Date: 4-8-2008

Brooke's p.o.v

"Good morning, Millie" joyful, I address Millicent walking through the doors of Clothes Over Bros. "Good morning, Brooke" Millicent responds with a smile. Like bumble bees, customers roam about the store in the search for a brand new deal. This brings a smile

to my face and gives me hope for the future until Victoria rains on my parade. "Brooke Penelope Davis, you are twenty minutes late to work" angry, Victoria yells at me. "I'm sorry, Victoria" feeling guilty, I apologize to my mother. "Brooke, it is very unusual for

you to be late for work. I wonder where have you been all of this time?" suspicious, Victoria questions me. "I was at the police station" I confess trying to fight back my tears. "Why?" concerned, Millicent pressures me and being silent is not an option for

me anymore. "I went to the police station to report a robbery. Someone had robbed my house last night" crying, I explain. A wave of nausea overcomes me at the thought of my rapist. God forbid that I may be pregnant or have a sexual transmitted disease.

I don't know how Victoria and Millicent will react if I tell them that I was actually raped last night. I am holding my breath waiting for a perfect right time to tell them the truth. "Hopefully, the police will find the person that robbed your house" Millicent assures

me. "I'll doubt it, Millie, he has taken everything from me" doubtful, I sob embracing Millicent. The black and blue bruises on my face speaks volumes to my mother, Victoria. "Brooke, why do you have bruises all over your face?" she interrogates me touching

my face. "I fell down the stairs in my house" choked up, I stutter looking down at the ground. "Anyway, Brooke, you made it to work just in time to help me with the customers" she instructs me. I notice a female customer looking at a couple of dresses in

another part of the store. Confidently, I make my presence known to the woman who looks like to be around my age. "Hello, my name is Brooke and how may I help you today?" smiling, I introduce myself. "I want to buy this dress so what is the cost of it"

she asks pointing a red dress out to me. "Ma'am, the cost of the dress is fifty dollars" I reveal reading the price tag. "You look unwell, Brooke, you need to rest" the young woman advises me. Feeling lightheaded, I faint scaring the hell out of everyone in

the store especially Victoria and Millicent. Hours later I find myself in a hospital room and everything just keeps on going down hill from there for me because I am pregnant. The doctor's prognosis creates a huge rift between Victoria and me that will last

forever. Victoria may hate me, but I will never allow her hatred to come between my unborn baby and me.