Life had just become so difficult for me. Yes, it was very hard, harder than I could ever have thought.
My name is Mia Johnson. I was eighteen years old by then, and I had just joined campus.I swear that living with my mother was some sort of hell. Imagine having a mother who never cares about you. She never cares if you are still living or dead.I came home from school and I found my sister, Denny, in the living room, her legs on the table, munching on some snacks.As usual, I did not have much to say to her. I nodded at her before walking to my room. That was what I always did whenever I was at home; staying in my room.Denny was three years older than me. But with the way both mom and her treated me, they made me feel like an outsider, someone who did not deserve to dine at the same table as them.I had just changed my clothes when my door was pushed open. Without second thoughts, I knew it was Denny. She had come to find trouble with me again.“Save it, Denny,” I said. I was not ready for an argument with her. Knowing her, she would try to anger me, pick up a fight and report me to mom. As usual, mom would side with her, saying that I was lacking in manners by disobeying my seniors.“Huh! What is with that pout?“ Denny asked as she took a seat on my bed. “Are you still mourning that stupid man? He left, he abandoned us…”I immediately knew that she was talking about dad. Yes, dad left thirteen years ago, when I was only five years old. Of course, I was the only person who knew that he had left.I shook my head and poured myself a cup of water. “Denny, that is in the past. I don't want to talk about him…”It was already a surprise that she was willing to mention him today. My dad's name had become a taboo in our family. My mom would get so mad if he was ever mentioned.Denny burst out laughing. “Says someone who used to be daddy's best. How do you feel now? No one to protect you? Wait… I heard mom say that with the poison in your blood,only that man could save you. And guess what, it seems like he is never showing up…”I clenched my fists at those words. That was very true. My own mom had poisoned me after dad left. It was nothing like taking some food you did not know was poisoned. No! She told me it was poison and forced me to drink.“We shall see if this will attract that man back. He should at least come to save his daughter,” she had said. Mom poisoned me so that my dad could come back.“Tsk tsk,” Denny chuckled again. “You can't say anything, right? See, he doesn't love you like he claimed he did. Forget about him and do as mom wants. It is not too late…”Anger overwhelmed me. “Stop it, Denny. I know that my own mom poisoned me. And I have at most two years to live. I will be dead soon. Why don't you just give me the peace I need?“Denny chuckled again. “As you wish, Miss!“ She said and stood up. “Just know that that man is not worth it!“I shut my door after she left and went to bed. I felt so bad after she reminded me of the past, the painful past that I had experienced in my mom's hands.After dad left, things changed completely. My mom, who had always loved my sister and I equally, changed. She said I was the reason why dad left. I could never tell what I had done.All I can remember was that morning thirteen years ago. It was on a Saturday, and I had not gone to school.Mom had left for work, as usual, and Denny had gone to school. On Saturdays, after Denny came home from school, dad would take us to the park to have fun. I thought that today was not going to be an exception.As usual, the moment I woke up, I rushed to my parents' room. Usually, I liked doing this every weekend. It was always so cool sleeping in dad's embrace for a few minutes before he woke up.I ran to his room and pushed the door open, yearning for his warm and loving embrace. But I was shocked to see him fully dressed, standing in front of the mirror.“Mia honey,” Dad called with a smile. “How is my little one today? Come here, give daddy a hug…”With my short legs, I rushed over and dad carried me in his embrace, kissing my cheeks. However, everything seemed out of place. Dad had never woken up this early on Saturday.“Is daddy going somewhere?“ I asked, looking at him in confusion. We were supposed to wait at home for Denny to come back so that we could go to the park.Dad looked at me with a smile. “Yes honey, daddy is going somewhere today…” he said. I felt a little sad. Whenever dad had his briefcase packed, it meant that he was going on a business trip which would take at least one week.“Will daddy go with us to the park when he comes back?“ I asked sadly. I was going to miss him all these days because he would be gone.Dad kissed my cheeks. “Daddy will help Mia wash her face today,” he said, and carried me to his bathroom. He wiped my face and carried me back to the dining table. “Daddy has something to tell Mia after breakfast,okay?“He personally fed me before carrying me back to his study. “Dear, daddy is leaving, but he won't come back soon,” he said. I felt like I saw something like sadness on his face.Thinking that it was just one long business trip, I rubbed his hand. “Daddy will come back when he is done, right?“ I asked.Daddy nodded his head. “But I want this to be a secret between Mia and Daddy. Can you help daddy keep a secret?“I hurriedly nodded. “Sure, Mia will keep daddy's secret,” I said. I liked being dad's confidant. He would tell me anything and I would tell him anything.He carried me to the wall closer to the shelves and pointed at them. “Daddy keeps his secrets here,” he said. “I only want Mia to know.“Saying that, he pushed aside the shelf and I was shocked to see a hidden cabinet. “Mia, only you can open it now,” he spoke up and brought my finger to the wall.To my surprise, it opened. A broad smile appeared on my lips. “Wow! That is great daddy,” I said.Dad nodded. “All the secrets here are Mia's and daddy's. Don't tell anyone about it. Also, don't open the shelf until you turn twenty, okay?“I pouted. “That is too long,” I said. That was fifteen years to come. How could I wait for that long?Dad nodded his head. “Daddy knows that it is too long. Just be a good girl, okay?“ I nodded
I cannot tell how I went to my room. But I did not care about anything else. All I did was cry continuously, until I fell asleep.In the middle of the night, my stomach began hurting. I had skipped both lunch and dinner. And being someone with acid reflux, it was bound to hurt.However, I was still too sad to even open my eyes. I did not want to think about anything else, especially after both mom's and Carlos' betrayal.However, I felt something, or rather, someone close to me. At first, I thought I was hallucinating. Then, the hair on my body stood straight. I felt like I was in real danger.I opened my eyes, and the first thing that came to my mind was to scream! A person! There was someone in my room.The man hurriedly covered my mouth with his hand, blocking the scream. I shivered more, thinking that he wanted to hurt me. I tried struggling against him.But he shook his head at me. “Don't scream! I am not here to hurt you,” he said. I don't know what he did to me, but I stopped s
Was that man in my room? Wait! What if he had done something to me? I tried listening to myself. I only relaxed when I felt that I was good.I sighed again and looked at the drawers. That did not seem like a dream. What did he want? How did he get in?I threw away the covers and jumped in the bathroom. I wanted to catch up with my sleep later on.I hurriedly cleaned up and dressed. I took my bag and rushed downstairs. Aah! Relief! Mom and Denny were nowhere to be seen.I quickly had some breakfast in the kitchen, took my water bottle and rushed out of the house. I did not have a chauffer of my own like Denny. Mom had never organized one for me. And she never wanted this conversation.Anyway, I did not care. I walked out of the house. It was still early. I did not need to call for a curb. I could walk slowly.For the first time, I was among the first people to get to class that day. Still, Dan and Emah were already seated, leaving a seat between them for me.“You tried today,” Emah sai
On Saturday, Emah and I went to the mall for some shopping. Of course, I did not get any permission from mom. I left home when she was not around. Actually, it was Emah who pulled me out by force.Emah kept on buying everything that we found on the way. On the other hand, I was only interested in some snacks. I did not care about the other things.I was carrying a few of Emah's shopping bags as we moved around. This girl was always obsessed with shopping.Suddenly, someone walked closer to me, knocking a bag down. “What the hell…” I wanted to shout at the person when he apologized and bent to pick up the bag.But even after he handed me the bag, I remained frozen. This man… it was him!The man looked into my eyes and I saw him smile. He held my hand and put the bag in it. He winked and hurriedly walked away.I remained frozen in place and looked at the man as he walked away. Emah, who had walked some distance away, came back looking for me. “What is wrong?“ She asked as she shook me.
I wanted to ignore her and keep walking. After all, she was never going to be up to anything good.“Hey, you! I am talking to you. Can't you see that there is a visitor here?“ Mom called, her voice turning so hostile that I had to stop.I am sure they must have been surprised. Normally, I would talk to Carlos any time he showed up. This was the first time I had ignored him.But… Did I have to pretend to be good for no reason? He was always good, but not anymore. There was no way I was going to laugh with someone like him when I knew very well that he did not have any good intentions for me.I cleared my throat and looked up at Carlos. He was so silent that I could not tell what he was thinking.“He is your visitor,” I said angrily. “Why do I have to greet him?“ I had not called for him to come, why did I have to be the one to greet him?I turned to walk away, but a pillow hit my head the next second. Turning to look, mom was holding a glass, ready to throw it at me.“Come back here! W
I hesitated for some seconds before nodding my head and walking behind her. I did not see the need to keep hiding from her. I needed to know her plans so that I would find a way to fight for myself.I slowly took a seat, a heavy lump in my throat. I looked at the woman in front of me with some hatred. She was my mom! I was supposed to be so happy around her, to talk to her and share my problems!But here I was, fearing for my own life! At times, I always hoped that she was not my biological mother. But again, who else could it be?“You have to call Carlos and apologize,” Mom said straightforwardly, bringing me back to my senses. I creased my brows. Was she asking me to apologize? “Why should I do it? I just told him the truth…”Mom stood up abruptly, looking directly into my eyes. “Listen to me, you unfilial child! You have to do as I asked you. You are going to be in a relationship with him and do as he asks you. If you have other plans, you can do it after I get what I want!“Tears
I was still shocked by the shout when Carlos pressed me against the wall and brought his lips closer to mine. He was going to kiss me.Instinctly, I turned my face to the side and he ended up kissing my cheek. Still, I felt so disgusted. I used some force and pushed him away, using my hand to wipe off his kiss.And before he had time to react, I gave him a super hot slap on the face. I was mad! What the hell was he planning to do to me?Carlos held his cheek and looked at me like I was some ghost. I am sure he had never expected that I would hit him. “Natalie… you dare to hit me?“ He asked in disbelief. But I was too annoyed to answer him. I walked out of the room and slammed the door shut before walking down the stairs. Tears continuously ran out of my eyes.I met mom downstairs. He was obviously still waiting for us. “I hope you have not done anything stupid,” she said when she saw me.My anger escalated. “Your good son-in-law is waiting for you upstairs,” I said before walking out
I could see a smile appear at the corner of mom's lips, and I felt my heart ache more. Did she rejoice in everything that she was doing?“It is a good thing that you don't want to beat around the bushes,” she said and took her phone. This confirmed to me that she actually had abducted Emah.I swallowed hard and fought back my tears. “Why do you have to go for my friends when they are innocent, mom? Why don't you do all these to me instead? I am the one at fault here!“Mom chuckled and looked up at me. The next second, her eyes turned very icy. “What will I gain from harming you? I don't see the need to kill you when you are still going to be dead within the next two years…”“Mom!“ I shouted, bursting into tears. So she decided to harm my friends instead? Was this woman ever going to be human?She ignored me and made a call, putting it on speaker. The next second, I heard a shriek from the other end.“What do you people want from me?“ There came a voice that I recognized immediately.“