In "Family Ties," the Moretti family is everything, or so they thought. But beneath the surface of loyalty lies a web of betrayal and lies. In the heart of this tangled mess, the Morettis struggle to find their footing, torn apart by secrets and dec...
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Flashback
12 Year Old Shanice
Close your eyes and take deep breaths, everything is going to be fine. Malcolm has changed he's not going to betray your trust like before. He's come a long way...he can be trusted now.
These are all the thoughts that roam through my head every time I'm left alone with my father.
"Hey is everything ok" he asked taking me away from my thoughts
"Yeah just thinking about the movie we're going to see" I lied putting my hands in my pockets
"Did you wanna stop by the gas station to get snacks before we go" he asked as we waited at the crosswalk
"Sure" I said and looked at my watch. It was 8:15 which meant we only had another 15 minutes to spare before the movie started. And he knew how much I hated being late for anything, especially the movies.
"Go pick out what you want, I'll be at the counter" he said and I walked to the back of the store where the drinks were and my phone started ringing.
"Hey baby is everything ok" my mom asked
"Yes ma'am we stopped at the gas station to get snacks, I think we might be late seeing the movie" I said looking at my watch
"I want you to enjoy yourself it's your birthday and you only turn 12 once ok and tell your father to call me after the movies" she said
"Yes ma'am, love you" I said hanging up
I picked up my drink and headed to the counter but Malcolm wasn't there.
"Hey do you know where my dad went" I asked the clerk
"I think he went outside to smoke" he said
When I walked outside I didn't see him, when I was about to walk back in the gas station I started to hear yelling. It was coming from the side of the building, the closer I went the more I realized it was my father's voice.
"Where the fuck is the money Malcolm" the man said
"I don't have it" Malcolm said trying to cover his face but it only made the man more mad
The guy was starting to get annoyed at my father, I couldn't really see his face I only noticed the rings on his finger. Then out of nowhere he started punching my father.
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"Get off of him" I yelled jumping on the mans back to stop him and he threw me off
I landed straight on my back knocking the wind out of me, my head was throbbing from the fall. I turn my head and I could see my father running away.
"See what you did he got away bitch" he said picking me up off the ground and throwing me against the wall.
"Help me!!!" I screamed and he started punching me
"Shut the fuck up" he said punching me in the face repeatedly
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Every punch was worse than the one before, all I felt was his knuckles and rings on my face. It felt like with every punch his rings were being engraved in my face. And all I could think about was how could my father just leave me there. My 12th birthday...I learned a lot that night, that people can hurt you deeply and not even worry about you. A tough lesson for a little girl to learn.
End Of Flashback
Present Day
"Happy Birthday" my boss said taking me out of my thoughts
"Thank you" I said
"Any plans for your 22nd before the nights over" she asked gathering her stuff
"No I think I'm going to finish up here and then head home before the rain starts"
"Shanice it's your birthday you don't have to close up the shop tonight" she said folding her laptop shut and grabbing her umbrella.
"Trust me I want to. Have a good night"
"Good night, be safe" she said handing me the keys and leaving
After about an hour passed, I finished up cleaning my station and locked up for the night. I walked out the back door and to my surprise there were two men standing by my car.
"Shanice Brown" One of the guys asked, I could barely see his face because it was so dark out and lightly sprinkling. The moonlight gave him a slight glow, only enough for me to notice the scar on his right cheek.
"Who's asking"
I noticed the guy with the car look over his right shoulder I guessed signaling for the other guy to approach.
And I did what any sane bitch in that moment would do.....RUN
"Damn it" I heard on then say as I took off running
I didn't know how much more my legs could take, but something kept telling me don't stop. It felt like I've been running for hours and getting nowhere. The more I ran the angrier the man got.
"Wait til I catch you bitch"
My heart was racing, it felt like my lungs were going to give out on me. The weather wasn't making it any better, the night sky mixed with the cold rain only made it harder to see. As I continued to run I was praying someone would help me.
"Mr. Wilson!! Help!." I screamed as I banged on the barbershop door.
Mr. Wilson's barbershop was right across the street from the salon and he would typically stay late at the shop to clean up after closing. I was praying he was their but know one came to the door.
"Where the fuck do you think your going?" the guy said grabbing me
"Get the fuck off of me" I screamed trying to push him away from me, but it only made his hold on my arm tighter and he begin dragging me to this van.
"Stop fucking resisting your coming with me. Skar your ass could be helping instead of watching me struggle" he said to the other guy as he tried to tie my hands
"You know what fuck this shit" the guy with the scar said getting frustrated and stuck me with a syringe.
After the pinch in my arm everything started to get blurry till everything went completely dark.
