Chapter one

Prologue

I didn't think I would be one of them, one of the girls who left who they were and the path their parents had laid out for them, for a man, a man who not only was not from her tribe or country but not even from her world. A monster who should only exist in novels and bedtime stories, not in her world, the real world. Yet there he was, halfway across the world from her home, waiting and watching her in the shadows. A face that shouldn't exist or be seen, a face of a monster and temptation by the devil.

Light rain with the sun shining outside was all that Nicole needed to convince herself that studying abroad in Germany was the right thing to do.20 years of age, bright mind and great personality would surely help her survive that side, right? Sitting in her room with her huge suitcases and duffel bags stacked on top of one another, Nicole looked at them with excitement brimming in her eyes. She was finally leaving South Africa, her home, to start her new journey someplace far away from her mother who constantly nags her and her overbearing uncles. She was finally free to live her life how she wanted to.

"Nicole!!!"

But first she would have to get through the day dealing with her mother one last time.

"Yes ma."

"How many times should I talk about the tap being swayed to right, all you have to do is lift it straight up when using it and then put it back down, its not rocket science, if you guys fail to do so then you'll stop using this tap and will start brushing your teeth outside by the drain. I am not going to keep on saying the same thing 100 times, but nobody listens."

"But ma I didn't do it, it was probably Sophie who left it like that."

"I don't care, you're the oldest. Anything that isn't done right, you have to call Sophie back and tell her to do it right."

Swallowing a mouth full of curses Nicole just stood at the doorway and gave her mother a hard glare, holding herself back from yelling out that moments like these are the reason why she applied to study far away, away enough that no one would disrupt her peace unless she lets them. Walking back into her room, she picked up her hoodie, putting in on quickly to show her mother that she was now more than ready to leave. Hauling her duffel bags on her shoulders and dragging her suitcases from behind, she walked over to her mother's car, throwing her stuff into the back. Looking back her eyes caught sight of her younger sister looking back at her with tearful eyes. Nicole felt a lump in her throat and tears stinging her eyes. Quickly she looked away and focused on putting her stuff into the car. Although it hurt her to leave her younger sister behind, she knew it was time to put herself and her peace first over anything and anyone.

Nicoles mother stood by her bedroom window looking out at her daughter who was waiting by the car. She didn't understand what was currently happening, who her daughter was turning into. Nicole grew up as the sweet, gentle daughter, who wanted no harm to fall upon others, human or animal, but know out of nowhere her daughter had suddenly grown resentful of everything and everyone. She no longer carried the carefree spirit she always had as a child. Her mother had exhausted all options and couldn't figure out how else to get through to her daughter, Nicole had woken up one day and simply such her out. Her mother sighed and grabbed her purse off the side table, the only reason why she had agreed for Nicole to go ahead, and study overseas was because she thought it might do her some good to have a change in scenery. Not that she wasn't proud of her daughter, she was, and she loved her just as so but sometimes it felt like they were just strangers living under the same roof.

Calling forth her youngest daughter Nicoles mother ushered to the car, where Nicole was waiting for them, looking irritated more than usual. Sighing, all three females got into the car, with silence raining over them.

10 minutes from the house to OR Tambo international airport Nicole got tired of the deafening silence and asked her mother to turn up the radio. On the 947-radio station a new song by Beyonce blasted through, getting rid of all the awkwardness in the car.

"This ain't Texases,woo,ain't no hold'em (hey)

So lay your cards down,down.down,down

So park your lexus woo,and throw your keys up (hey)"

Nicole stop singing along as she listened to her little sister and mother singing the rest of the song. She must admit the lyrics she sang was what she knew from TikTok, otherwise, she hadn't really bothered to learn the rest of the song yet but listening to her mother and sister singing the rest of the song, she knew she was going to miss them. Calming down a bit she allowed herself to enjoy being with her little family for the last time before she would go out into the world alone.

Arriving at the airport Nicoles heart hammered a lot more than what she had though it would. This is it, she was finally leaving South Africa and going to Germany with no regrets. Walking up to the front desk her mother spoke to the lady there while Nicole simply stood and looked around. It's not that she's never been to the airport before, she has a number of times when going on holiday with her family. She just wanted to keep herself occupied so that her mother wouldn't make her do all the talking to the front desk lady. She may desire independence but as long as her mother was around, she would still have to continue doing all the talking no matter what. Once her mother was done, they hauled her bag over to the lady except for the one duffel bag that Nicole had on her, incase her bags got lost during this whole ordeal. Walking up to the gates she looked back at her mother who gave her a hard glare and lecture on not to lose any of her documents, electronics etc. Nicole simply let her continue because she knew she would be hearing this for the last time anyways. Hugging her mom and little sibling, she held back tears and fought the lump in her throat, telling herself that no matter what she wouldn't dare cry in front of them.

Walking away from her family and into the checking in gate, she handed her ID to the flight attendant in front of her. Once that was done, she walked in the aircraft and found that her seat was actual the aisle seat. Well, this was going to be one crappy flight indeed. Putting her headphones in and putting her phone on flight mode, she turned up her music and closed her eyes, imagining herself in Germany already, laying on her bed in her dorm room and starting a new chapter of her life.