Prologue
A mother ran her hands through her hair in despair. She had told herself many times not to reach this amount of pain but it was no longer in her control; it was almost as if a demon had taken over her soul and had started feeding on her insides. She wanted to scream but as she tried, the words could not escape.
Silence.
She couldn’t bear it so she thought of her children to try and take her mind of the pain.
Her eldest daughter, Lily, was a good child. She was responsible, always sticking up for her younger sisters when they found themselves in danger. She had inherited her grandmother’s long luscious golden blond hair and her father’s piercing blue eyes. Her features were defined which made her naturally beautiful.
Rose was the quietest. She had an ever growing passion for reading and a gift through art. She had been enrolled at an elite art school at the age of 5, something her mother found quite remarkable. She had her mother’s light brown hair, which reached the bottom of her neck, touching it in big curls. She had also inherited her father’s blue eyes but were darker than Lily’s.
Then there was Hibiscus. Hibiscus had been a mistake the minute she had been born. Her father was someone her mother hardly knew and this made her angrier with herself. Hibiscus had found out recently the secret she tried to hide for so long; she was not the true daughter of the man she had called father all her life. She built up walls of hatred and resentment towards her family and hardly interacted with them anymore. She had dark ginger hair, which she probably inherited her from her biological father’s side of the... family. It made her stand out and frustrated her deeply. She had dark green eyes like her mother, which wasn’t ideal, considering she hated her mother and didn’t want to be like her in any way.
Lastly was little Zinnia. She was the light of the family. She had been born premature but was a born fighter. She had paid heavenly for her mother’s sins in ways that couldn’t disappear from her mind and her mother felt instant grief. Maybe that is why she had a soft spot for her. Zinnia had darker hair than her mother which fell down her back in small luscious curls. She had light brown eyes that were so soft and tender looking; it broke her mother’s heart because as she looked into them, she saw her daughter’s constant pain concealed in them.
She suddenly recalled a time when Zinnia was crying during the night. She had sung to her to try and calm her down; to cast the demons away.
She remembered the song. She thought she had forgotten but she remembered every word.
“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You never know, dear, how much I love you
Please don’t take my sunshine away
The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping
I dreamt I held you in my arms
When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken
So I hung my head, and I cried.”
“Mama, why are you crying?” the curious young child walked into the kitchen and watched her mother carefully. Her mother took her head out of her hands and stared at her daughter.
“Nothing, my dear. Why don’t you go and play with your sisters?” she patted her head and stared out of the window.
“Lily and Rose are big girls. They don’t want to play with me. I’m small. Biscus is in her room. She told me to go away. She doesn’t like me, Mama.” Zinnia put her hands around her mother’s leg.
Her mother picked her up and sat down on a chair, placing Zinnia on her lap. “Zinnia, you know Mama loves you?” she looked at her daughter, her heart aching.
“Yes. I love you too Mama. This much.” She made a big circle with her little hands. “Maybe more.” She giggled.
Her mother laughed with her.
“No matter what happens, just know Mama will always love you.” She hugged her daughter hard, not wanted to let go because she knew if she did, it would be the last time.
