Chapter 1
Lehlani:
The wind blew through the broken window of my rundown room in my parents’ attic; or should I even call them that. A shiver sent down my back as I tried to block the hole with the thin sheet, I had been using a blanket since I’ve been up here. I stop and look up at the night sky, asking God why her put me in this life. So ready to give up. After block the hole I crept back to the beaten-up cot mattress in the corner of the room. Making my way slowly, trying not to make a sound on the cracked-up floor bored. Fearing that they would here me downstairs. I laid on the mattress hugging my knees into my chest trying to keep warm, since all I was allowed to wear was a torn-up t-shirt and a pair of leggings. I rub the bruises I had on my legs, arms, and stomach. They were so painful, and I felt better knowing that they weren’t cut open this time; I had a few scars that have been fading slowly the more put the ointment the maid has snuck up to me the last time I took a beating.
I was 20 years old, I had gorgeous long dark brown hair, which had matted over time of not being able to keep my hygiene up within the year I’ve been locked away. My hair complemented my light caramel skin. My eyes were an odd shade of green, but they had a unusual ring of blue. I had always been stopped and questioned about my eyes. People always wanted to be my friend I was quite happy outside my household as I felt it was an escape. I remember playing with the other kids growing up not expecting this of my life. I knew my parent never wanted me as they were always forcing me to go outside, and not come in the house unless it was to sleep, eat dinner, and sleep. They kept me well dress and put together during my school years, it wasn’t until my teenage years they started the abuse. We had the most beautiful house on the street. My father had got a drinking habit and come home after gambling away our life. Losing his job shortly after. My mother would go out and work a high-profile job, I don’t even know what her job was, but she paid the bills. My mother looked at me as a burden. My father would try and sneak his way into my room and rape me, but I would fight him, that would make him angry, and he would beat me, sometimes so bad I would pass out. My mother would do nothing after all the times I would tell her.
One day, she came home early from work, and she caught him trying to have his way with me. Somehow it was my fault. “You stupid whore, this is why no one will ever want you.” Her word rang in my thoughts. Later that evening my father tried again “you look so much like your mother did, just give up!” I remember screaming and fighting him, after each punch I black out. I shake my head and wipe away the tear that stained my cheeks. “I don’t know why they would just let me go; I am of age to be responsible for myself. But then again where would I go, I never had a job, I don’t have any money, I was a lost cause.” I huddled into the corner and thought to myself. I heard the ladder drop down from the entry of the attic, fear instantly took over.
“My dear I brought you something to eat, you must eat it quickly before your parents come back.” Said Lena, my parent’s maid. I let out a sigh, I was grateful for her; she was like a mother to me. If it wasn’t for her trying to help me the most, she could I would’ve been dead by now. “Thank you, Lena, go I don’t want you to get in trouble.” I took the apple, but she stood there and looked at before taking my chin in her hand. “Child, I don’t know what has happened or why god has put you through this, but better days are coming for you, keep fighting.” She gave me a kiss on my forehead before hurrying to the exit of the attic. Lena was an older Caribbean lady, I never really asked much about her life before. But I knew her since I was young, she got this job when I was a baby, and she practically raised me. She was usually only here from the afternoon until midnight, as she works a different job during the days, I always asked her about the job, and she said it was the same thing she does here, but the pay is way better there. Lena always said she would stay here until I make it out then she would never come back. I often wondered if that was true.
I sat there and quickly ate the bread and apple she brought up for me. I had a hidden compartment in the floorboards, I stashed away half of the apple, just in case I would get food in a while. I sat there not knowing where my parents were, when they were coming back, or what mood they would be in when they got here. Sometime later, I was awakened by the arguing outside the window. I crawl quietly and peeped through. It was my parents, they were back.
