My life was hell. I tried to get a job to pay my bills but I only faced rejections. The job had already been attributed, my diplomas and experiences didn't suit the work needed, I was too young or too old. After my seventh interview and rejection, I finally learn the real reason they refused me.

Without my knowledge, I became an internet sensation. The video of me in Forgotten Soul was posted on the most popular sharing sites and had garnered  millions of views. Reading the comments, I ran to the bathroom and threw up. 

Everyone mocked me. Slumped on the ground in front of the porcelain bowl, I cried every tears left in my body. My future was ruined. Every prospective employers probably saw it and would shy away from the kind of publicity the video brought. 

Hours later, I sat on my couch to review my bank accounts. The savings I had could only last a few months. My phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Sarah. It's mom. Don't you have something to tell us?”

She was the one who called me, I should be the one asking that question. My parents lived in the countryside. They were farmers belonging to a commune, a group of farmers taking care together of several hundreds acres of farmland. My parents were busy so they only called me once a month. Mom called me a week ago, she shouldn't be calling me already.

“Is everyone at home okay?” I asked worried.

I was the only one in my family to live in the city. My four siblings all lived on the farm with my parents.

“No, I mean yes. Everyone's fine. I called about you. Pierre came to the house today.”

Pierre was a family friend. He lived in a different commune. He had a thing for me but he wasn't my type. He was a big oaf who didn't have any ambitions other than being a farmer.

“He talked to us about the video.”

“What video?”, I asked my voice trembling.

“You know what video. When were you going to tell us?”

“Mom, it's none of your business.” I cringed at the venom in my own voice.

“Sarah! It is our business. You're our daughter. We worried  about you. Pack your bags. Your brother will come and get you tomorrow.”

“Mom, no! I'm fine. Everything's fine. Tell Michel not to come. I don't want to go back home. I am fine.”

I was far from being fine. If my mom knew, it meant that all my family and friends at the commune had seen my shame. I hung up the phone claiming to be busy with work. I didn't tell her that I lost my job. She would have driven to my place right away to get me.

I stayed seated staring into space as my world crashed around me. It all originated from one man. Stephan. He needed to pay, to feel the shame and despair that he made me feel by posting that video online. 

To catch him in a compromising situation, I followed him everywhere he went. I wasn't stupid though. I disguised myself. For a few days, nothing much happened. I persevered and my patience was rewarded.

On a Saturday, he drove off out of the school in a minivan. I found it suspicious.There were students with him.  They went to the beach. I parked my car in the same parking lot as them. I saw them going into the shops that lined the coast.

I finally got a clear view on who the students were. I couldn't believe my eyes. HE was there. Akira Kirihara. Stephan had dared to let him among other students. Thankfully, there weren't any girls or I would have had to call the authorities on him. I couldn't prevent myself from feeling scared for the others. Akira Kirihara was sly and violent. He couldn't be trusted. 

He separated from the rest of the group. I approached the others stealthily crouching behind a clothes rack. I wanted to hear what was so important that they all had a serious face.

Suddenly, Akira Kirihara shouted my name and waved at me. All the eyes in the shop turned my way. Panic swamped every cell of my being. When Stephan started to make his way toward me, I ran from the shop. I could hear him following me. I jumped into my car and pealed out of the parking lot. I shook uncontrollably, I was forced to stop the car. My heart beat wildly. I banged my head on the wheel. I had been so close if that brat hadn't shouted, I was sure I would have found some dirt on Stephan.

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I took a long time calming down. I debated going back but I was afraid they were on the look out for me. I decided to wait for another chance.

Two days later, it came. Stephan drove out of the school with Akira Kirihara. They went into a house in a rich neighborhood. I waited for them to get out with my camera. When they finally did, he pointed at me again. Afraid, I fumbled with my keys. When I finally got them in the ignition, Stephan was right next to me and taking them away. 

“What are you doing here?” My mind didn't register his question. The man who ruined my life was in front of me. Anger swallowed my reason. I hit him with all I had.

“Asshole! Your ruined my life! I hate you! I hate you!” I screamed over and over again. 

Stephan dragged me out of the car. I kept on hitting him. My anger haze lifted when I heard sirens approaching us. I tried to get away but his grip on me was firm. I struggled to break free. The police car parked in front of us. Scared, I kicked him between the legs and ran away.

In an alley between two houses, I hid behind the trash cans. Fear chocked me. My thoughts went out in circles. Tears flowed down my cheek in a torrent of emotions that I couldn't control. My eyes fluttered  wildly at the slightest noise. My heart was beating out of my throat.

I stayed crouched and hidden for hours. No one came after me. But I was still scared that they were lying in wait. Night came and went. When I was hungry, I ate out of the trash because I was too scared to move. 

The following day, a man came out of one of the houses nearby. He went into the alley with a trash bag in his hand. As he saw me, he swore loudly.

“Leave. We don't want your kind around here.” I stared at him with big frightened eyes.  

He swung his bag at me. I scrambled to my feet and ran out of the alley. I didn't dare to go back to my car. I walk to my place looking over my shoulder expecting policemen to catch me. All the people I crossed path with had a mocking smile on their face. It was like I could see their thoughts on their face. They were the same as those who commented on the video. They called me disgusting names, they mocked me. Fresh tears came to my eyes.

“Are you okay?” Someone stopped me on the street and asked. I only saw the sneer that dominated his face.

“Leave me alone!” I screamed and ran the rest of the way to my home. 

I closed the door behind me and crumbled on the floor panting. I stayed there a long time. Sleep eluded me as the last vestiges of my fear left me. I went and took a shower. When I was drying myself, my bell rang. I watched the door in trepidation. The bell rang again.

I opened the door. Two officers in uniform stood behind it, I froze at their sight.

“Mrs Johansen.” I didn't answer. Panic gripped me. “Are you Mrs Sarah Johansen?”, one of the two men asked.

I nodded. I didn't trust my voice to come out right.

“Mrs Johansen. A complaint was filed against you.”

I felt tears welled up in my eyes. 

“We would like to know your side of the story.”

“It seemed you had been following Mr Hayes and yesterday, at 10 o'clock, you hit him.”

“You're not going to arrest me?”

“Not yet. Would you mind answering the questions asked.”

“I didn't follow him. He was the one who violated me first. It was self defense.”

“The street you were in had video surveillance.” 

I blanched. They explained that it was just procedure to ask me for my version of events. With the evidence they had, they couldn't arrest me but I was under surveillance.

After they left, I was in a daze. I had no job, I was ridiculed by pretty much every one and now, I had troubles with the law. Stephan ruined my life and I couldn't do anything to him. I went to my bedroom. My eyes fell on the headgear for the StaViCon. I laughed out loud. I had been stupid. It all started in a game, I should end it all in one.

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