Chapter 1: Morning Turmoil*

The alarm pierced the morning calm at 6:00 AM. Aurora Santos stirred, rubbing sleepy eyes. She rose from bed, her 5'6" frame unfolding. "Ugh, I smell awful," she muttered, hastening rushed to the bathroom.

Aurora, a determined 24 -year -old writer, concealed her turmoil behind a radiant smile. Her long, dark hair cascaded down her back as she showered. The sound of her parents' arguing drifted through the door.

As she dressed, her mother's cries and screams escalated for help. Aurora rushed into her parents' room, unannounced. Her father's violence stunned her. "Why does this still shock me?" she thought to herself.

"Stop! What are you doing?" Aurora demanded, intervening.

Her father pushed her mother aside towards her leg saying to himself so loud I refuse to believe that I choose to marry this stupid woman, Aurora eye widen as she saw her mother injured face. Aurora called for her grandparents' help.

Her grandmother rushed in, shocked by Aurora daughter's injuries. "I'm tired of your cruelty!" Aurora's grandmother scolded her son, "Let her be!" She told her son.

Aurora look at her mother and her heart torn into a million pieces, she felt so sad to see her mother in that state, Aurora felt relief  when she saw her grandma gently attending to her mother wounds, she released a sigh of relief.

Aurora dashed upstairs because she realized she was running out of time, grabbed her bag and ensured her laptop and journal were inside, then she went downstairs. Downstairs, tension filled the air. Her grandparents' anxious glances urged her to leave quickly.

"Goodbye, everyone," Aurora said, her voice strained.

Stepping into the crisp morning sunlight, she felt relief wash over her body.