From My Perspective (BWBM)✔️

I

Cleo Mitchell
June🌞
NY📍

I took a seat in my dad's office and huffed. He rolled his eyes and put the book he was reading down before looking at me.

"Something wrong, baby?"
"Mom said it's time I got a job. She said sooner or later, I'm going to be cut off. Isn't that an awful thing to say to your only child?", I told him.

He shook his head and chuckled.

"Your mom is only looking out for your best interest, Cleo.", my dad said as he sat up in his chair.
"But Daddy, I don't need a job. What would I even do?"
"I told you to do something with your art. You could be a world-renowned artist by now."
"But that sounds hard and it's not like I need the fame or money."
"You never know. We could lose everything we have tomorrow. What would you do then?", he asked before taking a sip of his coffee.
"But we would never lose everything. You've always taken care of us, Daddy."

He sighed and shook his head.

"I think this is just something you're going to have to see for yourself. It's not all peaches and cream, Cleo. You want a good life for yourself, you have to earn it."
"I have earned it."
"By doing what exactly?"
"You always say good things happen to good people. I'm a good person. I have earned the right to a good life, Dad."

He shook his head as my mother walked into the room.

"Are you disturbing your father again, Cleo?", she asked as she handed him the mail.
"Just telling him how you don't love me anymore."
"My love, all I asked you to do is think about getting a job. We aren't going to be here forever."

Three months later

I watched as my mother was lowered to the ground. I stood alone in the graveyard with only the gravediggers who couldn't care less that I just lost the only person I had left.

How did this happen? A few months ago, I had the entire world in the palm of my hands and now I have nothing left.

A camera flash pulled me out of my thoughts and I finally noticed a man standing on the edge of the graveyard, taking pictures of me. I let out a sigh and shook my head at the disgusting paparazzo.

No fucking human decency whatsoever.

I put on my sunglasses and walked back over to the car where my driver, John, was waiting.

John has been chauffeuring me around since I was 12 years old and unfortunately, this would be my last ride with him.

"It's been a pleasure serving you, Miss Mitchell.", John said as he stopped in front of my house.

I noticed the paparazzi were already approaching and knew that I needed to get in my house as soon as possible.

"Thank you, John. Take care."
"Would you like me to walk you to your door, Madam?"
"No, I can do this. Thanks, John.", I said before rushing out of the car and practically running inside my house. I could hear the paparazzi screaming my name from the sidewalk.

I let off a deep breath before walking further into the near-vacant house that was once filled with joy and my loving family.

I sat down on the uncomfortable, metal futon in the center of what used to be my family living room. I grabbed my sketchbook and one of the broken colored pencils that lay next to it.

As soon as the pencil hit the page, my phone rang. I sighed, knowing exactly who it was.

"This is a collect call from Clive Mitchell, an inmate at Metropolitan Detention Center. All phone calls are subject to recording and monitoring. To decline this call, press one. To accept this call, press nine."

My finger lingered over the number one before my conscious took over and forced me to press the nine key.

"Thank you. Your call has been accepted."
"Cleo?"

I sucked in a breath before exhaling.

"Hi, Daddy."