That wasn't her. That wasn't mother. That wasn't her. Where is she? Why did she leave me? Why?
A woman stood before my bed at the end. A woman that claimed herself to be my mother. She didn't have the same hair or eyes. Her body proportions were nowhere near the petiteness of my mother. My mother. I hated her, but... the feeling of abandonment was worse.
What stood at the end of the bed was a woman. She looked to be in her mid-30s at most, with honey-golden hair that was pinned up and decorated with a pearl hair piece. Her eyes were the lightest shade of brown. She was dressed in an extravagant royal blue dress, with golden trimming; while, the upper half of the dress had a pinched waist with white lace wrapped around her torso, acting as a decorative belt. Her long sleeves were plain; while, the skirt was decorated in golden embroidery.
"Are you even listening!" she shouted.
*Smack
My head was knocked to the side, all of a sudden, and I felt a familiar stinging sensation on my left cheek. I shifted my head and caught her eyes with mine. Nothing but a scowl and disgust lit her features. She began to laugh like a hyena. Crazed in her madness. The high pitches of her mocking made me cringe as the sound was too blaring.
"Aren't you just a snot-nosed brat, not even greeting me, but as well as not listening to when your mother is speaking to you! Well, it seems that your punishments have been too light lately. Should we take it up a notch?" Her eyes colored with disappointment. "Serena!!"
A woman that looked rather old entered the room, with a smile. She had graying hair mixed with brown that was pulled into a bun at the base of her neck and a simple black gown with a white waist apron. She bowed to the woman.
"Go fetch a stick. Viviana has been rather unladylike lately and I fear that I must teach her a lesson so, she doesn't embarrass herself when she is of age. It's all to teach you dear. You need to know that the world is much crueler than I or your father. So I have to do this for your sake." The older woman left the room.
"My name-" I groaned.
"What was that dear?"
"My name is not Viviana. Did my mother hire you? Or was it father? But father doesn't care about me so, it couldn't have been him. Then is mother the one? Did she put you up to this? Did Joanne Sterling put you up to this?"
"You truly have gone mad. What nonsense are you spouting?! Mother? What mother? I am your mother. And you will be sure to talk to me with respect. Joanne Sterling? What type of hideous name is that? Have you been reading too many novels lately, should I forbid you from the library?" She looked at me with wide eyes and a vein near her temple was popping out. Her fists were clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned a ghastly white.