DIFFERENT

PROLOUGE

AMARA

Before this story can go far, every story has a beginning, heres mine. Obviously, Ill introduce myself, Im Amara Tanaka, African-Asian, Im 15 years old and I suffer from both haphephobia and germaphobia, look it up. Ive always hated that about myself seeing as most people dont see me as normal. Ive never truly been okay with this but whatever.

Back to the story, my mum was born and raised in Japan before she decided to move to SA for her studies. She met my father (Matt) in college when she was 21, they dated for 4 years before he proposed, then at 26, she had me. That was where it all started.

After my birth, my mother made such an effort to raise me well, she never noticed when Matts attitude shifted until it was to late. He came home drunk, mom couldnt leave the house because once she came back, everything would be a mess, alcohol bottles scattered around and boxes and plates of food lying on the ground.

Finally, she confronted him on my 14th birthday and he admitted to everything, he cheated, he never truly loved me and he despised my existence. I was the reason he lost his wife. She cried, asking him if it was true while I sat in my room, door locked, tear stained cheeks and a shattered heart, my father, the man who I loved, truly never loved me back.

He stopped hiding his hate for me, he ignored me, he cursed at me, but one thing I never lost was my faith. Then it happened, after the 20 years of them being together, she asked for a divorce, he flew to my bedroom, calling me names and blaming me, holding me by my throat and telling her I was wasnt worth it. As my mother screamed and cried for him to let me go, and there, my fear was born. We left only after my 15th birthday and thats where this story should begin.