Mirage

At a young age, Hannah has big dreams of going to college and being successful. She comes from a place where fancy cars, a successful career, and living "The American Dream" only exist in the lives of famous people she sees on TV. Feeling trapped, as her dreams are rejected, by the people she loves most, she is forced to bury them. Will this rejection make her shut down? Or will it feed her hunger, so deeply, that it can't be ignored? She often rebels and at the age of seventeen, Hannah runs away from the only place she ever knew to be home. She leaves everything behind, all but a couple bags of clothes. With much hope and very little planning, Hannah begins a new life, ready to take on the world. After sleeping on different couches night after night, hungry and broke, Hannah suddenly realizes that the real world wasn't all that she imagined it to be. Despite this harsh reality, resilience keeps her pressing forward. Her journey begins looking for a job, where she finally lands at a nearby restaurant. This seems to be a major breakthrough, but Hannah does not understand that she's about to meet a Middle Eastern man who will charm her and change her life, forever. Coming from a small county, in Virginia, it is natural for her to be stereotypical towards him. The only thing she knows about the Middle East is that it's a faraway Third World Country, associated with people responsible for U.S. terrorist attacks. There is both a sense of fear and curiosity towards this man that is now her manager. In Mirage, you will find out how one bad decision leads Hannah to her worst haunting nightmares. Discover how the Middle Eastern man portrays himself to be God Sent, showering her with gifts, money, and introducing her to the finer things in life, while she is most vulnerable. Hannah is quickly sucked into his Narcissistic realm. With each chapter, you hope and pray that these tragedies will never be yours. Isolated from friends and family and eventually being forced to adapt to an entirely different culture, is just the start of twisting events. The physical, mental, and sexual abuse she later endures is heart-wrenching. Could it be Hannah's little faith or the adopting resilience that might save her? Learn how the system fails miserably to protect her, a natural born citizen, while seemingly protecting a criminal Refugee. Yet today, the system is ripping innocent immigrant children away from their parents. What might seem to be, is so far from what it really is. Mirage will have you guessing until the end. Uncovering Hannah's truth will make you appreciate yours. At very least, you'll be inspired, as the events unfold, leading up to her Ground Breaking escape, which nearly cost Hannah her life and possibly the life of her three children, whom she strives very hard to protect throughout it all.