~Emily's POV
It was late in the evening, the fire had stopped and all that was left was the destroyed image of the house we once lived in.
"Where are going now, Mom?" Ava asked me with her head buried between her legs.
I sighed…..struck by a headache after Ava spoke.
For some reasons, I never really thought of the fact that we might need a place to stay. I didn't plan to burn down the house. No, I didn't.
There was only one option. "We'll have to go to my mother's house Ava," I answered and her gaze landed on me.
The way Ava stared at me made me feel like I wasn't making any sense. "think of something else, mom," she coldly said, bluntly drafting my mother's house out of the picture.
"Ava, we don't have anywhere else to go. We can't possibly just roam about in the streets. Look at the house, Ava. We have nothing left. I don't even have any money with me," I said, and I didn't even realize that I was raising my voice already.
"I'll rather roam on the streets that to go with you to your mother's house. Do you know how those people treated us? Even with when we had a roof on our head. Imagine what they are going to do to us now that we're homeless and bankrupt!" Ava yelled.
I sighed.
Ava got off the bench and she walked away, heading towards the road.
I ran after her, but I couldn't run properly. My arm was still stinging and the burn was still very fresh. It looked almost like the last time. The only difference was the magots.
"Ava, and where do you think that you're going to?" I asked and she halted. "I don't know, but I'm fine with wherever I am as long as it is not your mother's house! I can't share a house with your mother and your crazy siblings! Never!" Ava yelled.
"Will you stop being a child!" I sneered, breathing heavily and using up all the energy that was left inside of me.
"And will you just try to see things from my perspective? Your family is…messed up, mom and you're failing to see it!" Ava screamed.
I was silent.
Maybe I just have to listen.
The anger in my voice dropped.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"All of your siblings end up coming back to your mother's house and now, you're just about to do the same thing! It's like you all are cursed. Maybe that's what all of this problem came from! Can't you see?" Ava yelled and I slapped her.
Again.
She held her face and she looked directly into my eyes. "You just never listen to me," she mouthed and she scoffed.
I turned away for a second.
At that point, I was beginning to get tired of our unnecessary fights.
The Ava that I raised never talked back at, there she was, yelling in my face.
"I can take everything, but I can't watch you raining insults on my family, Ava!" I yelled at her.
Ava laughed with her head lowered. Obviously mocking me. "Your call them your family? And they sent you away when you needed them the most. Even your freak of a father couldn't stop his wife." She spoke.
She was saying the truth, but…. she's still too young for all of this.
"Whether you like it or not, Ava, they are your grandparents and nothing changes that!" I yelled, and before she could say anything else, I continued.
"Whether you like it or not, Ava, you're going to my mother's house with me! I am your mother, and you have no right to argue with me!" I sneered.
I'm the mom here and there's nothing she can do about it.
I walked into the car and I shut the door behind. I rested my head on the seat and yes, Ava was right.
Going to my parents house is just as worse as walking up to the gate of hell all by myself.
My mother had always controlled my father. He wouldn't bare to say a word when she makes a decision and my siblings aren't any better.
My elder brother is just as useless as anything else and even if he robs a bank, he'll still receive a warm welcome from mom.
My sister on the other hand has three children for three different men and I even heard that she is currently pregnant.
Everything that surrounded my family was strongly against me. I was the rebel, just like they would call me. I was the one who wasn't in support of the way dad was treated by mom and how she always gave my siblings a five star for doing something wrong.
Mom hated me.
She never gave me any attention and it wasn't even like I wanted it either. But even with that, I thought she still love me and she was only being hard. I got to know how much she hated me when she sent Ava and I out, telling us to go and never come back.
Crazy, isn't it.
Ava finally joined me in the car. She had her head rested on the window and her face thickened with a frown.
"It's only going to last for a few weeks Ava before I get our house issue figured out," I promised, thinking that would make her feel better.
"And my school?" Ava asked, still not looking in my direction.
"You'll get into a new school," I answered. "You have been saying that for more than a month, now, mom and I don't even know what school smells like any more," Ava yelled.
Can't she just understand me for once!
Raising a teenager is one of the hardest things ever.
I should have received an award by now for raising Ava.
"I just got to overcome one of the hardest phase of my life, Ava! Do you know what it feels like, having to drive to your problems by yourself? I have a lot running through my mind, now Ava! I don't even know how I'm going to face my mother! It has been five good years without a word from them, Ava! I'm doing all of this because of you! What am I even going to say to them? That I was once found and now I'm seen or what?" I asked and tears rolled out of my eyes.
Ava was…. silent.
"I am so confused now, Ava and the least you can do is just keep your mouth shut and obey me. For once, Ava, just leave me alone! I need some peace!" I yelled at her.
I felt lighter after saying those words. I ignited the car engine, and with fear, anxiety, anger and no money, off I went to the demons that I call my family members.