Kidnapped

1

Melissa

Every day we compare ourselves to the nasty, unhealthy way society pushes women and young girls to be. Looking into the mirror hanging on the back of my door, I don't feel the way everyone says I should feel. I should feel proud, happy, and beautiful. But in reality, I fI feel empty, unhappy, and entirely unsatisfied that I don't look as beautiful as the celebrities I always see. With a deep sigh I finish putting my hair up and smooth out the wrinkles in my clothes from being folded in my dresser drawer.

    "Melissa Grace if you aren't down here in five minutes I swear I will leave you here and you can walk to school!" I hear my mom yell from the bottom of the stairs.
My glance quickly shoots to the clock hanging by my doorframe noting it was only 7:20. I roll my eyes and grab my bag exiting the room calling to her that I'm on my way down. School didn't start till 8:15 and I only live about a 10 minute drive from the school. My mother was always rushing me and always making sure her priorities came before anything else; even before her own daughter and family. My mother worked as a real estate agent and didn't have to be in her office until 9, so why she was rushing is beyond my comprehension but I have a feeling it isn't work related.

My mother has always had two sides of her. To the public's eye, she is caring and beyond dedicated to helping others in need. Always smiling and helping others. Then there's the private eye where she thinks she is better than anyone else in the family and thinks she deserves way more than she is given. Always giving that nasty glare to anyone in the family that walks up and speaks to her. Always giving short answers with a bitchy attitude. Maybe this is why she has become more successful in her career over the last 5 years; going in and getting that "head start" before everyone; pretending to care using that sticky sweet tone to allow everyone to fall under her spell and do whatever she wants. Granted my mom is beautiful but you can that surgeons for that.

But I think there is a different motive to all this. I think my mom is a gold digger. Ever since my dad left us when I was 4, I knew my mom felt lonely. She has alway done anything and everything to get money and very expensive things no matter what the cost. I think she is trying to fill the gaping hole in her heart my father left her with. I have had a suspicion that my mom is secretly dating her boss for some time now. I haven't confronted her with the fear she'd be furious about me asking. But certain things she say's and does lead me to think she is. Her boss is much older than she is, but he is filthy rich. Starting a company from the ground up and managing to make it successful. For my mother's young age, she has quickly rose in the hierarchy of the business and it has made me suspicious of her dating her boss in the first place, which in turn could be another reason to her quick incline in the agency.

I also noticed a change in her attitude towards me once she rose to that high position. It wasn't normal stress or anything work related. She'd snap at me for helping do chores and making dinner, which any normal parent would be ecstatic for the help. I understand coming home late, you don't have the energy to do much of anything. I try to help, I try to be there for her, but she has pushed me away so far. I feel like it isn't my mom anymore; not since her raise in position.

"Finally! You are going to make me so late," I heard her mutter to me.

"Mom you don't go in for another hour and a half, what is all the rush?"

"Melissa don't even start with me. When I say we need to leave, I mean just that. I don't have to explain myself to you. You'd never understand anyway. My job requires much of my attention, you should be lucky I'm even driving you in the first place," she snapped as we walked out the front door.
I blushed at the embarrassment. Was I that much of a burden to her? I quickly get into the passenger seat and silently buckled my seatbelt. The ride to my school was quiet and heavy. You feel the tension grow in the car. It was super uncomfortable. I just wanted to jump out of the moving car. We arrive at my school at 7:30, and as I am getting ready to exit my mom speaks to me.

"I may or may not come home tonight." Her face is straight and she looked annoyed. "I have some business to attend to and people to see. Figure something out for dinner or whatever. I don't care if you go to Adelade's or if you make it home. Just make sure you eat to school on time tomorrow. I better not get a call that you were absent or late."
"You know I am never late and never absent. You don't have to worry about that."

"Don't talk back! Just get it done," her brows were nearly touching as she looked at me in anger.

"I'm not. I'm just saying-" I argue but got interrupted.

"Damnit Melissa! Get out of my car! I have places to be, get out!" She looked livid at this point. I thought her ears would expel steam like a train engine.

As I gather my thinks I hear something that sounds like 'damn Jeff told me you'd get like this'. But with the rustling of my things I couldn't hear that well. "Bye mom, love you."

She said nothing as I closed the car door and she sped off. Once I was out of the car I could finally take a deep breath and I felt the tiniest tears fall from my eyes. I quickly shake it off and walk to the school feeling upset. I just hope the school day isn't so bad.