Chapter 1 A Usual Day
An annoying buzzing goes off somewhere in the darkness. Clumsily, I try to slap it off, but I just end up knocking my alarm clock off my stand. Every single morning the stupid little contraption disturbs my sleep, like shutting my eyes for more than 4 hours is a crime or something... Apparently in this house it is. Maybe if my parents would let me sleep before midnight I could actually wake up without this stupid headache.
It's dark outside, and I know if I don't get my chores done before I go to school there is going to be hell to pay. I didn't even have time to check my homework when my Mom sent me to my room. By the time I hit my bed, my eyes were already halfway closed.
I look down at myself in the darkness and see the same rumpled clothes I feel asleep in last night. I didn't even bother changing! Not that it matters. Most of what I own is baggy and threadbare. None of them are warm. But I'm lucky it's still early fall right now, or I'd end up doubling up my clothing and I'd look even more awkward than normal. These used to be my parents old clothes that they don't want anymore. It's not like they don't have money, but they spend it on themselves. They want to make a good impression on others, but they couldn't give a damn what I wear.
Reluctantly, I roll out of my cold bed and reach for my alarm clock. It reads 4:31 AM. My eyes are blurry and my head is slightly dizzy. What I wouldn't give just to hide under my covers for one day and pretend the world didn't exist! I'm so damn tired... And lately, I've been aching even more than normal.
Mom and Dad won't be awake until 6 AM. Why do they get to sleep in when they force me to wake up at o'dark thirty? How the hell is this even fair? My life would be so much simpler if my parents just gave me up for adoption... But for some reason they keep me around just to torture me.
I grab my worn out jeans and baggy t-shirt and head to the bathroom to clean up. I missed some of the blood last night and now it's caked into my hair. At least I don't have any glass stuck in my scalp. I've had that before.
I take a quick shower. Mom and Dad don't like me to waste money on long showers. In five minutes I'm scrubbed clean in the semi- warm water. I don't have time for it to heat up. I rub myself dry and throw on my clothes. At least I'm clean now and don't look like a zombie... I take that back. My brown eyes have deep bags under them. And I have a new bruise, which I'm not sure where I got it from, around my neck. Did Dad try to choke me last night?
I head downstairs and get started on cleaning the house. It's a disaster after Dad threw a drunken fit because I was late coming home from school. It wasn't my fault! Nichole had her minions dump my stuff out all over the hallway, then kick me. It took me a half hour longer to limp home. Then when I got home I was surprised to hear Nichole told them I was screwing around with the boys' baseball team... But I don't even know anyone on the baseball team!
Once upon a time, this was not my life. I was a happy little girl and my parents loved me. When I was 4 years old, Mom and Dad gave me pretty dresses and treated me like I was a little princess. I was happy, and most of all I was loved. Mom and Dad were proud of me. And then I learned I was going to be a big sister!
I was so excited. I've always wanted to be a big sister. Mom told me I'd be her big helper... I was gonna help Mommy with the bottle and be so nice to the baby. I'd help tuck them in and tell them stories, and even share my teddy bears with them! That was all I ever wanted.
But then she lost the baby. I don't know why. And she never explained. But the day I heard I wasn't going to be a big sister anymore, everything changed. It was like a switch had been flipped once they knew the baby was gone, and I still don't even understand how! Plus, I can't think of a damn reason they would blame the loss of the baby on me! But I guess it didn't matter to them whether I did it or not. I was just someone easy to blame.
My parents treated me like I was filthy. Like I was a burden. They didn't even like looking at my face anymore. I guess you could say the treatment started slowly. They took my pretty dresses and swapped them for clothes that didn't fit right. They would yell at me for anything, even if it wasn't my fault... Then they started to hit me.
Some days I couldn't go to school because I was so bruised, and they don't want the school calling CPS. I wish they had. And when I did go to school, my dad would tell them I fell. That I was clumsy. I don't know how the school believed them, but never once have my parents been called out for what they've done to me. And now, it's not just Mom and Dad, it's Nichole and anyone who wants to impress her. I guess they all get a pass to pass me around as some sort of rag doll to take out their teen angst on.
In order for me to 'earn my place in the family' I had to start working for Nichole when I turned 10. My parents worked at her home for her parents. My Dad manages their finances and Mom is Nichole's dad's secretary, but now it was my turn to earn my keep... whatever that means.
I don't get to keep the money I make. Mom and Dad take it all from me. I don't know why they need to take the money I earn. It isn't even very much! And yet, I'm the maid and end up with the brunt of the work, scrubbing floors and toilets. Some days I get to work in the laundry, at least I get to stay dry and warm on those days.
Sometimes Sandra hands me a few dollars for food and I keep it in my pockets until I get home and hide it under my floorboards. I use it to buy food when Mom and Dad send me to bed hungry... Which happens a lot. When I'm sent to bed without food, they make sure I don't get anything to eat.
My stomach rumbles just thinking of all the missed meals I've had to endure. I'm so hungry right now. And for what? Living when their baby died? I don't see how that is my fault! Is it because Nichole likes to see me suffer? Why do they let her do that anyway? Shouldn't a parent protect their child from others instead of sending them off like a lamb to the slaughter?
After I'm finished sweeping up the broken glass, I start cleaning up the kitchen. I threw out the old soup Mom left out last night and scrubbed the pot. What a waste! I wish she could've saved some of it and I could've had it for breakfast. But of course she wouldn't think of something like that. They are too lazy to think of their only child and her needs. All they think of is about themselves and how to make more money. They could save money by not throwing things out!
I unloaded the dishwasher and filled it back up. I scrub down the counter tops. I look over my shoulder to make sure no one is looking and grab a glass of milk and a piece of bread. I'm not supposed to be eating today for my punishment that I didn't earn. With any luck they won't notice a piece of bread and a little bit of milk. I hurry and hide the evidence hoping it will be enough to tide me over today.
I know Nichole loves screwing with my life. I've never done anything to her, but she's just a freaking drama queen. She want's everyone to bow down to her... And most of them do. She's rich... or her daddy is rich. And everyone wants to please her. They all bow down to the little princess and follow her every wish. It's disgusting!
But I don't. Maybe that's why she hates me. When I first started working for her, she demanded I clean her room, and I refused to do it until she said please.. Instead she beat me over the head and told Mom and Dad I tried to steal one of her necklaces.
I've learned my lesson now. I'm much more submissive... At least in front of people. In my mind, she still hasn't broken me. I don't know how long I will last though. I don't want to be some low-life slave. I want to mean something to someone. But I don't. I keep praying one day someone would take me away from this life. I could be a good daughter to someone who loved me. I could be a good friend! But no one wants me.
I wish I had the guts to stand up to her... just once and let her know exactly what I think of her... But I can't because then Mom and Dad will probably murder me and toss my remains in the trash. I'm just waiting for the day they toss me out with absolutely nothing to my name... On the other hand, that might be preferable.
Once I'm fairly sure my parents won't beat me to death for leaving the house a mess, I run upstairs and grab my school things. I didn't finish my homework... but what can I do about that now?
Nothing!
I rush out of the house. It's still dark as I walk to school. I shiver in the cold wishing I had a jacket to keep me warm. I could take the bus, only I don't want to be bullied any more than I already am. There are some kids who tolerate me. After all, I shower. But most want to get into Nichole's little group of mean kids. And the easiest way to do that? You guessed right. Pick on me.
It's her favorite pastime. Someday I hope she gets what coming to her. I know I'm not the only one she treats like this. I'm just her favorite victim. I'd make friends with the others if they weren't already scared of Nichole's wrath.
By the time I get to school, the sun is starting to come up and I'm starting to sweat due to the exertion, my feet are sore and my shoulders ache from carrying my books in my backpack.
Slowly, I make my way to my locker, and quickly and quietly as I can, I switch out my books. I'm already failing English because I can't keep up with my homework. I tell my Mom this, and she doesn't give a damn. She says English won't do me any good anyway since all I'm good for is a maid.
I closed my locker and froze. Nichole is in front of the stairs with her boyfriend Jericho. I've never met him before, but if he's with her, he's probably bad news. Too bad because he really is handsome. But it doesn't matter. I'll stay far away from the two of them, and as long as she's busy with him, she won't pay attention to me!
I duck down, trying to keep out of sight and rush to my first class. Through the day I do my best stay low and out of sight. This is my life. Staying out of the way just so I can survive. During lunch I sit outside in the cold since I don't have a lunch anyway. I try to work on my homework so I don't fall too far behind, since this is the only time of day I have free. As long as I don't have to deal with Nichole, I'll be fine.
By the end of the day, my feet are dragging, and I'm exhausted. But my day isn't over yet. I have no idea what time I'll get to sleep tonight, but I'm praying it's before midnight. I just need a little rest before I fall over dead... And no, that's not a joke. I really don't have a lot of strength left.
I trudge to Nichole's mansion and slip into the maids room. Sandra greets me with a sad smile. She's the head maid, and has always been kind to me. She reminds me of what a grandmother should be. Not that I have any experience with grandparents.
"How are you doing today, sweetheart?" she asks kindly.
Sandra is the only nice person I know. All the other maids make fun of me. I've never met my grandparents.
"It could be worse," I smile, trying to make a joke, but knowing it's only the truth. I could'a shown up with a black eye like I did last week. I've come in bleeding a month ago, and I don't even know why.
I hurry and change into my worn-out maids uniform and rush to the kitchen, but before make it, I hear a cruel chuckle.
"Look what I found! My favorite little mouse!" Nichole cackles, before pulling me back and smacking me in the head.
Suddenly the world spins and I drop to the ground like a bag full of rocks and the world goes black.
