LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 42: Even though he saved her
Chapter Forty- Two
The spotlight blinded her as she stepped onto the stage, but she could feel the energy of the crowd like a living thing. The yells and screams swirled around her, creating a deafening clamor that was both exciting and horrifying.
Imagine if all these screams were bashing her for… for… oh why was it not helping? Why was performing on stage not helping this time around? Why was she imagining their screams bashing her for allowing Ahmet to pleasure her?
As she raised her microphone to her lips and began to sing, the crowd's energy became louder, enveloping her. But instead of feeling overwhelmed, she felt a sense of calmness finally wash over her. She knew this would work.
The screams and chants were like a balm to her soul, soothing the raw wounds of her self-doubt and shame. As she sang, she felt like she was shedding her skin, leaving behind the burdens and the troubles Asli carried with her every single day.
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she called herself a failure when she left her bedroom this morning but not now… not when she was on the stage. She didn't feel disgusted by herself. She felt like a performer, an artist, and a carefree spirit that could live in a trailer driving from one street to another.
She closed her eyes, letting the sound wash over her, and felt a sense of peace settle over her like a mantle.
At that moment, she was free. Free from the shackles of her shame, free from why she was raised with love. Here, on this stage, she was a star, shining bright on it like a diamond, and the screams of her fans were the music that filled her soul. They healed her.
And as the show came to an end, she sighed, satisfied with the outcome. She rushed to her car to avoid being mopped. She had heard her fans worrying about how and why she had a free concert. Though they loved to see her, they were genuinely worried and she could sense it in their tones and the look on their faces while they talked after the show.
She couldn't blame them, could she? She bled on stage and disappeared then reappeared with a free concert. Anyone would be concerned, wouldn't they?
The car was parked farther away from the concert. She sat in there quietly, waiting for her manager.
"Mummy, see. How come Riri's balloon is bigger than mine?" The little girl's voice drew her attention to them. She sounded… sad. Her sister, who seemed to be Riri, laughed.
"Oh no, Manny. It's the same size," an older woman tried to soothe her.
"No, it's not." Both kids yelled and Manny stopped walking, refusing to take an inch.
"Okay, let me see." The woman took the balloon, untied it, and blew more air into it. Now Manny's balloon was bigger than Riri's.
Manny was happy and Asli was expecting to hear Riri complain too but she laughed and jubilated with Manny.
"Thank you, mummy," Manny shouted and the mother hugged them both.
Asli wondered if that was what a normal family was like. Would her life be this beautiful if she had had her parents alive? Surely she knew it wouldn't as they were still Mafias but would she not at least go for walks in the park?
Would she be like Manny who complained about her sister's balloon being bigger than hers or she'd be Riri who didn't care if her sister's balloon was bigger than hers or not?
She missed out on all these because of one man and that man was Ahmet's father. The main reason, she couldn't continue meeting him and having him spoil her plans.
She was killing him. Tomorrow night.