Prologue

And for a price I will pretend absolutely nothing!!!!

It's worth the deal!!!!

'Come on you can do it.' I told myself as I moved ahead to the arrivals of Texas airport.

I scroll the rod of the baggage trolley nervously and then I rub the sweaty palms with my loose pants.

I suppress the hissing pain by biting my lip. I almost forgot about the bruises under the pants and wiped my hands off them.

Come on! Come on! For your mom, I push myself as I tighten the grip of the trolley so that it doesn't slip out of my hands like my life.

I put on a fake smile to pretend that I am happy as I move ahead to meet the ones who care, who are here to pick me up.

I have never had to lie to anybody, not deliberately all my life and today my journey starts with a lie.

No! I cannot tell the truth. With my mom being unwell, she is very fragile and my dad critical with his business losses.

So I put a determined smile and moved ahead.

I did not know whom to expect at the waiting areas. I am bad at expectations. So I keep my face straight as I move ahead to my old life though for a while but I don't mind. I'd get the most of it.

The natural sunlight outside the airport blinded me for a while and I heard "Pearly" in chorus.

Yes Pearly is my name.

'You have been preparing yourself throughout the flight from Florida to Texas. You can pull it' I encourage myself as I put a broad animated smile on my face and reach to hug my two best friends Stacie and Ciaro.

What a warm welcome for me as I was greeted by Stacie and Ciaro with a bouquet of flowers. 'Welcome home Mrs. Darwin" they hugged me tight.

"Vow new hairstyle. You have changed Pearly" Cairo said hugging me.

"Very experimental from long ones to simple chop, dared to huh! Cut them short" Stacie said as she moved around to check my new look

My new look.... Oh she was commenting about my long curls of blonde!!!

"Pearly you are in Texas now." Stacie clicked her finger in front of my eyes.

"What were you thinking Pearly so deep?" Cairo asked concerned.

"Missing Dexter a lot! First time after marriage, I am alone on my own." I pulled the lie with a smile.

Aaaaahhhhhs and oooooooohhhhs of their teasing started ringing in my ears making me smile.

Life was so beautiful seven months ago when I was here in Texas.......

'''''''''''' '''''seven months ago'''''''''''''''