THORNS AND ROSES

"Joan, here you go", Mrs Dave gestures for her to take the document, and she quickly blinks off the hot tear burning to be set free.

"What's this," Joan asks raising her brow as she quickly grasps and opens the envelope.

Her enthusiasm dies immediately after reading the title.

"A contract?", her brows furrowing as she raises her head abruptly, her eyes darts from her mother to her father searching for answers.

"A contract marriage?", she asks again.

"Wait..., why are you all silent, is this my grade 6 school assignment or something?, speak up why are you all silent?" She tried laughing it off but instead her voice cracks as she asked again.

"Joan", Mr. Dave moves closer, putting a hand on her shoulder with a reassuring smile.

"I'm sorry my dear", he bows his head as he speaks, " I have done something terrible, I have failed you. Every time I look at you my dear, I'm proud to have you, but also the fear lingers, I'm scared of losing you, and this seems to be the only solution my dear, this is the only way you can be saved, this is the only way my debt can be paid" Mr Dave answers.

"So you are selling me off?" Joan asks, the room is grave silent as everyone holds a long face.

"What did I do to deserve this?, what do you think I am?, I have feelings and dreams of my own, I won't just let you throw them away, ever since I can remember, I had to live in submersion of my potentials, when my peers will travel out for a show I'm stuck here, isn't that enough?, why do I have to pay for a debt that I have no business with?", she yelled, tilting her head to the side as her eyes watered, the muscles in her face strained and a vein was visible on her forehead.

"Now in two days I'm just going to get married to a random man?, who says I wanted a contract marriage in the first place?, why does everything have to be done in a way that pleases you?".

She walks up to her mother as she continues, "Hold hands, walk in the woods in a warm sum..., or a boat cruise" she smiles as she changes the word, spreading her hands in the air, " he proposes and we get married, happily ever after_why don't you wish that life for me mom?". She asks, raising her brows slightly.

Surely she knew about the debt but never thought she was going to pay with her life indirectly.

In all the memories Joan has, she had always remembered that she had to be cautious so as not to be kidnapped in a bid to force her parents to pay the huge debt they owe the Taim's Family.

Mrs Dave begins to sob, Joan walks up to her taking her hand as she squats and begs, she tilts her head as she rests her cheeks on her mother's palm.

"Mom, you have always protected me, please don't let them take me away, how do you expect me to marry someone I don't love, a person that I have never even heard about mom?", her voice breaking as she joins her mother to sob.

Mr Dave stood by the corner, he watched his family sob with his head hanging low, he wiped off the bead of sweat off his face with his palm as he stepped closer to them.

He taught of the future and it seems that this is the only way out.

"Don't be selfish Joan, we are talking about your future here, how would you feel if you spend all your life working to pay the Taim's as we have, and eventually pass it to your children?, do you like the way you have been living?, that is devastating my dear, I wouldn't wish that for even my enemy", mr Dave advised, taking a huge breath as he head out towards the exit, he couldn't bear to see his family broken with sadness.

Then Joan's words stops him on his track.

"Selfish?, Dad!, I can't believe this", her voice shaking as she muttered.

"What have you ever asked me to do that I didn't, and what have you asked me to leave that I didn't leave?, I have a career, I'll work, but I can't even leave the house in peace, I can't work late!, I can't travel!, I can't do anything!, I can't even hang out with my friends, isn't that enough Dad?, Joan's eyes squinted as her face turned red, tears streaming down her cheeks as she yelled at him.

"Ok!" she takes a deep breath, exhaling swiftly, "I agree, I'll do it". She shuts her eyes as the words escape her mouth when no one least expected.

But Joan was determined now.

She had always been an Obedient and dutiful daughter, careful and alert in all her endeavors and now once again, she has to sacrifice even her life for her family.

After a long silence, she continues "I'll do it, I'll get married, if this is my fate, so be it, I agree", her eyes cast down filled with sadness and determination.

I have always lived in the shadows, in fear, unlike my mates, if this is the solution then I'll do it" Joan murmurs as she seizes the paper heading into her room, she leaves the document on her dresser, and locks the door.

But after a while, she starts regretting accepting the decision.

She big is to ponder with guilt as questions flood through her mind.

By noon the next day, Mrs. Dave rushes into the living room, panic surging all over her as she exclaims "Joan ran away".

Mr Dave sits up as his forehead wrinkles, "What do you mean by that", he asks his wife, Mrs Dave.

"Honey, I'm scared, she hasn't stepped out of her room since yesterday, I have been knocking but she isn't answering, there isn't even a sound coming from her room, she claims she accepts the marriage but I know she doesn't want to, can't we look for another method of settling this?" Mrs Dave asks her husband.

"Woman relax" Mr. Dave orders, he thinks she is just overwhelmed and anxious.

"Joan is a very strong young woman on her own, the contract will be signed by both parties tomorrow, she'll be a wife, not just your daughter, you should start getting used to that!" He thundered.

"I'm talking about my daughter, not the Taim's bride here", Mrs. Dave storms out returning swiftly with a spare key and darting towards Joan's room.

"Oh no!", she exclaimed shortly, her voice echoing in the partly furnished house.

Joan had indeed run away.

*****

Mrs. Dave sits staring at the clock in the living room as it clocks midnight and Joan is still yet to be seen.

She couldn't sleep knowing her daughter was out in the city, she wasn't free yet.

Could it be that the Taims had changed their mind and had captured Joan?...

"I hope she doesn't fall into bad hands, please Lord, help us", Mrs Dave clasps her hands as she pray silently.

Time seemed to have flown by as a knock on the front door woke Mrs. Dave early the next morning.

Her eyes squint as the morning light slowly seeps in, she stretches, yawns and covers the light from her face as slowly the scenario seeped in.

She was in the living room.

Oh no! She had slept off while waiting for Joan, it must be Joan at the door.

She rushes to open the door but instead, she receives a good number of able-bodied men in black suits.

" Good morning Madam, you must be Mrs Dave, One of the men dressed in a more elegant suit than the others says with a smile as he stretches his right hand for a handshake".

Her mouth opens in shock as her eyes search the neighborhood, ignoring the man's waiting hand.

His lips straighten as his smile fade, "Ok pleasantries not accepted I see", he retracts his hand placing it in his pocket.

I'm Briggs, and surely you know why I'm here.

Mrs. Dave tries to respond but as her mouth opens no words come out, her eyes keep drifting, searching, and hoping.

Briggs speaks again getting impatient.

"Mrs. Dave, please fetch Miss Joan, our boss is waiting to process the needed documents for today, you wouldn't want to keep him waiting for long as you know he is not the patient type Mrs Dave", he advised.

His face brightened in a fake smile.

"What is going on?", Mr Dave asks as he slowly makes his way to the front door.

"Oh we have visitors, please let them in", he opens the door properly gesturing them to proceed entrance.

Briggs enters with two men as they stand guiding him.

A bright smile pasted on his face as he ordered his wife to call Joan.

"What should I do?", Mrs Damien speaks finally.

Confusion wore on everyone's faces.

After a chilling pause, Mr. Dave tries once again in persuading his Wife, "Darling, please get Joan to prepare, the Taims are here to pick her up.

"Joan ran away", she announce, she shut her eyes tightly as her heart fell, Mr. Dave struggled to sit properly as panic surged through him.