Andrea Wilson-Hawthorne and How She Came To Be

Pt. 1

Although it was 5 years ago, Andrea remembered that horrid day like it was yesterday. She could still picture her young self in her childhood room, with tears running down her cheeks. Lily, her mother, knew why young Andrea was crying, and it pained her that she could not help. Andrea's father was always working. Richard grew up in a small, crime-filled town. He worked every day of his teenage and early adult life to leave his horrible town for America to have a better life. In his early twenties, he met the love of his life, Lily, who soon after got pregnant. He loved Lily and his new daughter with all his heart, but having to pick up another two jobs to support his new family, he barely saw them. Even though he was now one of the richest people in America, he still worked every day. He promised young Andrea he would take the day off to spend time with her, but when she hadn't seen her father all day, she knew he lied. She didn't have any friends, being homeschooled, so it was supposed to be the three of them, it was special that way. So when Andrea realized he broke his promise and was in his office working, she wanted nothing more than to sit in her room and forget her birthday. What is the point of having a birthday party if no one would be there? She didn't even want presents, she just wanted to spend time with her family, and she couldn't even do that.

After a while, Andrea finally calmed down. Lily held in her hands a little box tied in a lilac bow. Andrea's mother loved the color lilac. She was always wearing it some way or another. "Drea? This is from Papi and I. We hope you will like it." She said. At the mention of her father, Andrea looked at her open bedroom door, half expecting him to walk in, but it also didn't surprise her he didn't. "Thank you mamá." The now 12-year-old had said. Lilly handed her daughter the small gift and watched as she opened it. "A necklace?" Andrea asked, looking at the oval-shaped piece of metal with a lily flower carved on it. Her mother nodded. "More specifically, a locket." Lily pointed out, taking the locket. She opened it and showed Andrea the picture inside.

"That's you and Papi... but you look different. Younger." Andrea giggled. "They took this picture right after I told your Papi and Abuelita about you. He was so excited. He loves you so much, even if he doesn't show it. I promise he does." Lily smiled to herself at the memory. "Thank you Mami, I love it so much. Can you help me put it on?" Andrea asked. Lily smiled and nodded. "Andrea? Promise me you will never forget how much we love you." She said while clasping the chain. Andrea nodded really fast. "I promise mamá, I love you." She said while hugging her mom. Just as Lily was about to reply, the sound of glass shattering and arguing sounded throughout the house, and then a gunshot.

"Mamá? Lily quickly hushed her shaking child and told her to get up. "Mamá? What's going on?" the 12-year-old asked. "Sweetie. Why don't you hide behind your bed? I'm going to see what's going on." Lily said. She kissed Andrea on the forehead and left the room, closing the door behind her.

Aundrea sat behind her bed with tears in her eyes. While sitting there, she heard more yelling and more gunshots. There were four in total. Four gunshots Andrea would never get out of her head. After the fourth shot, there was silence. Andrea stood up with tears running down her face and walked over to her door. With a shaky hand, Andrea turned the knob and walked down the hall to the grand staircase. Once she reached the staircase, she peered down, and the sight below her made her scream. She ran down the steps, tripping and falling down the final two. She quickly got up and ran the rest of the way to her father, who held her mother's lifeless body, blood all over them and the floor.

5 years later, Andrea still remembers sitting in the police station, covered in her mother's blood. 5 years later, Andrea still remembers the blank look on her father's face when he told the police he wanted his only daughter, his own flesh and blood, taken away and put in foster care. Andrea still remembers crying every night for her Papi to come and get her for two years until they finally placed her into a foster home. Andrea had to live with the sound of gunshots and the picture of her mother's body haunting her nightmares. What really happened that day was never explained to her. She didn't know who came into the house; she didn't know who shot her mom; she didn't know why her father abandoned her and put her in the system. The only thing she knew was that she hated her birthday.