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It was a clear night; the moon was glistening in the velvet sky, like a luminous pearl draped in the softest of folds. The streets were unusually quiet today; there was no one there, except Maria of course. Silence. She had dark hair that stretched to her navel. Her dress- a little black number. Not suitable initially for such a time of day or for such a type of girl. But surely there was an exception for such a memorable occasion.

She had emerald green eyes, encrusted with brown splinters. Her iris twinkled in the pale yellow street light. Maria sighed and rested her back on the street lamp; giving herself an eerie silhouette. She closed her eyes; a strong gust of wind ran its fingers through her fine eyelashes, leaving her eyes watering. Maria flicked the tears away with her false fingernails, remaining optimistic about what was about to happen. She looked around in all directions, her pale face brimming with fear; her chances of getting caught were very thin, but there was no guarantee.

An image of her mum severed her mind, her long black hair tangled in a bun. Her mum was distressed; and of course it would have happened, it was like a promise. But could Maria sacrifice her happiness for her mother's happiness? Was there enough power inside her that would make her forget him and move onto the path her mother had chosen?

She sighed again and now real tears rolled down her soft cheeks. She sniffed and rummaged in her bag for a tissue; and then it dropped out. A photo of her father. She knelt down and picked the photo, now more tears flowing from her eyes. For months this photo had been her guardian, a friend, a father that the man in the photo, an image of a guy posing, had never been. But now even he looked upset, he looked disappointed. Disappointed in her. She dusted the photo and kissed his forehead.

'I'm sorry,' she whispered, 'I'm sorry, but I can't. I know you don't want me to do this, but there's no other way. I'm really sorry.' She folded the photo and carefully put it back into her bag.

She tried not to think about what would happen when they realized what she had done. But failed; her family would collapse. Her mum would be unable to cope with her bereavement and the loss of her daughter. Her older brother would lose control; he would try to find her- and kill her. She had rubbed dirt into the family honour and she would pay. Maria knew this. But there was no other way. 'No other way.'
All of a sudden it started to rain, it fell like a million little weights crashing to the ground; the enraged grey clouds in the sky began to roar in anger; livid light flashed fiercely in the heavens, causing the most horrific thunder storm Maria had ever seen. The skies began to cry. Maria ran for cover under a bus shelter on the other side of the street. She was drenched, her clothes clinging onto her warm skin, her hair stuck together forming wet limps. She began to shiver, her lips developing into a pale blue veil, sheltering the troublesome burdens on her mind.

She closed her eyes and remembered the first time she met him, how her cheeks had glowed red at the sight of him. She remembered his electric blue eyes staring at her day after day, until he plucked the courage to talk to her. He was tall, and well built. His soft blonde hair hung loosely on his forehead covering his left eyebrow.

He would stand outside her school gates and smile when he saw her walk past, her response would be a shy smile back. But she didn't know that he would stand there every day just to take a glimpse at her. Secretly Maria had feelings for him too. But she was certain that she wasn't the type of girl he went for.

Months later, one day when Maria was walking alone out of the school gates; something stopped her in her tracks. He knew her name, as he bellowed across the playground; she couldn't help but to tremble with shock. She remembered turning around, and saw him, saw him smiling and then looked directly in to her eyes; and told her how much he loved her.

During the early stages of their relationship, Maria realised that there was such a thing called love, she realized that there was love in the world. As she observed each day passing by from her love stricken eyes, she watched, love scream; from tree to tree, from road to road, from ocean to ocean and the best thing was that she was a significant member of the world. Day after day he would walk her home; they would walk slowly and stop occasionally. Of course her mother had been suspicious at first, but then she was too busy to bother.
At one time Maria and her mother were very close; they shared secrets between each other, shared emotions. But after her father's death, Maria needed a parent who would support her through the bad time; unfortunately her mother needed consoling herself and was unable to help Maria. Maria began to hate the women who had brought her into the world. Their relationship broke that week; better still that second he left the world, the second his lips turned blue. Along with him, their trust shattered like a glass ornament, smashing into millions of tiny shards of glass, flying in all directions. Her brother had been more sympathetic towards his mother, he had consoled her and comforted his mother; reminding her that he was still there for her.
Maria had gone through a stage of confusion in this stage of her life; she needed love and comfort, something that her mother and brothers were unable to give, due to their relationship.

That's were Steven came in.

Steven was Maria's boyfriend, one who made her feel complete. That's when she began to trust him, follow his lead. Steven was white, whereas Maria was Pakistani; she knew that no matter what they could be together, with the happiness of her family. Steven was also 7 years older than her, he was an alcoholic and he took cigarettes. Not once did he pressure Maria to join him, but Maria copied him none the less. Maria's relationship with Steven was strong; and at times she craved for him. She longed to hear his strong masculine voice again, to feel his soft touch against her face again; she dreamed to stare at his brilliant smile which made her feel like she was going to melt. She came out in the open a couple of months later, she told him how they were never going to be together, how there destinies were apart, how she felt that they were star-crossed lovers. That's when he had recommended it. At first Maria was aghast with the idea of it, but after some thought and consideration, she realized that it was the only way.

She had spent weeks thinking how her life would differ without the people she knew and loved. She played with her mind and reasoned with the outcomes; all she needed was time, time to make it up to her family- especially her mother. Steven wasn't helping either, instead of advising her, he decided to stop any discussions on the topic. He left her alone to suffer. He left her to make her decisions alone.

And here she was, forcing back the tears and shivering in the cold. Miles away, in the little town of Halifax her mum would be asleep, breathing deeply, unconscious of what her daughter was going through. Oblivious to the fact that she may never see her daughter again. Everyone would suffer, but Maria knew that in a few years she would return to her family begging for mercy. That's when she would be truly alone.
Maria sat there and awaited her destiny, from now she would leave everything into the hands of god. She waited patiently for Steven, who promised to whisk her away from all the pain she was in. He promised that they would start a new life. Maria felt so alone. So powerless towards the decisions she had to make but there was no one there to support her.

It was a clear night; the moon was glistening in the velvet sky, like a luminous pearl draped in the softest of folds. The streets were unusually quiet today; there was no one there, Maria had gone. Silence.