One of the few things that my mother had given me was my name. She was more like a nanny or babysitter than a mother. I hadn't realized that at the time. As a kid, we have no idea what is "normal" other than what we see or hear. She had started to become paler and weaker until she finally stopped coming to see me.
Eventually, I asked "What happened to the nice lady that used to read to me?" That's when I found out she had died. I was too young to understand. I didn't even know she was my mother at that time. I just knew that I wouldn't be seeing her again.
I grew up in a room in the company's treatment facility. Years passed quickly. Every day was the same thing. Once I woke up, I would have breakfast, drink a glass of water and take vitamins. After breakfast was stretches and jogging. Then came a shower and 10 hours of tutoring. Math, English, Latin, Science, Geometry and Critical Thinking.
The weekend was always my favorite. They trained me in martial arts and hand to hand combat. They would occasionally bring in other kids to train and spar with. If I did well, I got to use the pool for a few hours. If I didn't do well, I had to train for another two hours.
Life was comfortable. I never questioned things. Things just were the way they were.
Donte changed that.