ℒ𝒶 𝒩𝓊𝒾𝓉 (AMBW)

𝟒 || 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤

Flashback to Analisse's Childhood

Growing up, Analisse knew but a life of luxury and comfort, devoted almost entirely, however, to her education and piano lessons.

Her parents, Joseph and Margaret Beaumont took a great pleasure in providing their 3 children – Diane, Jackie and Analisse, their youngest – a life of luxury, wealth and education, of which the Beaumont parent's had not been as fortunate to have known growing up as middle class African-Americans.

After having met while still living in America, the young couple realized they both had the same dream of living a life of financial comfort, social mobility, and most importantly, freedom. From there, they both decided to move to Paris, France, where they made their fortune before starting their family.

One day when Analisse was 7 years old, rather than practicing her new piano piece, she wanted to go outside and play with the other children in the park near her home. Though her two older siblings were allowed to enjoy themselves and play with other children their age, be it their schoolmates or the children of their affluent neighbors, Analisse's mother was oddly strict and rather severe with her.

Entering the music room, Mrs. Beaumont looked at her youngest daughter. Analisse had her head stuck out the window, elbows perched against the window sill, looking intently at the children playing out in the nearby street.

"What are you looking at honey," her mother asked her with that distant-like southern accent she always tried to conceal when she spoke English.

"I want to go outside and play with the other kids. I'm bored," she said looking at her mother with a pitiful little frown on her cute, little chubby face.

"Your bored? But isn't practicing any fun honey? You want to sound perfect when you perform at your recital, don't you?" She said with a small hint of laugher.

"I dooo," Analisse dragged out, "but I've been practicing all day."

"An hour isn't all day missy," she said playfully

"But I practice everyday, don't I," she asked her mother looking for some sort of reassurance in her eyes.

"Don't I," her mother said in a questioning tone. Her mother's sharp, slim face that always held a bit of a scowl, shifted dramatically before the nervous little girl. Becoming visibly irritated, her voice began to rise. "Honey, I'm preparing you for the best in life," she said gradually approaching her, putting on a fake smile.

"B-but Diane and Jackie get to go outside and play with their friends."

"Don't you worry about what Diane and Jackie do. They're older anyways."

"B-but," the now quivering Analisse muttered as her mother towered over her.

"You speak up now little girl!"

Not saying anything, Analisse just looked down, as her mother harshly grabbed her thin, little arm."Analisse. Elizabeth. Beaumont." She spoke softly. "What did you say?"

Looking down, visibly shaken as she tried holding back her tears, she said, "B-but it's not fair. Jackie and Diane get to play with other kids." Feeling suddenly courageous, she looked up at her mother, adding, "why am I treated differently?"

Her wide eyes brimmed with tears looking up unto the cold eyes of her mother. She looked up at this now, almost, stranger, with an expectant look that still begged to be loved. That still asked to be comforted.

There was a moment of complete silence. All that could be heard were the distant yells of children playing in the street, automobiles and horse-drawn carriages passing by, and the sounds of free, happy birds chirping and singing in the trees out in the courtyard.

With this sudden crazed, rage set in her eyes, she struck Analisse harshly across the face, leaving a dark, red mark against her brown-skin. The sound echoed through the room.

Pointing her shaking finger directly in front of the emotionless face of the little girl, Mrs. Beaumont said in a voice not above a whisper, "you dare speak to me like that ever again.

Attempting to stay strong, she said nothing, just staring blankly into the distance, holding back every tear, and scream, and sob that strained to get out.

"You're different from the other children, Analisse. Y-you're... you're," struggling to finish her sentence, she finally said, "you're ill is what you are, and must therefor devote your life to your studies and your music."

Walking over to the large window that seemed to pour mounds of golden rays of sunlight into the plain room, Mrs. Beaumont yanked the large rectangular shutters in, locking them in place.

Doing the same for the windows, she closed them shut and finally drew the dark drapes in, covering the windows.

The room had become considerably dark. Walking to the door leading out into the hallway, Mrs. Beaumont turned on the electric ceiling light. With her body half way through the door entrance, she spoke now at a regular volume, as if nothing had happened.

"I will return in an hour, and you will have learnt the first four bars of your piece. Understood?"

With no response, she repeated her question with a raised voice. "Understand Analisse?"

"Yes ma'am," she answered with her head now bent down. Hearing her mother close the door, and lock it, Analisse now let her tears fall freely to the floor.

She cried very bitterly, with such hatred for her mother born today in her young heart, and the sadness which drew from her aching loneliness.

Only three thoughts continuously circulated her young mind in that moment:

I'll never have any friends.

I'll always be alone.

I'll never be happy.

Author's Note: Thank you for reading! Please comment and vote. Much love, Yara♡