Beneath The Veil Of Desire

Shadow Of Blame🍂

The song ended, and Jacob Knight walked me back to where Dad was standing. I couldn't help but notice the glare Rose shot in my direction, her eyes filled with resentment as if she could end my existence at any moment. Her cruelty knew no bounds.

My heart raced as I stood beside Dad, a wave of dread washing over me. "I'm dead," I thought, my pulse pounding in my ears. Dad looked furious, but I couldn't understand why. Was it my fault? After all, Mr. Knight had asked me for a dance, and it was Dad who had permitted him.

Mr. Knight nodded to my Dad, and just as Rose moved toward him, he excused himself and disappeared into the crowd. I couldn't help but steal a last glance at him; he was undeniably the most handsome man I had ever seen, and his departure left me with a strange mixture of relief and longing.

As he vanished into the throng of partygoers, I felt a yearning deep within me, a longing for something I couldn't quite grasp. It was as if his presence had stirred emotions I had never known before, and his absence left an ache that I couldn't explain.

But the tension around me brought me back to the harsh reality of the moment. Rose's resentful gaze was still fixed on me, and Dad's anger seemed to intensify with each passing second. I tried to find solace in the memory of Mr. Knight's brief company, a distraction from the brewing storm in my family.

Yet, as the night continued, and we eventually left the party, the unresolved tension hung heavy in the air. The mysterious encounter with Jacob Knight had left an indelible mark on me, one that would continue to haunt my thoughts and emotions in the days to come.

I turned to face Dad, and a wave of dread washed over me. "I'm dead," I thought, my heart racing. Dad looked furious, but I couldn't understand why. Was it my fault? After all, Mr. Knight had asked me for a dance, and it was Dad who had permitted him.

We didn't say anything at the party, and after a few hours, we thanked the host and left for home. However, as soon as we entered the house, Nancy erupted in anger, yelling at Dad. "May I know what just happened over there?"

Dad's response was perplexing, "I couldn't have said no to him." It sounded like the most obvious thing to him.

Rose, on the other hand, turned her anger towards me with a malicious gleam in her eyes. "You... what about you?" She glared at me with undisguised hatred. I tried to explain, "I... I didn't do anything. It was him who asked-"

She cut me off with a barrage of insults. "He ignored me because of you, Heaven! Who the hell are you in front of me? You dirty..." Her words turned venomous, and she threatened, "I'll kill you for sure. I told you, Dad, not to take her with us, but you..."

Her anger flared, and she threw me against the wall, her hand closing around my throat, choking the life out of me. The pain was unbearable, and I felt suffocated. Tears streamed down my face as I gasped for breath.

"Leave me, Rose, please," I begged, struggling to speak as the pain intensified. I didn't know how much longer I could endure this torture.

But Dad intervened, ordering her to stop. "Leave her, Rose. It's an order!" He hugged her, and she smirked evilly at me, her cruelty leaving scars that went deeper than the physical ones. Then, he came closer, his anger palpable, and shouted, "GET LOST!"

Terrified, I ran back to my room and locked the door. Why did it always have to be me? Why did everything seem to be my fault? Was I that bad?

I went to my cupboard and took out a photograph of my mom. Hugging it tightly, I cried my heart out. Those memories were all I had left, the only solace in my painful life.

Mom, you're my rock and my guiding light,
Your strength and love shine so bright.
In your care, I find my place,
Your gentle presence, a warm embrace.

You guide me when I stumble and stray,
You're my anchor, showing the way.
No task too big, no question too small,
You've been there to catch me whenever I fall.

Your comfort is my sanctuary, a soothing song,
In my darkest moments, you keep me strong.
I cherish you in ways beyond measure,
You're my first choice, my eternal treasure.

As I clung to the photograph of my mother, tears continued to stream down my cheeks. The pain, both physical and emotional, weighed heavily on my fragile shoulders. In the dim light of my room, memories of my mother flooded back - the comforting lullabies, the warm embraces, and the reassuring words that had once provided solace in times like these. But now, my world had become a nightmare.

My father's inexplicable anger and Rose's relentless cruelty seemed to have no end. It was as if they blamed me for the problems that had befallen our family. Outside my locked door, the muffled voices of Nancy and Rose echoed through the house.

I strained to listen, trying to understand what had transpired at the party, why my father had seemed so powerless to deny Mr. Knight's request, and why Rose had singled me out for such intense hatred. My thoughts swirled in confusion. I had only danced with Mr. Knight because he had asked, and my father had granted permission. I was innocent in all of this, yet I bore the brunt of their rage. As the night grew darker, I couldn't help but feel isolated and trapped in my own home. The photograph of my mother became a symbol of the love and safety I had lost. It was a connection to a time when life had been different, before my mother's absence and the turmoil that had engulfed our family. But in my heart, a new emotion took root: a burning desire for justice. I vowed to uncover the truth behind my father's strange behavior and Rose's unrelenting cruelty.

I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I had to find a way to break free from the shackles of blame that had been unfairly placed upon me. With renewed determination, I wiped away my tears, clutching the photograph tightly. I whispered to my mother's image, "I won't let them destroy me. I'll uncover the secrets they're hiding, and I'll make things right, for and for me."

Little did I know that this moment marked the beginning of a journey that would test my strength, resilience, and the depths of my determination to unravel the mysteries surrounding my family.