The other side of fear

The birds were chirping. Heavy sea waves slapped the ocean in a beautiful melody that made a smile form on Wren Austin’s lips. She stirred in her sleep, and gradually opened her eyes, the white sand, the beautiful blue ocean and the blue sky over the horizon being the first thing she saw.
Then she closed her eyes and smiled some more.
She stirred on the bed, loving the way the silky duvet felt on her skin.
If this is what it felt like to be in heaven, Wren Austin didn’t want to leave.
Slowly, the events of yesterday flashed before her eyes, making her wake with a gasp. She took in her surroundings with fright washing through her entire body.
Where the hell was she? Where was this place? And most importantly, how did she get here?
Wren Austin got out of bed with the silky duvet covering her body and began to look for an exit.
The last thing she recalled was the headlights from a heavy-duty truck flashing before her eyes and the sound of a voice, and that was it.
As she walked through the empty hallway trying to make her way out of wherever she was, Wren had the feeling that something bad happened last night. I mean, why else would she wake up naked?
“Oh, you’re awake” a high-pitched voice exclaimed with an enthusiastic-filled voice that make Wren gasp and turn in the direction of the voice, while simultaneously clutching hard to the duvet around her body.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you” the voice added.
Wren Austin watched the middle-aged woman with curly auburn hair walk towards her, but not before placing a mug which had fall decorations on the counter.
The blonde frown. Who the hell was the woman?
“How do you feel?” the red-haired woman asked as she began to inspect the blonde’s eyes and other vital organs.
“Oh! You scared us” the woman added when she seemed satisfied with her inspection.
“Calista! What’s going on?” Wren Austin heard a deeper voice speak and footsteps that grew louder every second. Then, Wren Austin watched the man appear from a room and gave her a sly smile before folding his arms.
“She’s awake” the woman whose name Wren had come to know was Calista spoke with excitement in her voice.
“I can see that” Wren wouldn’t know from the man’s expression or the tone in his voice if the fact that she was awake was pleasant to him.
“Come, let’s get you some clothes and some food in your system. You look pale and dehydrated” Calista spoke this time with a hand on Wren’s shoulder which she used to direct her through the hallway and into the room she was in a few seconds ago.
“This was my daughter’s room” older woman spoke as she rummaged through a closet Wren Austin just noticed and handed her a beautiful flowery beach gown.
“Was?” Wren spoke with her brows furrowed for the first time since waking up.
“Yeah. She died a few months ago” the woman uttered, throwing the dress at Wren before walking out of the room. The blonde frowned even harder at how that older woman had just put that out there, leaving her with the feeling that her daughter’s death was painful.
Deciding that it wasn’t any of her business and she had no right to judge, Wren Austin got dressed up and followed behind the woman, hoping that this time she would have answers to the questions that lingered in her mind.
This time, she didn’t have to walk for long because she met the older couple seated on a four-set dinner.
“Come on. Don’t be shy now. Come have a seat” the older man sat, tapping on an empty chair next to him.
Warily, Wren walked with shaky legs towards them and took her seat. At once, the red-haired woman filled a place with sausage, bacon, toasted bread and egg benedict before sliding the plate over to Wren, who inspected it carefully, scared that the food might have been drugged or perhaps poisoned.
Her instincts told her not to eat it. But her watery mouth and churning stomach told her otherwise.
Then she thought to herself; what could happen? If they wanted to, they could have already hurt her. The opportunity didn’t pass them by.
Giving the woman a sly smile, Wren picked up a fork and knife and dug into it, forcing herself not to moan out loud at the exquisite taste of the food.
“Wow, this taste amazing” she commented with her mouthful.
Next to her, the older man burst into a fit of laughter. “Yeah, she’s an amazing cook” he added and a blush crept onto the woman’s lips.
“Thank you”
The rest of breakfast consisted mostly of the cranking of plates and Wren occasionally smiling at the couple whenever they tried to involve her in their conversation. By the end of breakfast, she had retained the following, Calista owned a restaurant; which will explain her amazing talent in the kitchen and Martin, a retired veteran.
And also, what happened last night? Apparently, she lost consciousness and the couple decided to make a U-turn back to their house to take proper care of her as the hospital was a mile away.
They were good people.
Now, both women were currently seated on the white sand by the beach, watching the waves rise and fall.
It wasn’t long until Calista broke the silence.
“If you don’t mind me asking” her voice made Wren turn in her direction
“What happened at the party?” her question made Wren Austin frown.
“Oh, I just assumed from the clothes you wore last night” the woman exclaimed, making Wren nod in understanding.
“No party. Just dinner” Wren couldn’t tell if the woman could hear the disdain in her voice as she spoke.
“Do you mind sharing with me what happened?” the woman’s voice was filled with cautiousness and concern.
The blonde pondered for a while. Did she want to tell a complete stranger about her life? Tell them the reason for her pain?
Yes, she did. She desperately wanted to talk to someone who wasn’t Gwendolyn.
And so, Wren spoke. She told Calista everything that has happened to her. She told her about her mom, about Giovanni, Gwendolyn, Mrs Jefferson, Hunter, Luke, and Sierra, and by the time she finished talking, Wren felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulder.
“I’m sorry for your loss. Your mom sounded like a great person” Calista commented after a while of digesting everything Wren had just said.
“The best” was all Wren could say because right now, she couldn’t find the right words to explain how much of a woman her mom was.
“And Gwendolyn and her mom” she added and the blonde nodded.
“And the others too” the older woman finalized, making Wren frown.
“Let me finish. Your story is bittersweet. Good and bad moments. Everyone you’ve mentioned has played a role in your life that shaped you into the woman you are now, which is a strong and independent woman. Which is why I don’t understand why you still work for him?” Calista inquired.
Yes. She did not miss out on the ‘sex worker’ part.
“I get it. You were young and you needed to pay your debts off to him. Which you have done, so what are you still doing there? Why are you still there and don’t tell me it is because your life is being threatened”
Wren sighed. Deep down, she knew the real reason why she hasn’t told Hunter off. She has worked for him for years now and has managed to save up enough money to leave.
She wasn’t leaving because she was scared of him. She didn’t want to leave because she was scared of what awaited her on the other side of Craigsburg.
Even though they talked trash about her, ridiculed her and her life daily life a constant form of entertainment for them, it was the only place she considered as home. She has felt the most pain here but also found more joy.
Her mother was here. Gwendolyn was here. Topaz was here.
If she left Craigsburg, she would be all alone. Truly alone. And Wren wasn’t sure if she could handle that.
“That place is too good for you. It’s holding you down. I understand you are scared, but you will never know what awaits you outside here. Perhaps, your light at the end of the tunnel is far from Craigsburg and you may never get the chance to witness it unless you take that bold step and leave”
She let the woman’s words sink in.
“Everything you want is on the other side of fear”


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