Chapter One: The Beginning

My mother, Angelina Turner was the most-humblest person l have ever met. She was too kind, which bothered me because it came out as if she were too naïve. We were happy, playing daily, and our father was no exception. He ensured my older brother, my little sister, and l always wore smiles. Every day felt like a fairy tale, and every hour felt like an eternity until my mother became very sick she could not walk anymore, she couldn't bath on her own, eat on her own, and every other horrible thing sick people go through. Our father went to his 'friends' to loan him some money and promised to pay up later in life, they gave him conditions to be met, but that didn't bother him at the time because only his dying wife was on his mind, hence he quickly took our mother to the hospital and stayed by her side the whole night. One morning we found her standing alone with the beautiful smile she always wore, and we were once again happy. That very same day she came and gave us all kisses, but no one knew it would be our last moments with her. The following morning just like how peaceful her steps were, she also died peacefully, with no blood, no puke just her eyes shut and no trace of her beautiful smile. Our father rushed home with her favorite cake and flowers only to find her dead, l guess he could still use the flowers he bought for her...

Our father never came to her funeral, he stayed home on the bed, drenched in sweat from destroying anything standing in the house. When we got home still mourning, we were welcomed by the smell of smoke, he had burnt our mother and his bed, and all the sheets that she loved were no longer an option for late-night cuddles. He was a mess and l was eight, my brother thirteen and my little sister two years old. He changed from the loving father he was to a vicious monster! Six years later, a beautiful woman walked into our house with her luggage and sweet perfume, in the depths of her gaze, unfolded a mesmerizing hue, like the finest of golds, her brown eyes deep and warm like a comforting embrace holding secrets untold... a gentle embrace. My body moved on its own as l found myself hugging her as if my life depended on it, Megan followed. She introduced herself to all of us as we watched her affectionately, maybe...maybe our father would change. l am sure the devil laughed at me when l thought about that. She joined 'our' daily activities, we took a break for a while from the beating since she would always shield us or lock us in our rooms so that our father would not get to us until she went mad and was taken to the hospital. She was sane enough to take Megan along with her, my brother ran away and sheltered in his friend's house (Bruce Jenkins) leaving me behind, hence the scars on my back, the long sleeves, big pants, continuous flinching, and jerseys. My brother at school pretended not to know me, l got the message and stayed further away, where was my brother who used to shield us all the time? I guess he was tired, and l do not blame him, but he left me. Two weeks later l had enough of the beatings and ran away to my brother's hiding place. When l pecked at the kitchen window, there he was laughing and having the time of his life, l didn't want to take him away from the life l wished l had. My monster father pulled me with my hair away from the window, and Bruce never intervened, he thought it was another fight between the couple next door, but l am certain that my brother saw me, but chose the new life he was living which l wasn't part of. My life continued with sniffs, cries for help, and suicidal thoughts…