Nora, You Are Mine

Nora.

I paced around my room fiddling with my fingers. I turned to take a quick look at my laptop on my bed. 'they should have sent the email by now, what's holding them back?'

"What if they reject me again? No no no, let's not think about that." Worries clung to me like a shadow.

A loud notification erupted my thoughts and I rushed to the computer, my heart beating loudly within my ribcage. I said a quick silent prayer, this time, pleased, let it be what I want.

I held my heart in my hands. My hands shook as I opened the email revealing a well-written message.

"Thank you for your interest in our company. After careful evaluation of your materials, we regret to inform you that we will not be moving on with your application. We deeply appreciate your interest and look forward to receiving more unique material from you."

I felt my world crumble. I read and reread the message. Was life playing a joke on me? My whole body shook as I stood up from the bed and took slow unsteady steps towards the sofa by the side.

I slump on it. My lips trembled as I tried to chuckle. I couldn't make sense of what I had just read. My eyes gazed blankly on the floor.

This is the tenth rejection of the month.

I have always aspired to be a model. It was my dream and it seems the world was against it. First, it was my parents, who swore that no daughter of theirs would embarrass them by taking on such a profession.

"You are the heiress, and you will behave like one." My mother would always scream at me.

I was restricted from doing things I liked. They picked my dress for me, they chose my friends. The food I ate must be approved by my parents. I couldn't put on weight and had to be their perfect daughter.

It had taken me hell to get the pictures and videos that I had sent out. 'Maybe if I could get an agency to sign with, my parents would finally see my true potential and would allow me to pursue my dreams.' I had thought.

But these rejections were proof of my inadequacy. I knew it was time to give up this dream.

I remained seated on the floor mourning for my dreams which had been buried six feet below Mother Earth by this rejection.

The more I remembered the hassle I went through to get the photos and the videos, the more my heart ached.

After a short while, I could no longer ignore the screeching of tires outside my window. I stood lazily and sighed as I stepped towards the window. I pulled the curtains to the side and took a quick look outside.

My parents were back.

My eyes quivered as I saw my dad step out for a moment, I was frozen. My hair on my arms stood. Why were they back so early? This business trip had been said to last for more than two months.

Did they perhaps get a report on my modeling pursuit? Different thoughts ran through my mind as I stared at them.

My eyes widened when I looked down at myself and saw my dress. I was wearing black shorts and a white crop top.

I moved to my wardrobe immediately taking one of the dresses my mom had picked for me before she left. I changed into it.

I moved to the mirror as swiftly as I could. My hair was a mess. I straightened it with my hands.

I have always feared their return each time they went for a trip because I knew that it was time they picked out my flaws and inadequacies, pointing out all that I had done wrong while they were away.

After making sure my clothes and hair were in order, I switched up my laptop and kept it beneath my pillow.

I had bought this laptop myself as it was the only gadget of mine that wasn't monitored.

Satisfied with my looks, I stepped out of the room. A small smile adorned my lips as I walked down the hallway. Two maids walked past me and bowed in respect, but beneath their look of respect was a look of pity.

My dad was seated on the sofa when I arrived at the living room and my mom was seated by his side.

"Welcome Mom, welcome back home Dad." I greeted.

"Hmmm." My dad answered.

"How was your trip?" I asked and they gave me the customary response, "Fine." A pause and then, "Hope you did nothing mischievous?" My mom asked.

I gave her my programmed answer, "No Mom I remained a good girl while you were gone."

No one would believe that at twenty-one I was still my parents' doll, used and controlled by them.

My dad suddenly stood and started towards his stairs, "Come with me." He said.

My hands trembled and I clinged the hem of my dress. Without a word, I obeyed.

My shoes clicked softly on the floor as I walked behind him. He had known about my application to the different modeling agencies. What should I do now?

I know he would never let this slide. What would the punishment be this time? Would he ask me to stay indoors for a month? Various ways he could punish me flashed through my mind as we walked down the hallway.

He stopped in front of his study and opened the door. He stepped in first and held the door for me to step in too.

My legs shook as I stepped into his office. I tried to fix my eyes on the shelf which held neatly arranged books. I fiddled my hands in front of me waiting for his outburst

But it never came.

"Where is the certificate?" He asked and that was when I realized my mom was in the study with us. What certificate? I wondered.

She handed him a white paper and he slammed it on the table. He handed me a pen, "sign it." He commanded.

I furrowed my brows, confused as to what was happening. I took the pen from him ready to sign the paper, there was already a signature of someone on it. My hands halted in realization of what I had been asked to sign.

"Marriage certificate?" My eyes widened in surprise.