"Anisa! Change my sheets, I don't like this color!"
"Anisa! Make breakfast! I have a meeting in an hour!"
"Anisa!"
"WILL YALL SHUT THE FUCK UP! IF YOU GONNA USE ME AS A MAID AT LEAST BE PATIENT!"
Silence and then loud steps followed, grabbing my baby brother and a broomstick my step mother bursts through the door and I glare at her. The 6'0 foot woman stood in the doorway unmoving and we stared at each other. I've been living with them for 10 years and I'm at my limit. I'm tired of being beaten, and forced to do things I didn't even want. When moving here I thought I'll finally live comfortably but I'm living way worse than when I was living with my mom in the hood. I would rather rest my head in an area where you hear gunshots every night than stay here and being beaten for not taking care of somebody else's kids.
"Now Anisa, you know I don't like that temper. You should be mindful of that mouth."
"Emily, I'm not in the mood. So you can either get this broomstick or go downstairs and play fake happy family with your kids."
Kissing her teeth, she slam the door behind her and she made sure I heard her big ass feet slam against the stairs. Setting my brother on the bed I fix him up and put on his coat and scarf. Tying my scarf around my head, I put on my black mask and shoes and rushed down the steps. Luckily no one said anything to me so I was able to get everything done on time, and had everyone out the house before seven. Stretching, I got ready to do some house shopping. Putting on a fitted long sleeve pink shirt and a black maxi skirt. I slip into my slides, grab my cloth bag and dashes to the bus stop.
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"Thank you Mama Rose." Smiling, hugging the elderly woman.
"No problem at all Ani dear, my health declining,
So I want to help you as much as I can before I'm bedridden." The elderly woman slowly sat down, her wrinkly face grimaces.
" Don't say that, you're kids and grandkids would be very upset." Picking up the large boxes and putting them up.
"My kids are too busy playing patriotism to care about little ole me. You remember my kids Jamie and James, they became quite strong and capable people, but I worry that the fame and money went to their heads. They lost their family history and forgot who we owe or lives to." Mama rose sighing.
"Now mama, you know they just trying to get out of this neighborhood. You should get out of this area too, you're too old to be here alone." I said looking through the storage.
"I'll die here before I leave this place, I built this from the ground up. I'm just happy that a lovely lady like you don't have to stay in this place, though I'm sad that you have such a terrible upbringing." She said waving me to come over, She cup my face smiling warmly.
"Mama, you sure you're okay. For the past few days now, you've been off. You sure you don't want me to call your grandkids."
"You're a beautiful young lady, you're only twenty, but you saw so much, and been going through so much. Life didn't give you a fair chance and you still kept that beautiful smile I love so much." Slowly rubbing my cheeks, she stared almost through me. Her eyes filled with emotions, I wonder if she was talking to me or someone else.
"Mama rose? Should we close the shop a bit early?" I ask holding her hands.
"Ah-Yes. Could you please grab that large box for me, It has my initials, R.S on it."
Nodding, I walk to the back; Filled to the top with nicknacks, old books and random items from the past. My hands stained with dust and cobwebs I finally found the large box. Almost the size of my chest the gold lettering looked to be glowing in the dimly lit room. Pressing my fingers against the cool letters, pain shot up my fingers. Dropping the box, I look at my hands to see three black dots.
"Ani? What's taking so long hun?"
"Sorry! You're box shocked me or something." I said picking up the box I rush over to her and sit in front of her. Handing the box, she flips the golden latch up and golden butterflies sore up. Glitter surrounding us, I look at mama rose whose eyes shone with gold. Wind picking up, I grab onto her hand and she smile warmly and we suddenly appear in a cabin. Old but warm the lights dimmed and with a loud thud my knees hit the soft carpet below.
"My Anisa, my time is coming. Because of this I decided that it's time to tell you the truth."
"Mama rose? Where are we? What's going on I~I'm scared." Frantically looking around something felt off, unfamiliar but familiar at the same time. My feet and hands guided me to a painting. Looking at it, there was a woman. With beautiful long jet black hair, low eyes and long full lashes. Her eyes filled with warmth but her face stoned, she wore a Victorian styled dress and sat on a large chair, almost like a throne. With a black cat sitting on her lap, I realized that I've seen this cat before. Looking at mama rose, her gold eyes look into my dark brown ones.
"Anisa that's your mother, you might not remember her because of the accident. That little cat lived with you, remember that cat? He missed you."
"Mama rose this not funny, what's going on! I want to go home!"
"This is your home honey. Remember, you used to play here. Don't you remember?"
"Remember? What am I suppose to remember!" Slamming my hand against the wall, a ring falls out of the painting. Looking at the black ring, I look at mama rose and she ushered me to pick the suspicious item up.
"It's your mothers, maybe it'll have answers." Mama rose said slowly walking towards me.
"Mama rose. I love you but I'm not picking up a random ass ring. Also don't get close to me, my fight or flight is activated and even though I love you, I will pimp slap you." Stepping back, tryin to find my way out of this place. My back hits another painting, looking back mama rose cup my face.
"I understand that you are confused, just know when you open your eyes. You will be different, everything you knew of will be different. You're next in line to carrying the legacy your mother and her family made." Pressing her gold thumbs against my eyes, a burning sensation filled my head. Through the tears I try to grab mama rose but she step back.
"Wait! Wait! What's happening!" Trying to step forward, something yanks me backward and I fall into a ink of darkness.
"I'm sorry my moon, my Anisa DeLovet."