Daily Struggles
Knight
I gazed up at the sky, letting out a soft sigh. How I longed for every day to be as peaceful as this. But alas, such tranquility seemed out of reach, especially with parents like mine.
My parents never showed any affection towards me. Instead, they made it their mission to make my life a living hell. I was burdened with all the household chores, responsible for finding food for our family, and at times, I even resorted to stealing money just to meet their demands.
But I held onto the belief that one day, they would recognize my worth. I yearned for us to be like any other family, where violence and degradation were nonexistent, and true happiness prevailed.
Oh, how I wished for that day to arrive soon.
Sighing once more, I continued down the path when suddenly, a shout pierced through the air. It seemed like yet another daily altercation.
Wait. This could be my chance.
With most bystanders engrossed in the brawl, I could easily slip away unnoticed and pickpocket from the distracted crowd. Of course, I made sure to return their wallets and leave some money behind.
Although I resorted to thievery, I still possessed a shred of compassion. After all, they might be in need as well. Besides, gathering funds from multiple individuals would provide enough for my family to survive for at least a week.
Lost in my own thoughts, focused on not getting caught, I suddenly noticed someone staring at me.
She was undeniably beautiful. Wait, what? Oh no, I’m too young to be thinking like this! How could I even consider starting a family with her when I can’t even earn money through legal means? And why am I even entertaining such thoughts?
Crap. I need to leave. She witnessed me stealing money from others. What about making a good first impression?... What first impression? I must go. The longer I stay here, the more irrational I’ll become.
I swiftly ran away from the scene, but in my haste, I accidentally dropped a wallet. There was no time to retrieve it. I had to distance myself from the area. Who knows if that pretty girl would report me or not?
I sprinted as fast as my legs could carry me until I reached the safety of our house. Breathing a sigh of relief, I opened the front door, only to be greeted by a loud crash emanating from the kitchen.
Why did trouble always find its way to me? I hurriedly retreated to my room, seeking refuge from my parents, especially now that they were not in their right minds.
From the kitchen, I could hear their voices raised in argument when suddenly, my father called out for me. I needed to hide, or else they might harm me again.
As I frantically searched for a hiding spot, the door was forcefully flung open. Here it comes...
“YOU DAMN BRAT! WHY DIDN’T YOU COME WHEN I CALLED YOU?! WHERE’S OUR FOOD?! AND WHERE IS MY ALCOHOL?!” my father bellowed, his face flushed from his furious outburst. I quickly handed him all the money I had gathered earlier, but before I could explain, my mother slapped me across the face.
“That’s all you managed to get?! It’s not enough! You won’t eat until you give me my share!” my mother scolded.
“But Mom! It’s more than enough for us--” I tried to reason, but she cut me off.
“More than enough? That would barely sustain your worthless father! What about me? I carried you for nine months, you ungrateful child! The least you could do is give me my share!” My mother ranted, delivering another stinging slap.
“And you, you good-for-nothing man who has made my life miserable! Hand over that money. You don’t deserve it. It’s mine.”
“What did you say, you bitch?!”
And so, they resumed their fight. Seizing the opportunity, I slipped away as quietly as possible and left the house. For now, I had only received two slaps, but I needed to escape to avoid further beatings. I would find a way to sneak back in later. But for the time being, I had to find a source of food. Once again.
I walked through the streets, distancing myself from home and the earlier altercation. Lost in my thoughts, I was suddenly tapped on the shoulder. I turned around and recognized the person standing before me. I couldn’t recall where I had seen him before, but there was a sense of familiarity.
Wait... Is he...?
“I’m very sorry!” I kneeled before him, desperation evident in my voice. “I will repay you someday. I didn’t mean to steal from you. Please spare me for now,” I pleaded, my voice trembling.
“Don’t worry, young man. I am not someone you can easily steal from,” he reassured me.
“What do you mean?” I asked, my confusion evident in my voice.
“Exactly as I said. I am not someone you can easily steal from. I, along with my mistress, witnessed you at the fight earlier,” he replied, his tone firm and unwavering. Is he going to turn me over to the police?
“No, I’m not going to turn you over,” he assured me, as if reading my thoughts. “I am not a mind reader, young man. Your face just tells me what you were thinking.” His words left me slightly unsettled.
“I am Kim Suarez, the butler of Ms. Mikaela. My mistress asked me to give these to you,” he said, handing me a selection of food that I had never encountered before.
“Ms. Mikaela instructed that you must eat all of this yourself and not share it with anyone. She also wanted me to give you this money and told me to tell you that you mustn’t steal anymore. Along with the food, keep it for yourself. She will see you again soon,” he explained before leaving.
I stood there, dumbfounded, for a moment. By the time I regained my senses, Kim had vanished without a trace.
“So this was from the pretty girl...” I murmured, feeling a blush creep onto my cheeks. Mikaela was incredibly kind. I wanted to share these gifts with my parents, but the fear of disappointing Mikaela held me back.
Instead, I decided to hide the money in my secret spot in the woods. I devoured the food she had given me, relishing every bite, and washed myself in the nearby river. As darkness fell, I made my way back home.
Thoughts of Mikaela consumed my mind as I walked. Sneaking into my room, I settled in for a peaceful night’s sleep, unaware of the nightmare that awaited me upon waking.
