𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐜𝐤 | 𝐁𝐍𝐇𝐀

Cʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴇɪɢʜᴛ

Erity

Born into a family as mundane as boring, Erity was a child who could be described as full of energy. It was true that she participated little in school, too nervous to be the center of attention of her class even for a minute. But, the little girl would transform around her family; around those with whom she was comfortable.

Her older brother was her favorite person. Of course, she liked her parents, she loved them even. But her big brother was different, he was the only one who was able to offer her the love she needed.

Her mother loved her but she forbade her many things. She didn't let the girl play in the forest or stay in the living room when it was dark outside because when it was dark outside it was a sign that the kids had to leave their parents alone and go to bed.

Her mother was also having a hard time being a mom, Erity felt like her eyes were always tired when she would look at her and her brother. When she cried, her mother would start with a sigh while the other moms would with a worried look. Her mother also refused her hugs, a simple loving gesture that she would only accept in the morning when she knew that she would not see the little girl for several hours.

Her father, for him, she didn't know. She would only see him at night, at dinner time. Everyone would sit at the table and he would come home with a grunt before joining them to swallow his plate while nodding without really listening to his daughter's stories.

In fact, Erity was only sure of one thing concerning her father: he preferred the mother to his children. There was no doubt about that. All one had to do was look at him smiling at his wife, a smile that revealed all his teeth while the one for his children was struggling to raise his fine lips.

However, the little girl didn't feel bad. She had her brother. He accepted the hugs that mom didn't want and he gave her the smiles that dad didn't give.

Sometimes their parents would lock them up in the little house for a weekend. It wasn't very ethical for parents to do this to their children but they would apologize by leaving their favorite chocolate bars next to the TV. And anyway, for Erity it didn't matter because her older brother was the best.

In addition to knowing how to cook the nuggets in the shape of dinosaurs and the hiding place of the chocolate bar package, her brother knew how to open the back door, the one that overlooked the hill.

Those weekends stuck in the little house were actually, for Erity, adventures to share with her older brother. They would walk for hours through paths that she knew like the back of her hand. From time to time, her brother would point at an insect or a flower and offered her a little anecdote that she accepted, eyes shining with admiration.

And when it was dark outside, their would stay empty. The two siblings would travel to the top of the hill, the place closest to the sky. And there, lying on the grass, they would admire the stars in the sky, the youngest exclaiming at each shooting stars before closing her little eyes and repeating her vows in her head like her brother had taught her.

To become like him. Become as kind, as funny, as generous, as intelligent...

As different as that stupid girl that she was.

"- you should have died!"

Hisae was right, it would have been easier if she had never been born.

"I didn't deserve it. I am the star of this team! It's me-"

With a kick, I slammed the door of my room. That of the entrance was not enough tonight to dilute the sound of that old woman to which was now added the barking of a small Yorkshire.