BROKEN by RENAE NAIK (distant reading TXT) 📖

in bed. Nadine does as she as told and knows where this is going. After a steamy session the man shows gratitude by leaving a thick stack of notes by the bedside and leaves. Nadine still tipsy decides to call it a night.  In the morning she is awakened by Jen's knocks on the door. She quickly puts on the bath robe and invites her in. They chit chat about the nights events and Nadine couldn't believe how easy it was to make so much money in a single night and so she did it   once a week and once a week turned into two times a week, then three and before she could realize, every day. Sometimes it was more than a single client per day. Nadine was making so much of money that her wardrobe, hair and nails changed almost as many times as the men she slept with. It was easy money and nothing she hadn’t done before. Sometimes this made Jen really angry because Nadine was becoming very popular and more men would ask for her.

 

CHAPTER 9

Some of these men were married with kids while others were filthy rich and lonely. Speaking of filthy rich, one of Nadine's clients Brian, showed her a lot of affection. To him it wasn't sex, he felt like it was love making. Nadine enjoyed being with him as he wasn't like the rest. Sometimes they would go on picnics and to the movies. He would pay just to enjoy her company. Brian didn't care much about her background, He was in love with her and even though she tried to brush it off! So was she. She felt that she was a broken soul no one would be able to love her. A Few months had passed and they continued. Eventually Brian couldn't stand the thought if Nadine being with another man. It would make him so angry that he would hit himself in front of her and cry. Unable to see Brian like this, she would try her best to comfort him. During one of their date nights Brian did something unexpected. At a restaurant, he stood in front of her then knelt down, exposing a beautifully designed ring and asked her to marry him. Baffled at this stunt and amused by the amount of people staring, she agrees.

 

She sold her father's house and posted all the money to Evan. He might have forgotten her but she didn't forget him. She felt it was the right thing to do. After all, Brian was loaded and she would be short of nothing. They lived happily and in the most envied comfort. Her feelings for Brian increased daily and he was the voodoo that made her heart race faster, kept her mind at peace and her soul happy. She could not believe how far she had come compared to the life she led before. She was just 18 when she married Brian and their wedding was grand. She had a beautiful royal blue dress that was complimented by designer silver heels. Brian looked immaculate in a silver suit with a royal blue shirt to compliment his new bride. Everyone was happy for them. They ate, they drank and danced all night long until all of a sudden Nadine went missing in action for a while.

She was found sobbing out the reception because she felt that she had no one to represent her on her big day. Brian offered her comfort as always and told her that he would try his best to fill the void that she had. He promised that she would be short of nothing and they would live a blissful life with the best if anything and everything life had to offer. Seeing the way he loved her, Cheered her up and they were back at the reception having a ball. On their wedding the couple was so drunk that they didn't do much except for lying in each other's arms in the hotel room that Brian had booked for them. In the morning Nadine awoken to a delicious looking breakfast and even a note saying " I love you gorgeous xoxo Brian ". This made her heart warm and fuzzy and again she broke down into tears. She was not used to a life like this or a love so true. He was old fashioned, he was romantic and He was cheesy, she loved cheesy!

 

 

 

CHAPTER 10

Months had passed and the couple was still going strong. Their love continued to blossom, their bond became greater and they were inseparable. Until one day Brian became very ill. He went to the doctors and they did some tests and told him it would take about four weeks before they got the results back. Brian suspected cancer as it was hereditary in his family. His aunt passed away due to cervical cancer, his grandfather due to leukemia, while his sister now continued to fight a losing battle against breast cancer. He felt weak and didn't feel like being around anyone. He started losing weight and the bones on his cheeks began to show. He looked as if he was aging rather fast. His skin was much paler than before and he felt very lethargic. Before the four weeks were up Brian got a call from his doctor and was told to see him as soon as he could. Brian got into his car and sped off. At the doctor’s office Brian saw that his doctor was rather upset and disappointed. He urged the doctor not to beat around the bush and to give him the results as he couldn't take any more of the wait. The doctor hands him the envelope and utters “I’m really sorry Brian, of all people; you didn't deserve this" this frightened Brian and he aggressively tore open the envelope. As he was reading it tears rolled down his face.

 

He rushed out and got into his car and sped off once again. When Brian arrives home he shouts for Nadine to come downstairs. Panicking and frantic she runs down to see what the fuss is about and she is greeted with a painful slap. Surprised and confused by this she confronts him about it and he throws the paper at her. " I made the biggest mistake by choosing you! " he shouts. Nadine picks up the paper and tears begin to roll down her face too. To her dismay, Brian was diagnosed with Aids, A disease that claimed the lives of one too many. She was unable to explain to him how this had happened as she knew she had a past and now it was starting to haunt her. She always used protection but there could be the possibility of a condom breaking or having a factory defect. Either way it was confusing and disturbing for her. She apologized to Brian many times as she couldn't handle the fact this is how she would repay him after everything he had done for her.  Days went by and they hardly said a word to each other. They were drifting apart and she was painfully watching it happen until, finally she couldn't take it anymore and decided to go check what her HIV status was.

 

 

 

CHAPTER 11

 

 Anxious to know and to ease her mind, she called and pestered the doctor's every day to check if the results were in and after eleven long days, she was called to collect them. She immediately left home and hurried to collect them. She returned home very quickly and was shaking with nerves. She did not know what effect that envelope would have on her life going forward. Nadine went to Brian and asked him to sit with her while she opened it. Brian was very arrogant at first as he blamed her for doing that to him but after bearing in mind that she was trying her best to make up for ruining his life, he gave in. He stood opposite her and she asked him to open it as she was nervous. He tore open the envelope and after reading a few lines he began to cry. Without saying a word, Brian rushed to his bedroom drawers and then to bathroom locking the door behind him. Nadine followed banging the door but all she heard was him sobbing. She asked him to let her in and at that very moment, BANG! SHE HEARD A GUN GO OFF!

 Terrified of what she might find on the other side of the door, she quickly asked one of the helpers to break down the door. Once she got in she screamed with the most heartfelt agony! There was Brian, with his eyes wide open and a tear running down his eye. Covered in blood and lying there so lifeless. She held him and cried and cried and in her tormented state she saw the letter from the hospital lying on the floor. She picked up the paper, wiped off the splattered blood of the one she loved and began to read her results curious to know what fate written on there made Brian take his own life! She wiped her eyes so she could see clearly and it so happens that she was HIV negative!  She was not infected. It turns out that Brian must have contracted it from another prostitute before her. He either felt guilty that he blamed her and treated her badly and he couldn't live with it or he didn't want to suffer and die a slow death. Nadine was both relieved at her status being negative and heartbroken that she lost Brian. She loved him and he loved her more than anything.

 

Brian was buried with utmost dignity and after his funeral, Nadine inherited everything.