, I wanted to tattoo that rose on my skin, that was my new beginning.

"Good afternoon! I would like to get a tattoo."

"Hello, is it your first time? What would you like?"

"I want a rose, if you allow me, I could draw it on paper with a pencil."

The guy smiled and handed me what I had asked for, it took me only ten minutes to create the design on the paper, it turned out perfect, just as I had seen it.

I found out that the owner of the shop was named Sean, he had approximately eighty tattoos, thanks to his conversation I was able to endure the pain a little bit. I decided to get the rose on the side of my body, I wanted to carry the image of that man with me, I wanted it to remind me of everything that was to come.

"Done, remember not to remove the plastic and only wash with neutral soap. If anything happens, just come back here."

"Thank you very much, Sean."

"It's a pleasure, Sami. Remember to wash it well, it's there for life."

I left the shop with tears in my eyes, it hurt a lot, but I think what hurt more was my heart. My life would change and I was sure that I hadn't even started to live the true hell yet. In two days, I would marry a man whom I didn't know, in two days, my dreams of becoming a recognized architect would die.