With Love, Pandora-On hold

Chapter 1

"What the hell?!" Pandora screamed as she felt the cold water hit her. She rubbed her hands over her tired eyes and blinked as she looked at the frown on her stepmother's face. "Mind your language young lady. You should've been up hours ago. Breakfast won't make itself" her stepmother said again as she left the small room.

Pandora hurriedly got up and went to the kitchen. Grace was the only parent she ever knew. Apparently, her mother died while giving birth to her and her father died in a crash before she was even two years old. She can't recall a time when Grace was ever kind towards her. Ever since she was eight years old, she was responsible for the cleaning and cooking in the household. Along with that, the twins, Marly and May, they've made her life hell at both school and at home.

After preparing breakfast she went to clean the kitchen. She's not allowed to eat with them since they see her more as their servant. The only time that she's allowed to join them at the dinner table is when they have guests, because as Grace would like to say, they have an image to uphold. So, to the outside world she portrays the role of caring stepmother, while behind closed doors the complete opposite is true.

"Ow!" she screamed as she felt something hard hit the backside of her head. She turned around and it was no surprise to see the twins standing there each holding an egg, ready to throw it at her. "Please guys, I'm gonna be late for school. I still have to clean your rooms. You making a mess doesn't help anyone" Pandora said timidly. "Moooooom!!!" May screamed. "Moooom!!! Come and take a look at the mess Pandora made" she screamed again with a huge grin on her face. Pandora sighed. "It's going to be long day" she thought as she heard her stepmother's nearing footsteps. "What have you done now, you ungodly child" Grace said as she looked at the egg dripping on the floor from Pandora's hair. "I'm sorry mother, I will clean it up now" Pandora responded and hurriedly grabbed a cloth to clean up the mess. "You won't be leaving for school if the house is not cleaned. Come on girls, you're going to be late" she said looking at the twins. Pandora sighed. Looks like she's going to miss school again. She's running out of excuses on why she's late and why she didn't go school. She tried telling the school therapist about what is happening in the household but seeing that her stepmother is a respected member of the community, who donates funds to the school's various projects, her claims was discarded.

It took Pandora almost another two hours to clean the rest of the house. She sighed as she scanned if anyone was around before she made herself a sandwich. After she was done, she grabbed a bottle of water, an apple and her notebook and made her way towards the forest. Somehow, she always felt connected to the forest. It brings her calmness and so much joy to be out in nature. It's also where she writes to her pen pal, Emily.

Emily lives in Spain with her wealthy parents. If it wasn't for Pandora's messed up sense of belonging and family, Emily would probably have had her parents take in Pandora years ago. Pandora was reading through the newspaper two years ago when she saw the ad for a pen pal for a lonely, shy girl in Spain, who wanted to know more about America. Seeing as they offered good money to write to someone twice a week, she grabbed the opportunity. With that money she could make a clean break when the time was ready. When that will be, she didn't know, she just felt that she was supposed to stay with the family who raised her, although they treated their animals better than they've ever treated her. She came to a small stream and she sat down with a sigh. She took out her note pad and started writing:

"Dear Emily,

I missed school again today. The step monsters thought it would be fun to throw eggs at me while I was busy cleaning the kitchen. Of course, they were also the first ones to notify Your Grace of the mess that "I've" made in the kitchen. I get so tired of cleaning up after them all the time, but what am I supposed to do. They looked after me when I had no one. I know you believe that I feel unnecessary guilt because of the way they've been treating me, but people can change, right? What if one day they start to love me? What if they start to accept me as they've accepted me into their home when I was young with no one to take care of me?" I know you are going to tell me that I'm naïve and that the world doesn't work that way, but what if? What if, Ems? Gosh I'm so tired today. Grace made me do all the laundry last night. I only got in bed after 01:00am. But enough complaining about my boring life. Did Jake ask you out? What are you planning on doing for your seventeenth birthday? Please do tell. The twins will be having their sweet sixteen next week, 18 February. It's probably going to be a big bash with all the snobs of the town. Guess who'll play Cinderella. Her highness will probably dress me up in the finest gown-which I will never hear the end about-and parade me around to possible suitors. Did I tell you about the other day when she said that once I turn eighteen, she will sell me to some rich husband. Well I still hope it doesn't get to that. There's this creepy guy who usually comes to visit. I think the idea is for us to get married. Please pray with me that mother change her mind and attitude towards me in the next couple of months. I won't stay seventeen for long. I can't wait for your next letter.

PS: Did you like the photo I sent you? My hair needs a cut. I struggle to maintain it. Hope to get one of you back with your next letter.

With Love,

Your friend, Pandora."

After stashing the letter, she decided to take a nap. She woke up startled, her eyes bulging as she looked around her to see if she saw anyone. "Damn, I'm losing it" she thought as she thought of the soft, angelic voice that she heard whisper: "Wake up my angel, we'll be together again soon". She shook her head to get it clear. "Maybe I dreamt. But I can't remember dreaming anything. It was just that voice that woke me up" she thought with a frown. She sighed as she stood up and stretched. "Daydreaming won't get you anywhere Pandora. Get your butt home. I just wonder what horrors awaits me this time" she thought to herself as she rushed home.