Karma

All her life, Shay was the type of person who looked out for everyone, even giving up her childhood of playing with friends to help raise her brothers and sisters so their parent could enjoy life. She spent her time with her family and pining for the boy next door but he never noticed her. When she finally turned 18, she felt her life would become her own and she could live it the way she wanted. If she knew then what she knew now, she would probably regret making some of the choices she did make but elated her life changed for the better and that she found happiness.

When she graduated high school, she only had one summer to herself, because that's when she got the shock of her life. She was pregnant! At 18! This was not the road she saw herself navigating, but the intiial shock did not wear off until she was 8 1/2 months along. That was when her secret was revealed to her family. Initially, everyone was baffled because she was not the type to be so reckless. She wasn't even seeing anyone. Her 8 pound baby girl was born and things snowballed after that for her.

She met her first love online. He traveled 3,000 miles to be with her and their whirlwind relationship lasted 5 months when he was arrested for skipping bail. She waited for him for 3 years until she met a new guy. She wishes now she should have waited a little longer because the next 11 years of her life was tormentuous, although there were life altering moments she would cherish over the woeful times. In 15 years, she brought seven joys into her life and they made all the bad times bearable.

The man she dedicated 12 years of her life to was like a wolf in sheep's clothing. He mentally and physically abused her, belittled her family, and her two kids she had before they ever met. Things were so bad, she cried in the bathroom every night. She would hide her pain at night and smile through her anguish in the day for her kids' sake. He would ridicule her for finding online games to pass the time to help keep her sane. She had no friends and she rarely ever left the house. But even though he made her feel bad for playing online casino games, she kept playing, hoping one day her number would be called and she would receive her windfall.

Little did she know that day was today. As she put her game on auto spin, she went to use the bathroom. Upon her return, she noticed her screen had went dark. She thought it had died, but when she hit the enter key to check, when the screen lit up, and so did her eyes! She was in disbelief! The screen said she had hit the jackpot of $1 million dollars. It was hard for her to fathom, but it was right in front of her eyes. She was so excited she mistakenly reached for her phone to call Jay but somehow wound up grabbing his old phone. What she saw then shook her to her core and wiped all joy from her face. Jay had been messaging and sending videos and pictures back and forth with her baby sister, unbeknownst to her. It was hard to swallow. You give a person twelve years and five kids, you would think the betrayal would never surface, but it was right in front of her.

After the numbness left her body, she mustered up enough strength to read the email accompanied by her winnings. The transfer would be in her account in 3 to 7 days. She decided to tell no one and let her sister and Jay continue to think she was oblivious to their deceit. Even though the pain shook her to her core to fake nice, it took all she had not to grab a knife and stab him. She stayed strong for her kids and waited it out.

When the money hit her account, she was once again filled with joy. Now she had the means to better her life and get her kids and herself out of a toxic relationship. She was just going to pack up and leave when he was at work, but as she was making dinner, her name and picture appeared on the t.v. The news was announcing her big win and she forgot, in her state of disbelief, to sign a nondisclosure agreement! Now everyone knew she was now a millionaire. Jay came rushing out of the room, "Babe, you won?!" "We're rich! We're rich! I knew your dumb casino games would pay off!" She couldn't do anything but stifle a laugh. All the taunting, abuse, and hate she endured for twelve years came boiling to the surface. "WE?? Who is this we?" "I cannot tell you how much it makes me happy to tell you to go screw yourself because I am so done with your crap! I KNOW about you and my sister! I was willing to suffer in silence for the sake of our kids, but you have sunk to a new all-time low!" He stood there in disbelief. "Uhh, I can explain, baby. It's not what it looks like." "Do you really think I will fall for your lies again?" "It..IS..OVER! You have ruined me and our relationship. Now I am taking my kids and leaving you!"

She did not grab any of her belongings. She grabbed her keys and told all of her kids to get in the car. They sped away and never looked back. She was now front page news and had her face planted everywhere. Through the media coverage, someone from her past reappeared in her life and asked if they could reconnect. He still had her heart, but even still she was skeptic he was only after her for her newfound money, but she reluctantly agreed. When she meet him for coffee, he had news of his own that would rock her world once more.

He told her he never regretted anything more than letting her not know his true feelings until it was too late. He wanted to ask for her hand in marriage, but she stopped him. She told him what she had been through and that she was a mother of 7. He said he didn't care and he loved her and would love her kids just as much! She was thinking he wanted her money, but he showed her his business card. She saw he was more wealthier than her! She was so happy she knocked him over! She couldn't believe her luck! She said yes and shortly after that, her life truly began!

In the end, she found her happiness with the boy next door and her abusive ex regretted letting her get away because in the end, he did love her but he ruined it. She got everything she wanted in life because he did not ruin her! He ruined the best thing that could ever happen to him!