March 23, 2019.
"Raven! I thought I told you to clear the kitchen!!!" My aunt calls from downstairs.
I sigh, drop all what I'm doing, and rush to the kitchen.
"I was going to." I say quietly when I enter the kitchen.
"You were going to?!" She glares at me. "What have you been doing since!"
I squirm when I see the anger in her eyes.
Aunt Mary works as a journalist. Her junior at work took the promotion she was supposed to get and turns out she's a sore loser. She has been moody ever since.
"Um... I was taking care of the clothes in the laundry room."
"I feed you, I house you, I even take care of you, but you repay me by being slow?! I didn't raise you to be an idiot!" She suddenly raises her hand and slaps me.
I fall to the floor as I hold my left cheek.
"I had told you to do the laundry since morning! What were you doing?!"
"I-i-i was cleaning t-the house." I stutter.
"Pfft. Do you really believe that mom?" Lisa walks in the kitchen. "Immediately you left the house, she went to her room to probably sleep." She sits on the counter.
"What?" My aunt gasps. "Is that true?" She asks me and I shake my head rapidly.
"One time, I heard her saying that you are a good for nothing person. No wonder you were demoted." She quotes with her hands. "Such rudeness." She flips her hair.
"No, no, no, no... It's not true. It's not- Ahhhhhh!" My words were stuck in my mouth when aunt Mary drags me by my hair.
"I'll show you what happens when you disrespect me." She says as she drags me by my hair towards the living room.
Right before we leave the kitchen, I see Lisa sinister smile and wave.
....
Three hours later, I'm hugging myself and crying on the floor all alone.
So much for a 15th birthday.
I couldn't move from my position. I have marks all over, my head's throbbing, and I hurt everywhere.
And I mean everywhere.
Moments later, I heard the front door open.
"If you think of you can get away! Just know you are right anyway" I hear uncle Mark's voice coming from the hallway.
He's singing one of his old classic songs
"If you know- Hey kid, what you doing here?" He asks and stumbles a little.
He looked drunk. Really drunk.
"Um-" I shift a little. "I didn't do the dishes, so aunt Mary dealt with me."
"She did?" He walks to me. Better still, stumbled.
"Yeah." He sits beside me on the floor.
"You see kid, your aunt has gone through a lot this past week. She lost her position to her junior. It's hard on her. You have to understand." He touches my thigh and I flinch.
"But she didn't have to take it out on me, I mean-" His hands move up little by little so I move away.
"Oh sorry." He apologizes and moves closer. "Have anyone ever said you look beautiful? Because you are."
"Uh, uncle?" I move away.
"Come here." He says and I immediately stand up.
"I think I'm going to bed." I say and start to walk away but I'm pulled back.
"No you're not. I've been watching you and I'm not about to let this chance go." He pushes me to a chair.
"Please." I plead. "PLEASE" I try to plead with him but he just chuckles.
"So so beautiful." He says and stands over me.
.....
Sometimes I just wish I could be home again.
Not here. I mean home with my mom, and with my dad. Us three with no one.
"Mom?" I say as I cry. "I miss you." I sniff. "If there's any space up there, I wanna join. Please?" I wipe my tears and I start to think how things would have turned out if my parents were still alive.