I started out life with a sliver spoon in my mouth. Wealthy parent’s, the best of schools money could buy. To many it would seem I had everything. Everything but my parent’s love. Raised by nanny’s until I was old enough to start school . Private school it was from there on out. Graduating the top of class at age 17. Over the years I rarely seen my Parent’s. they were always off on trips or attending social functions. Left to fend for myself at the ripe age of 17. I was smart and had taken care of myself for years any way. After Graduation, I returned to my parents home to live. Fall classes started at finishing school and off went Melanie and Tony on another trip.

Nothing was to good for Father and Mother’s little princess. I had several credit cards at my disposal to buy anything my heart desired. Sadly, the one thing I wanted ,money couldn’t buy. Love and approval from my parents. Classes were a bore but I dutifully attended classes everyday . Hanging out after class at a local burger place. That is where she met Rob. They dated steadily. My parents were thrilled and were waiting for Rob to ask for their precious daughter’s hand in marriage. I didn’t see the rush. I was young and wanted to live life a little before settling down as did Rob.

Between dating Rob, classes and my parents infrequent visits back home. I was happy enough. After all, this was my parents wanted. A perfect daughter with a wonderful life just like their own. My life was full and I was content in my own little way. Rob had called earlier and told me he couldn’t pick me up from school that evening. So Instead I joined a few girl friends for pizza and a movie. Arriving home late only to a shocking sight of a man slumped against my parents house, a closer look revealed a nasty wound to his head. He needed help and I was the only one around. So help I did. See, I was naive back then and had this deep need to help others. After getting him inside and tending to his head, he finally gave me his name. After that night it seemed I had found someone that actually needed me or so it would seem.

We became fast friends. Almost each others shadows. Gabe fell to the role of protector and I fell to the role of his conscience . Always trying to help him out after he started to let me in on a little of his life. The gangs, the illegal activity’s. often getting Gabe jobs, only to find out he lost it. Time and time again, I would help him get a new job. Trying to help him stay on the straight and narrow side of life. I even went as far as to ask Rob to get Gabe a job at his fathers company. For the next four years. Gabe managed to lose every job he had. But still I wouldn’t give up on him. He had a rough life and surely sooner or later something would come along and he would stick with it. I met his friend Jonathan and he gave me the creeps. Hitting on me and the vulgar comments all taking in stride because I believed in Gabe . I never told Gabe about the way Jonathan looked or flirted with me. maybe if I had things would have turned out defiantly for both of us.

Finally Gabe found a job that he seemed to be able to keep. Though he was secretive about it. Little did I know, it involved Jonathan. Rob and I was still seeing each other. I just would be turning 22 . My parents were off again as usual on another trip. And Rob was working late . I went to Gabe’s place to tell him that Rob asked me to Marry him last night .the door was unlocked and I walked in, calling out Gabe’s name. He answered, He would be right out. So I sat down and on the coffee table was a package and it was open. I peeked inside, my gut rolled at what was inside, just then Gabe came in the room. Anger flashed in my eyes. I felt betrayed, the trust broken. Gabe lied to me. We got in to a heated argument over Jonathan, over his job and then I walked out in of His place and in to the night.

I was pissed and hurt. Here, I thought Gabe was being honest with me and staying on right side of the law. All the time He was lying and deceiving me and back to his old ways. I took a short cut though an ally, blinded by tears. I never seen what was about to happen ,until it was to late. Out of no where, a man grabbed me, covering my mouth and threatening he would kill me if I screamed. the man proceeded to drag me back to his place and raped me over and over again for what turned out to be three days. Until the police showed up at the man’s place and arrested him and took me back home. Mother and Father had arrived back home to surprise me for my birthday and they alerted the police I was missing.

The trial seemed endless and the bastard was released due to lack of evidence. The rapist told me the first night he took me if He went to prison, He would kill my family and me. I withdrew within myself. Refusing to talk Rob, Gabe or any of my friends. I was too ashamed to see anyone. One day I was left home alone and the phone rang. I answered it and it was the man that brutally raped and held me hostage for those long, bone chilling days. He said “Stupid bitch, I am coming for you” and then He hung up. my parents arrived back home and I told them what happened. And thus was when my own faked death was planned. It was leaked out to public, a funeral planned, closed casket and I went in to hiding only seeing my therapist and parent’s.

Finally many years past and my therapist suggested a change of scenery. I went from an out going, young promising woman to a shadow of my former self. I was 26 years old and still living at home. The therapist suggested enough time had passed and it was time for me to move on with my life. A terrified, Alishea boarded a plane for Dublin, Ireland. I had only been in Dublin for a few days and guess who…I run in to but.. Gabe.

Whether it was a curse or fate. That fateful day, was a turning point in my life. The last person I thought I would ever see again and yet we ran in to each other in the mall. Gabe and I am slowly testing our old friendship to see if it will pass the test of time and changes. little did I know soon after we, met again that Gabe would be moving to America, Seattle to be precise and offer me to come with him. I had nothing to loose after Gabe informed me that the man that caused me to become hermit was dead. I accepted Gabe’s offer to move to Seattle and start a new life