Iva watched her Aunt from across the table as she places her hand just where her ribcage is located about, covered under flesh as she belched.
"I told you young lady, I said it didn't i, too much salt makes my chest burn" she gathered the food crumbs into one place, which was surely for her dog.
She had called Iva minutes ago to complain about the food she was eating, and seemed to be doing so without any stress.
"See, I had to drink a lot of water to push each heap I took down" she said with her thick accent Very much noticeable.
Iva looked at the empty plates on the table which was designed for her Aunt Zirra and her alone. You see, Aunt Zirra was her late mama's older sister. She had no children and no husband, so she took in Iva after she had become an orphan. Everything was going on fine until after a year, when her sweet Aunt Zirra called her a whore who finished all her food without remorse.
Iva then had to look for a job to put food on the table, of course after working her ass off at home. And also from that day, Iva was not allowed to sit on where she sat, or eat where her aunt zirra ate or wear beautiful clothes like the other ladies from noble families.
"I'm sorry Aunt Zirra, it's my mistake, forgive me" Iva pleaded with the woman who was comfortably picking her teeth.
"No, now don't you say that to me you ugly piece of shit, clear the table and get out of my face, you disgust me"
"Yes my lady" in quite profuse hurry, Iva tried to clear the table before her Aunt loses it and hit her head.
Due to the fast way in which the poor lady worked, little did she know that her long strawberry like blond hair had gotten stuck with one of the plates. Turning from the table to get the one she could carry to the kitchen, the plates landed with a loud sound on the floor.
Iva trembled in fear, she looked from her aunt to the plates.
She is definitely going to kill her, and probably would cut off her hair.
She had said that a lot of time.
Maybe today is the day!
Iva immediately let go of the ones she was holding, or most appropriately she dropped them on the table but almost harshly.
She bent down and began to pack the plates from the floor.
Thankfully, she had noticed that the plates didn't break that it was just one thing that broke.
And unfortunately, it had to be the ceramic cup that aunt zirra had announced occasionally to be a gift from her own mother.
Panic was written all over Iva's face, she oozed fear, she tried to pick the pieces as fast as she could, maybe, just maybe she would be able to put back together the pieces.
She could hear her aunt breathing hard from where she sat. The chair behind her squeaked as her aunt got up from it, her trembling hands had blood pricking out from them, her eyes welled up with hot tears, blurring her sight.
With one swift move, Aunt Zirra fetched Iva's hair and pulled it from behind, leading her up to a familiar place, a place with rat and cockroaches, that place that smelt like rotten wood, where Iva would spend the whole day for a mistake she had done. Without eating or drinking.
She feared darkness, more than anything, she hates being in a confined space like this.
Because it was only then that she thinks about that night, that the images light up in her head, reminding her of the night her parents and all their servants were slayed right before her eyes.
Infact it was only then that her head makes up images that seem so real that they come right to her face and laugh at her, or maybe they are even real.
She pushed her through the door and she landed on her knees, staying in that position she wept bitterly.
She deserved it, she thought, that cup was very important to her.
"I know what to do to you, dirty pig, I see you have gotten used to this place, an underground would be better, lucky for you, I don't have money to waste on you!" She banged the door and locked it behind her. Iva heard as her loud stumps on the wooden floor become less audible.
she sat down now on the floor after she had wept enough, never getting tired of her everyday routine, crying herself to sleep. She held her knees to her chin, hugging them right as if they were going to safe her.
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There are sluts, and there are hoes, there are whores too, each word carries a different gravity than the other, but what then can we call someone who sleeps around for the sake of money, without their wish.
Not because she wants to be but because it's the only option given to her.
But even so, it wouldn't be written on your forehead that you are not doing it for it's sake will it?
Iva thought.
Iva hung her mouth open as she heard her Aunt's words, never had she thought that it would come to this, insult her as she might, beat her as hard as she could, but never this.
"I'm trying not to indulge myself in the ugly thought that you think yourself better than all the ladies out there, that have turn to sluts to provide food for their families?"
Then as if it's a whisper that is supposed to be heard, she added " not like you are family"
"Please Aunt Zirra, I don't want to do this" she begged, bending her knees, almost kneeling down.
Iva had accepted all fate brought to her but if there was one thing she was grateful for, it was that she didn't sleep around to survive.
"But you my darling, who do you think you are, brat? A Princess? You have no one girl and I say you become a whore" with no flick of humanity in her, she soaked her feet in warm water with a peaceful sigh, Iva's tears oblivious to her.
"You want me to become a whore? Mama won't want me to become that" Iva said through sobs.
At 20, Iva is one of the smartest girls there is around the province, she speaks more intelligently than most girl's of her age.
Her thoughts were always deep. But sadly, she takes her Aunt Zirra much more important than any principle she has set for herself.
"No my, I'm saying you should sleep with rich men and get money to help your dear Aunt and yourself too" and then she turned her human switch on for a second to look at heaven, "your mom will definitely understand, oh her dear soul rest in peace" then immediately, she turned her gaze to Iva, staring daggers at her.
"Don't you dare young lady, get out of my sight and get ready for today, unless you want to stay in your palace for the next two weeks" by palace, she meant prison.
Without saying one more word, and without thinking a thought, she left hurriedly.
Iva had thought about leaving her Aunt for good numerous times but she was too scared, that decision was too big, what if she ends up achieving nothing, Aunt Zirra would not take her back for anything.
Never.
But poor Iva, little did she know that her Aunt planned for this to make her leave the house.
That this was just a plan to see her out.
Sending her packing now without her doing anything will damage her reputation in the community.
No, she wouldn't do that to herself, so she came up with a plan, and this was it.
Sobbing, Iva went to a small room that was meant to be her bedroom. At least she has one.
She locked the door behind her as she cried bitterly.
When will this end?
Why won't a man of her dreams come to take her away.
This time around she wouldn't reject them.
Knowing that the only option she had was leaving, which she couldn't bring herself to it, definitely, she knew that she had to be a whore.
