Velvet Walls

Chap.1, I'm The Glue.

(Author's note: the dervishi mansion is inspired by the Winchester mystery house. Although Viola's experiences in this book regarding her parents are based off my own events, Dave is not. Rather, he is based off of Zheani Sparkes song "Dirtbike." If you or anyone you know is going through any kind of abuse, whether it be SA, Domestic, or verbal, know there is help, and there is hope. In the words of Zheani herself, "I was raised down in the wrong, and if you feel me sing along, and know I'm sorry.")

"Pauline, I told you a million times!...." Is what I hear from down the hallway. I'm standing in the bathroom trying to get ready. We're supposed to be getting ready for my graduation dinner. I'm nearly done, but my parents yelling tells me we're not leaving anytime soon. Eve is in her room on her phone, she was ready hours ago. I'm so jealous of how she can throw on a white dress, put on mascara, and look like a supermodel. I look in the mirror, I'm pretty sure I look decent enough. Me and Eve look pretty similar, although I think it's obvious, we're half-sisters. Even though Eve looks more Czech, like my father, she's considered the adorable one with her big red lips. I just have my mom's softer German features. The only thing I got from my dad was my dirty blonde hair. I'm so jealous of Eve. My dad has brown hair, but somehow, she ended up with golden blonde hair that everyone compliments. Younger sibling privilege, I guess. But we both have the same big blue eyes. Everyone thinks we're full siblings because my mom has strawberry blonde hair, I guess they think that's where Eve got it from. Also, because the story of our family coming together is so confusing, so we just prefer not to tell people.

I can still hear my parents yelling, so I decide to listen in. This usually happens. My mom will do something miniscule that my dad doesn't like, she'll rightfully call him out, and it'll escalate from there. It's never gotten violent in the entirety of the years they've been back together, but some of the words said are borderline emotionally abusive. I just wish they wouldn't fight when Eve could hear. As I'm listening in, I start to realize how serious the argument is. My dad is yelling about how my mom is a gold digger...because she asked for money to replace her broken phone. Argument escalates to insults and I find myself involuntarily standing outside their bedroom door. Usually when they fight, I don't like to listen in. Sometimes I feel the need to take Eve into my bedroom with me away from the fighting. Other times, like tonight I feel the need to stand near the fight, where they don't know I'm listening so I can intervene if it does turn violent. Luckily, I've never had to, but as the fight continues it seems like tonight that may change. I pace back and forth from the bathroom to the bedroom door as my anger grows. I love my father, but I find myself hating him at the moment. My hatred for him grows with every word he says to my mother. I can't take it anymore, and I walk back to the bathroom to find something to fidget with. I grab a hairbrush. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I get a little startled at my reflection. My face, which normally looks very unintimidating, is twisted and contorted with anger. I look madder and more filled with hatred than I ever had in my entire life. I walk back towards the bedroom door with the hairbrush. Prepared to swing it open and defend my mother if he even laid a finger on her. I think about my anger for a second and begin to cry when I realize the hatred I'm feeling is towards my father, the man who raised me. Eve peeks out of her bedroom door. Oh Eve, and her impeccable timing.

"What are they arguing about Vivi?" she begins to ask before she sees the tears in my eyes. "Is it..bad?"

I shake my head.

"You should probably get back in your room. It'll be fine."

She hesitates for a moment.

"He's an asshole."

"Eva Anistasia!"

"What? It's true."

Maybe it was true, but she still shouldn't say that word at 14.