Needle & Thread

Chapter 1

Deirdre Doherty
I just wanted to be loved.

"Don't think highly of yourself, you're jus' convenient" he whispers while giving me a look of pity. After hastily pulling on his clothes, he walks out of the door to greet my very knowledgeable mother.

She looks down on herself when he touches me and not her.

I just wish he wouldn't touch anything

I still remember when my family used to go to the bakery a town over, stuffing our faces with cake for every celebration.

Traveling over mountains to midnight picnic while pointing to shapes in the sky as if they were telling a story.
My sister, Elspeth,created that strange mixture of activities. She always made little dates for our family to go on. Once she grew a little older the ideas would dilute to only prayers.

After hearing the large front door close, i shakily pull the clothes from my bedroom floor, quietly covering my bare skin with it's designated clothe.

After a moment of silence I follow my fathers footsteps, hoping for my mother's condolences . The room is filled with the citrusy aroma of freshly baked Dundee cake.

I make my way to the couch, stepping with caution as to not disturb mothers' baking.

I sit in silence for a moment before my mother reaches the chair on my side.

"Ere' hen, have some cake" My mother says this as she walks toward of the front door. She isn't sorry, she is disappointed.

I sit in silence, quietly eating my cake, watching my mother leave, a frown staining my face.

I quickly run to my bedroom as the front door closes in my mothers wake.

In a fit of anger, I rip the sheets off from what used to be my resting place, tears slowly streaming down as if to make a puddle of sorrow.

After gathering the filth, trying to clean what I can, I stand still, staring at my ruined safe haven.

The seemingly never ending tears flow, gripping to my dark hair as it travels.

A knock on the door immediately dries my tears.

I quickly open the door, in fear of punishment.

"You're a whore!" My mother shouts with tear filled eyes.
I stand in shock as if to take blame.

My mother's cold hand reaches my cheek, leaving a large pink tint with a lingering sting.

I fall to the floor from the force as my fathers shadow comes into view behind my mother.

Mother doesn't show any sign of regret as she calmly walks away, closing the door behind her.

Im sure my father explained to her how i provoked him; how i was begging him, hoping and praying that he would assault me.

I stay there, lying in a pool of my own tears until sleep takes over my already lifeless body.