Overextended

"Please trust, I really do love you! I’ll do anything, please forgive me!" He pleaded, desperately hanging on to my hand. It was too late, I looked down on him as tears formed in his eyes. I was already too hurt to trust those eyes. Everything was a lie, I was a fool for giving him everything. How could I have been so stupid to have been fooled by him. I gave him everything. My throat felt dry, I was too tired and hurt to even muster words up for him. I couldn't believe what had just happened. I closed my eyes, my cheeks starting to feel the trail of tearing falling on them. "You’ve finally been ex… ex-exposed!" My voice finds itself by the end. --------- Melissa, a 17 year old girl, who grew up in the same house all her life with her mum Martha, and her sister Barbie. Right when Melissa feels like life is going her way, her mum gets transferred to the home company in California as a secretary. Melissa was in no way ready for a new environment, but still packs her bags to go to California with her family. Having to start a new high school where Melissa struggles to fit in, even making an enemy along the way. Crushing on Steve, the boy who's in love with Bethany, her enemy, school is anything but enjoyable. In a chostic turn of events, Melissa falls head over heels in-love unaware of the secrets that could change her relationship forever. Did Melissa make the right decision? Exposed

The notice of my mother's layoff sat on the kitchen table. Rent was due in three days. My younger brother's tutoring fees were already two weeks late. And my little sister, Stephanie, clutched her acceptance letter to the local public arts high school like she'd done something wrong. None of this would be happening if it weren't for me. My illness had taken everything our family had saved. I stayed in my room, leaning against the door, wanting to tell them I'd drop out of treatment—but I couldn't bring myself to open it. "Why did he have to fall sick?" My mother was crying, her voice low and tight, like the words were being forced out of her. "If it were just you both, Stephanie and Jamie, we'd be fine by now." "Mom, please don't say that." My brother and sister held her, barely holding back their own tears. "He's a burden… but he's still my son." Her voice cracked. "I just… I can't do this anymore…" I stepped back and sank into my chair. It wasn't an accusation. It was a verdict.

I never wanted to gamble, yet I could not stop myself from going to the tables. I kept losing, over and over, until I was buried under ten million in debt. After investigating the cause, I finally learned the truth–my older brother had placed me under a puppet-like control. Every loss was recorded under my name, while all the winnings went straight into his pocket. My wife was furious. She slapped me, took our son, and divorced me. I tried to explain myself again and again, but she refused to listen. "Nathan, can you stop making excuses? Did someone hold a knife to your throat? You chose to gamble." After that, my brother only grew more ruthless, raising the stakes until I lost everything overnight. With nothing left, my creditors chopped off my limbs and threw me into the sea, leaving me to drown. Even after my death, they did not spare my wife and child. She was humiliated to death, and my son was sold overseas, his whereabouts unknown. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day I first lost control and went to the gambling den.

"Ms. Smith, a complaint has been filed with HR. You have been accused of misusing your personal vehicle for unauthorized commercial activity." The administrative manager dropped a printed copy of the so-called joint complaint onto the desk, a faint, knowing smile on her lips. The company had decided to issue me a fine, placed a formal warning on my record, and revoked my performance bonus for this quarter. I stared at the handwriting on the complaint, then let out a short, incredulous laugh. I recognized it instantly. It was Selena Rogers. The same coworker who had been hitching rides with me to and from work every day for the past three years. It was all because of last night's storm. She had insisted I take a long detour to drive her to the mall so she could pick up her boyfriend, and I had said no. Then, in the break room, Selena's voice carried loud and clear. "Jennifer, I didn't have a choice. "We have to keep work and personal matters separate. The transportation stipend from the company isn't for you to make extra money." Around us, coworkers glanced over, whispering and pointing, as if they had completely forgotten how eager they once were to ask for a ride home. I took a slow breath. "Fine. I accept the company's decision." Then I pulled out my phone and made a call. "Mr. Wallace, I won't be renewing the lease on those two vans. "Yes. The ones that have been picking up and dropping off the admin and sales teams every day, free of charge." For three years, I had been the easygoing one, paying out of my own pocket every month to lease those vehicles so my coworkers could treat it as a perk. If that was now considered unauthorized business activity, then from this day on, everyone could figure out their own way to get to work.

Clarissa's life has always been a little bit messed up. From her job as the county's assistant coroner to continuously trying to maintain balance - she's just about to wear out. Two dead bodies and a "gift" would be all she needs to completely lose control and break the balance she has struggled to maintain for the past right years. But when an obsessed serial killer threatens to send her six feet under - Clarissa needs to wear her scars like armors and fight back. She's not about to let some witty serial killer mess her up even more, or is she?

"My life was ash. Burned to the ground. Razed with no chance of rebuilding.Empty.Alone.Just as I had to be.No one else was going to get hurt because of me. No more deaths.For years I’ve secluded myself, stayed in the darkness, and tried to melt into the background. Hiding in plain sight.Taking a new job, working in close confines with a new partner, is risky, and I thought I was up to the task. So I hide behind a mask of my own making, a façade for the world.The problem is, I can’t stop thinking about my new partner. I hate her, but I crave her like she’s the most intoxicating thing I’ve ever encountered.It’s maddening, but I need to stay away. I have to stay away.I can’t love anyone ever again."