CHAPTER 2
The morning sunlight beamed through the curtains of my room, painting long stripes across the polished floor.
I looked through the window of my room, for a moment, I let myself imagine the warmth.I allowed the imagination that maybe today would be different,that my parents will finally see me. But reality settled quickly, cold and heavy, like the marble floors beneath my feet.
Breakfast was already prepared,I rushed to take my bath and freshened up to join them at the dining table. I left my room heading downstairs, and with every step towards the dining hall,my heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird. Each step I took seemed louder than the last,a reminder that I was still a stranger and outsider in my own life. The house was so quiet,too quiet,like it was holding its breath waiting for me to fall.
"Rayna"The voice of the girl who had lived in my place all these years echoed from the stairs,sweet, gentle and soothing like she practiced."Breakfast is ready, it's common don't be late.
Her words were subtle, almost sisterly.But I knew better. I had seen the way she stared at me,the curls of her lips when she thought I wasn't watching.
She had a beautiful smile,charm and cunning at the same time.One would think she is innocent and kind.I tried to focus on the warmth accompanied with the sun rather than the pit growing in my stomach as I approached the dining hall.
Elora greeted me with a smile,her hands folding delicately at her front.
"Good morning Rayna,"she said, waving her hands at me. She spoke with a smile in her voice but a sting in her words."I hope a goodnight rest" she added.
I nodded quietly trying not to be caught anxious,a fear of failure was instilled in me from a young age,coupled with the belief that winning approval from people was a difficult and risky undertaking.
My parents were already seated at the dining table. My mother arranged the fruits properly with so much care,while my father on the other hand was absorbed in his morning paper,his expression unreadable. Neither of them greeted me warmly.Instead they evaluated me. The kind of evaluation that made me less of myself.
"Sit"she said finally,my heart trembling slightly as I tried to pull out the chair.
We sat around a long dining table that felt too large for the four of us.Plates of beautifully prepared and arranged food were set before us.
"so"my father began folding the newspaper in his hand.
"how was the place you grew up"
I paused"it was ... simple"
"simple"elora echoed softly, pretending to be concerned.
"You must have struggled a lot".
I looked at her and said "I managed".
My mother smiled thinly.
"That resilience will serve you well here,"she said.
Here.
I lowered myself into the chair,hand trembling as I tried to arrange the plate before me.I was careful enough, wanting to do everything perfectly because I know one wrong will be so disastrous.
Elora drew closer to me and whispered slightly into my ear,her voice low and sweet.
"Rayna... careful with that jug".She nodded at the jug at the edge of the table.
"it's fragile and dad's most expensive jug".
I swallowed and nodded in affirmation trying to appear calm.
"I'll be careful"I murmured,my hand brushing the edge of the jug mistakenly.
Her eyes widened for a second,sharp and calculating. Then she moved back and the smile returned to her face.
"of course"she blurted innocently like she hadn't planted a trap right in front of me.
I didn't notice how my hands trembled until the jug fell beneath my touch.My heart skipped a beat.I leaned back automatically trying to find another way out,but it was already too late.The jug already fell and broke.I froze instantly holding my breath.
"Oh my God?"Elora gasped loudly, placing her hand on her chest as if the sound had shocked her."Mom!Dad"Rayna just broke the jug.
"I...i didn't"I opened my mouth to protest but the words seized in my throat.
My mother's eyes narrowed,her lips pressing against each other.My father gazed at me sharply and accusingly.
"Rayna,"my mother snapped, moving towards me with so much anger, precise steps.
"How could you be so careless?"
"I didn't..."
"Enough",my father said sharply.
"Go to your room,Rayna"
"What?"my heart slammed.
The command cut clean.
I turned to walk away,every step I took was heavy,my ear burning from the slap my mother gave to me.
I barely made it half way up the stairs before I heard the sound I would never forget.
The crack impact.Pain exploded my back,I screamed in agony,stumbling forward.
"I raised you better than this"my father shouted, striking again.
"Violence in my house?"
"I didn't". Another blow stole the rest of my words.Tears threatened to flow down my eyes as I crawled in pain.I had to hold back my tears in order not to give elora the satisfaction she wants.
Elora stood nearby watching me suffer for her actions,her expression carefully crafted to convey concern and innocence.But I could see the satisfaction in her eyes.
She had orchestrated it,framed me,set me up and acted all innocent.
"Go to your room"my mother finally ordered.
"Until you learn responsibility you are not welcomed to this table"
I crawled towards the stairs in so much pain and agony.
Elora's laughter floated down the hall,like a dagger twisting in my chest.
When I finally got to my room,I layed on the floor pressing my palms to my face , letting the tears fall freely.
I hugged my knee,the glass pieces from the jug replaying in my head like a recurring nightmare.I felt disheartened to know that my own parents would treat me this way.
This was my home now,and it was nothing but a battlefield.
I thought about the life I had imagined before coming here.The love I hoped to receive, and how cruelly it had been denied.The pain simmered in my chest,but I forced it down.
I had to survive,I had to endure and stand strong for myself
Survival became my only goal after I was treated with so much hate and wickedness.I promised myself to observe,learn,watch and understand how things worked in this household.
I layed on my bed that night looking at the chande
lier in my room thinking of how to survive this brutality,and somewhere deep inside me, a spark was ignited.
I would survive this and endure it to the fullest.