RESILIENCE

PART ONE: (chapter 1& chapter 2)

Chapter one: "A Family's Struggle: Raynell's Ordeal"

On a sunny day, the 16th of November, life changed within seconds on this fateful day. Raynell had experienced a lot, and she is still struggling to believe it. It seemed like a dream to her loved ones.

Raynell is a fourteen-year-old teenager, brimming with beauty, courage, and, most notably, brilliance. She is the only female child of Mr. and Mrs. Badmus. She has four elder brothers whom she looks up to as role models, except for one elder brother who failed to make any positive strides in life immediately after his high school final examinations.

Matthew has been a source of pain to his family, having failed to live a life worthy of mention. Although he has always wished well for his siblings, all his kindness was extinguished when he realized the pain he had caused Raynell.

Raynell, a fourteen-year-old teenager, sat in the living room on an armchair, engrossed in her favorite TV show. She has a fondness for cartoons, especially Cinderella and Barbie, from which she learns valuable lessons about facing challenges and resolving them.

While Raynell was immersed in her show, she couldn't help but notice the absence of everyone except her seemingly worthless brother, Matthew. Matthew was in his room, as usual, drinking and smoking, leaving Raynell puzzled about his habits.

Raynell was shocked and scared when Matthew tapped her on the shoulder. Later in the afternoon, Matthew stumbled into the living room, reeking of alcohol. Initially, Raynell ignored him, but fear gripped her as he forcefully grabbed her right arm and pulled her towards him. With fear in her voice, she asked, "Matthew, what have I done to deserve this treatment? Please release my arm; it hurts!" She cried in pain as Matthew found amusement in her teary, anguished face.

As the day wore on, Raynell lay on the cold ground, sobbing and crying, her face swollen, red, and pale. She looked frustrated and depressed and eventually fell asleep, unable to suppress her body's need for rest.

As evening approached, Mr. and Mrs. Badmus returned home, blissfully unaware of the turmoil that had unfolded in their absence. Francis, the second-born, sensed a strange atmosphere in the house but dismissed it, eager to share his good news about a new job with his little sister, Raynell, and Matthew. He went to his room for a bath and rest.

Mrs. Badmus, concerned about her missing daughter, searched the house and called out for Raynell, to no avail. She eventually walked into Matthew's room, finding it in disarray with bottles scattered around. Matthew was absent. Her worry deepened, and as she tried to close the room, she heard a yawn from a corner. There, she found her child in a disheveled state. She called for her husband and sons for assistance.

An hour later, Raynell awoke in her room, feeling dizzy and stressed. She found a bottle of water and a pain relief tablet in her drawer to ease her pain. Attempting to stand, she winced in pain and began yelling and crying loudly, expressing her frustration and pain. Her family rushed to her room, concerned and supportive. Mr. Badmus held her hand, trying to calm her down, and asked her to share what was troubling her. Raynell, with teary eyes, pushed her father away and demanded that they leave her room, stating that nothing was wrong and she only needed rest until her brother returned.

Chapter Two: A Family in Turmoil: Raynell's Painful Revelation

The atmosphere in the house is tense, with only Mr. Badmus's voice heard as he talks to his wife. "Ever since our dear child was born, she has never pushed me away, thrown things, or acted as scared as she was earlier today. She has never done this before. Why did she act this way today? I have a bad feeling that something awful happened in our absence, but I don't understand why she's keeping it to herself," he laments. Mrs. Badmus watches her husband closely as he speaks, sharing the same concerns. She knows Raynell would never act so rudely towards anyone. Raynell's continuous yelling disrupts Mrs. Badmus's thoughts.

Hastily, Mr. and Mrs. Badmus rush to Raynell's room, where they find everything indisarray. Raynell sits in a corner, crying and sobbing, uttering strange sentences that leave her parents dumbfounded. She says, "Why did you do this to me? I thought you loved me and cherished my dreams. Why? I hate you." Mr. Badmus, perplexed, approaches her with the intention of comforting her, but Raynell pushes him away, stands up, and hits her father for the first time in her life.

During this chaos, Francis, Timothy, Andrew, and the person responsible for Raynell's distress are all present. Francis rushes to his unconscious father, who has been shocked by his child's actions. Timothy takes Raynell aside with a questioning look and asks, "Little sister, why did you do that to our dad? You know he hasn't been well for the past three days. Why hurt him like this? Please, talk to me and end this silence." He raises his voice in frustration.

Raynell hugs her brother, sobs for a while, and then turns to her dad, who has regained consciousness. She says in a regretful tone, "Dad, I'm so sorry. I'm really frustrated right now because something terrible happened to me today. I can't say it because every time I try, painful memories flood back. This is causing me great anguish, and I fear I'll continue to despise myself for a long time." Mr. Badmus, still in shock, looks at his child, empathizing with her pain, and hugs her to offer warmth and comfort, encouraging her to share her ordeal. He says, "I'm here for you, my dear. Tell me everything."

Meanwhile, Matthew, who had been absent all day after his wrongdoing, returns home and witnesses his father consoling his little sister. He stands beside his father, wondering why Raynell looks so despondent. Raynell, not noticing his presence until now, has a sudden realization, and her emotional state turns panicky. She pushes his hand away, starts yelling, and slaps him seven times, loudly exclaiming, "I will never forget this day. How dare you sit next to me and touch me? You are a pain, and I regret calling you my brother." Mrs. Badmus, unable to tolerate the unfolding drama, rushes over to them, slaps Raynell twice, and angrily asks, "How dare you? How could you slap your elder brother and use such words while I'm here? Have you forgotten everything I've taught you?"

Raynell, deeply hurt by her mother's actions and words, flees the house, running as fast and far as her legs will carry her. Her sole intent is to escape from the turmoil in her life. She runs into the darkness, crying heartily, and eventually collapses.