The striking gleamof the mid morning sun, like an experienced practised thief crept easily through the barely opened glass window. It's splendor caressing my body, interrupting my slumber as if it were a lover's touch.

At a tentative snails pace, I lifted lazily the lids that concealed my vision allowing them time to adjust to the sudden harsh brightness of the room.

I checked, out of habit on my iPhone the time, gasping in surprise when the screen of the rectangular device showed it was nearly 10am. Usually, whether or not it was a weekday I would have been awake before 6.I almost never slept in late.

"Miss"called from behind the closed door, Emily. Her knocks rhythmic, patterned, testing as if to check if I were awake.

I admitted her entrance. "Come in Emily"

Sebriina rushed in before the babysitter excitedly squealing, a fruit in one hand, one of her many play toys in the other. "Mama, wakey! "

Quietly, I laughed at her enthusiasm. My beautiful bubbly, baby.

Lifting her on to the queen sized bed, fondly, I kissed her cheek. "Good morning to you too miss Sebriina"

"Aunt Emy gimi apple" informed the two year old, bringing the fruit as close to my eyes as she possibly could.

I smiled. "Yes she did sweetie . Did you say thank you?."

"Yes mama! "

"Miss"the sound of Emily's voice rarely varied, soft and shy it was. She entered the room balancing in both hands, a tray of breakfast."I made you breakfast and looked after Sebriina. I am sorry for entering this morning your bedroom while you slept but she had awaken and I did not want you to have to get up as I know you are very tired miss"

Again I smiled as the thoughtful girl handed to me, the tray. "Thank you Emily. What would I have done without you? "

The girls face flushed, embarrassed the usual whenever she was complimented. "You are welcome miss Britondii"

----

On the insides of her padded spacious crib, I settled a sleeping Sebriina and now I tiredly rested on the slightly unmade bed. From my side, I turned on to my back, releasing from exhaustion an ugly, heavy yawn.

There on the night table, untidily resting was the empty packet of Panadol I had swallowed mere minutes before. Next to it was the nearly empty glass of water still the pounding throb in my head continued, not easing even remotely.

The headaches had become more frequent almost on a daily basis. Sometimes even twice per day. The pain killers rarely aided still I was yet to seek medical attention. I just hadn't the time.

+

The sounds of incessant raps on the front door awoke me from the slight doze and hurriedly I made work of answering it before it too caused my sleeping child to rise.

"Hey Lucas" I greeted at the door, my smiling friend. On any other day I would have been ecstatic for the man's visit, however, today was no such day. "You should have phone first. I am not feeling well. "

"What's wrong Brii? " my friend inquired, concern brightening his majestic green eyes.

"Tired, even a tad nauseous"eventually, I replied, claiming next to him on the soft white leather couch, a seat. "I am exhausted and there is a maddening pound in my skull"

Lucas sighed deeply and stared at me. "Again Brii? That doesn't sound good or even normal. Each time we speak you have the same complaints. Have you been to the doctor?

I chuckled softly and shook my head, regretting immediately after, performing the act. Often times it seemed as if my good friend did not remember, barely I had the time to spare for a good scratch of the head let alone to do anything else.

"Lucas"miserably I sighed, messaging my throbbing temples. "I do not have the time. As a single, working mother, I haven't the time for much else other than the office and my child."

Like I, my friend remained resolute. "Yes that I understand. But also you need to look after yourself. Look, let John and I take Briina for a few days. You take a few days leave of absence from work and just relax. Go to a fancy hotel or so. My treat. It is clear you are over working yourself and that is not good. For you or for Sebriina"

For years, Lucas had been my closest friend and like the good selfless soul he was, I knew he only wanted the best for my daughter and I. However, for unbeknownst reasons his words left me bitter and angrily I rose from the couch. Like a dried dehydrated twig, I snapped nearly breaking.

Only nearly?

"Lucas, how dare you imply I cannot take care of my child? For 2 years I have been doing so and I have done an excellent job. My child is well loved and wants for nothing. Believe me Lucas, I will be damned if I allow you or anybody else to convince Me other wise"

My friend cautiously said my name, softly as if addressing a deranged individual. "Britondii you have nothing to prove to anyone. Not even to yourself. Even the blind is able to see how good of a mother you are. But you must take care of yourself too. Over exhaustion is serious Britondii, it can kill you. Font you want to see your beautiful daughter grow up? I know you do babe. It is not selfish to take a break or even to ask for help. It's ok"

At his strong, truthful words, the words I had so carefully, so securely constructed shook violently, crumbling down as if they never existed and the tears that stubbornly I had aimed to keep at bay fell from my eyes without hindrance as if it were the water flowing from a fountain. I reclaimed the seat feeling as if the magnitude of the headache would throw me to the floor. "I love my child so damn much Lucas. She must never feel unloved or underprivileged because she is the daughter of a single parent.

"Already she knows you would do anything for her babe. She knows how much she means to you"my best friend consoled his voice low, reassuring while I broke down, like fallen shattered chains in his arms.

"Brandon I want you. "Ridding the plastic bottle of it's cover, I downed absentmindedly almost half the bottle of water as if I had never consumed the liquid a day since I was conceived.

Even as I sat in the car, staring at the freshly repainted structure I had visited religiously for the psst 2 years, the words miss Luca uttered semi consciously had not ceased it's haunting much like it had don't all of last night to the early hours of this morning as if I were a young boy who listened stories of horror prior to his bed time just the same miss Luca's words replayed themselves in my head.

"Brandon I want you" they were delicate, tortuous touches all over my body.

"Damn it miss Luca "through clenched teeth I growled a dry chuckle escaping my mouth. I swore to God that woman would destroy me and God knows I would let her.

Massagaing roughly my throat, I closed my eyes and rested lazily my head on to the cool surface of the cars window, allowing my thoughts to drift to the events of the night before.

....

"Do not defy me. It is in your best interest that the order is completed by 6 tomorrow morning" I ended the call with the agitating man and refocused my attention on to the computer screen realising miss Luca had stopped working and looked rather unwell.

How had I not noticed before how exhausted she had seemed? Or had I but ignored it for my own personal gain? For a brief while longer I viewed her small movements of discomfort wanting desperately to reach out and hold her so damn close to my body carressed her until she was free of any ache. But as if doing the foolish mannequin challenge I remained motionless, not moving, as badly as I wanted to, I couldn't. Not yet. I watched her, brushing in a carress my fingers against the monitor with the pretence I was fingering her skin.

.

"Miss Luca"I called entering her office as if it were my right.

Inching closer to her, I realised she had fallen asleep.

"Damn it Miss Luca " I grumbled kissing her forehead, the skin soft, addicting like cocaine against my lips. "What are you doing, my love? "

Teeth clenched, gently yet firmly I applied some pressure and massaged her neck. A soft sigh left her lips and in response a low chuckle from mine.

If only she were awake and found me touching her, she would have lashed me so viciously with her tongue my body would have been covered in welts and bruises.

She would have thrown a few punched too.

I kissed the side of her face. My stunning, sexy, smart mouthed Miss Luca.

I kissed her neck. My hands moving on to her shoulders, her head tilted a fraction as if granting her permission.

I brought my lips to her thick dark hair. "You need to get some rest. "

After I had spoken for the briefest of moments she went stiff and then she relaxed.

"Don't stop please"her voice sounded pleading. But it could not be so, could it? After all she was in slumber wasn't she?

Still my lips raised into a smile and selfishly inquired, "is my touch helping with the pain? "

Rather than responding to that question,shall I say a confession , left her mouth.

It can hardly be ruled as a confession when the woman is unconscious, Monteiro.

"Brandon, I want you."

A tremendous pound began in my head and fiercely my eyes burned with unshed tears.

How I dreamed of having her speak those few short words, but not like this. Not while she slept. Unconscious of her words. Still I admitted, caressing her throat almost too harshly. "I want you too miss Luca. God knows I want you so bad"

Her voice was almost less than a whisper. "Then take me please "

I ground my teeth. Painfully, as a traitorous tear fell onto her shoulder, soaking her blouse. I almost blacked out as I spoke the words. "I can't"

Silence.

Still massaging her neck, I hummed the lyrics.

I can be your hero baby

I can kiss away your pain

I will stand by you forever

You can take my breath away.

I reopened my eyes only now noticing my face was flooded with the warm, salty liquid.

"Damn it miss Luca " I ran my rough hands across my face. "I will allow you to take my breath away"