My eyes snapped open and leaped out the window as I heard thunder rumble and wind smashing through the white oak tree, making my heart jump in sheer meltdown and nameless terror. The cool breeze caressed my pale skin, making my entire body shudder. I reached for my phone on the side table and realized it was three o'clock in the morning. I let out a deep sigh of relief and was about to close my eyes when I noticed a frightening shadow in my room.

This shadow was undoubtedly a man's figure, cradling a young girl in his arms, presumably no more than six or seven years old. This girl was unresponsive, implying that she was either unconscious or dead. My entire body shivered as a result of what I was perceiving in front of me. The man began running as far as he could as if he were attempting to escape from someone. My heart was pounding in my chest, but no words dared to escape my lips. I noticed another shadow of a man rushing after the injured man with a gun in his hand. The injured man ran as fast as he could, but the man chasing him abruptly pulled the trigger of the gun four or five times. The bullets punctured his flesh on the back, reaching his heart, and a loud excruciatingly painful yelling and roaring emerged from his throat, and the girl along with the man fell unconscious on the road. The little girl slumped on the floor and broke down in tears. The girl's arm was bleeding abundantly, but I believe it was the man's blood on her arm. She was in agony—more agony than anyone could comprehend, and I could feel. She was attempting to rouse the injured man, but he was dead.

"No, please, stop. Make it stop. Please help!" Unable to comprehend what was unfolding in front of me, I let out a blaring scream that promptly escaped my throat. I could feel my larynx's tissue being torn away, but I didn't seem to care. Previously, I couldn't scream, but now I could, and I was terrified. "Help. Please help. Make it stop."

I heard the sound of my bedroom door being pushed open and the sound of frantic footsteps nearing me. "Honey, please open your eyes. You're all right. Take a look at me, I'm your grandmother." I opened my heavy eyelids, which were weighing down my entire body with the sorrows and suffering of the girl I saw, who was sobbing uncontrollably, attempting to rouse the man who was already dead.

My gaze was drawn to my grandmother, who was sitting beside me, massaging my forehead. Warm tears streamed down her cheeks and landed on my face. She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me firmly. "Grandma, I saw them again. The injured man, the young girl, and the man with a gun." I screamed, my sobs ripping the muscles in my throat. "Emma, I'm here for you. It's all a nightmare." She murmured, breaking the hug as she brushed my tears away from my eyes. "Sweetie, did you forget to take your medication?"

"Grandma, I'm sorry. I didn't remember to take my medication. I'm not sure how I forgot to take my pills, but I did." More tears threatened to escape my eyes as I wailed.

"Don't worry. You're just experiencing a horrible nightmare. Simply inhale and exhale to unwind. It's okay if you forgot. It can happen sometimes." She comforted me, but I wasn't convinced by what she said. I had already outlived more than half of my life on these pills that were fruitless to me but on which I was utterly hooked and without which I am paranoid. I'm not living life, but a living hell, and I desperately need an escape. I'm eager to get out of this living hell I'm in right now.

My grandmother pulled out a large box of medicines from the shelf drawer. She took the pill and offered me a glass of water along with it. I placed the pill on my tongue, and thoroughly swallowed it with water. She kissed me on the cheek and helped me lay down on my bed before gently stroking my hair to induce relaxation. I closed my eyes and fell asleep within a few minutes.

It was seven o'clock in the morning, and my alarm was still blaring. I awoke from my slumber, turned off the alarm, and went straight to the restroom. "Bitch, you're just a loser," I murmured to myself as I glanced in the mirror. I brushed my teeth and went for a quick shower. I felt a little more at ease with the hot water cascading down my body. My entire body felt like a leaflet, and the hot water felt like morning dew, slowly and tenderly caressing my bare skin, filling my heart with love and delight, and making me feel alive. I put a towel around my body and was about to leave the restroom when I looked in the mirror again, scrutinizing myself. "What difference does it make if I'm a loser? I'm also a badass hottie, so it all balances out." I exited the restroom with a smile on my face.

I quickly put on a sky blue floral knee-length dress and started blowdrying my hair. I was humming a random tune from some song I had no idea about. "Can I come in, Emma?" My grandmother said as she knocked on the door.

"Yes, Grandma, please come in."

"Oh, my God! You appear to be a heavenly angel." She complimented me as she skillfully straightened my hair with her fingers.

"Do you feel any better, Emma?" My grandmother inquired, concerned.

"Yes, Grandma. I'm fine." I reassured her by blinking once and staring into her eyes, attempting to persuade her that I was fine.

"Emma, you are as strong as your father and as beautiful as your mother; if they were both alive today, they would have been so proud of you," she murmured, her eyes welling up with tears. I firmly hugged her and kissed her on the forehead. "Come on, honey, let's have some breakfast; your grandfather is starving." She said as she broke the hug and motioned for me to come downstairs for breakfast.

I grabbed my phone and handbag from the shelf and dashed downstairs to join my grandparents for breakfast. I immediately finished my meal and walked toward the front door when I noticed Mike standing there. I clenched my hand in wrath as I noticed him staring at me with the same intensity he had when he tried to impose himself on me the day before.

"Mike, what are you doing here?" I queried, my voice faltering. How could he have the audacity to come here after what he did to me yesterday?

"I'd like to apologize for my behavior last night; I feel terrible. I like you, but I ended up hurting you. Please forgive me, and let's start over. I want us to be friends again." He apologized, but it didn't persuade me.

"It's fine, Mike; I don't want to talk about last night, but if you want us to be friends again, I can try but don't expect anything else from me, I hope you understand." I expressed my feelings vividly, and he looked me in the eyes for a few seconds before nodding his head in consent. "Thank you so much, Emma," Mike expressed his gratitude. He stopped me in my tracks as I was about to walk out the front door. "Hey, can I drop you off at the factory?" Mike inquired.

"No, I'm actually on time today, and my cab is just waiting outside; however, thank you very much for your concern," I said, flashing him a vibrant smile.

"Have a good day, Emma," Mike greeted.

"You too, Mike."

I got out of the cab as soon as it came to a halt in front of the chocolate factory. I quickly paid the cab driver, got out of the vehicle, and entered the factory, where I saw William talking to a man with his back to me. "Good morning, William," I pleasantly remarked.

"Good morning, Emma. I can't believe you're actually on time. You deserve a medal today." William chuckled. The man William was conversing with rose up and turned to face me; he was the same Italian man who had visited the day before.

His shimmering hazel-hued eyes met mine and my brain went blank for a couple of moments. He has a towering stature of about 6 feet 3 inches. I could barely reach his shoulders. He looked stunning in a black tuxedo suit with a white shirt underneath, his chestnut brown hair was well-groomed, and he resembled a wild fantasy. His hot manly facial hair nearly covered up a scar on his left cheek. He was breathtakingly stunning, hot, and charming. His mere presence screamed authority and dominance. He was rather intimidating to me, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't petrified of him. I was anxious about myself because he was scrutinizing me from head to toe as if I were the final piece of meat he needed to devour before anybody else could. Basically, beneath his hawk-like gaze, I felt like a little bunny who could be easily gobbled by him. He was undeniably a hot Sinister.

"Emma, what's the matter with you? Are you all right, and why are you smiling?" William queried as he gave me a shake, and I was jolted out of my reverie. I realized I was fantasizing about the man standing right in front of me.

"Sorry, you were saying—" I queried, oblivious to what William said.

"Jesus, Emma! What universe do you inhabit? This gentleman would like to speak with you, as I previously stated." My eyes widened in amazement as William motioned toward the Italian man, and I wondered what he wanted to talk to me about.

I nodded, not willing to look at the Italian man in front of me, but I could feel his searing gaze penetrating my skin.

"I need to get some work done; you two may talk. I'll be right back, and Emma, please deliver fifty packages of Dove Bars to Mr. Saltzman." William said as he walked out of the factory.

.