The Life I Was Given

Chapter Two: Kassie Hart

     It's been a month since my father told me he is marrying me off to someone. I haven't talked to him since. Hardly even looked in his direction.

     It still pains me that he is doing this. He could call it off. Say I don't want to anymore— though I never wanted to in the first place.

     I say that only my mom loves me because if my father loved me, this wouldn't have been an option in the first place. He would have never told the guy that I wanted to marry his son.

     He would have never been at that club in the first place.

     I don't understand why my mom still puts up with his bullshit.

     But as much as I've been ignoring my father, my mom has too. She only talks to me, doesn't respond to him, doesn't look at him.

     I wish she would leave him. She is financially stable and could kick him out at any time. But I think she is scared.

     My dad has a temper, a temper that is uncontrollable and often shows at random times. It's constantly walking on egg shells around him.

     There is a part of me that hopes he is slowly beating himself up for it. But I know that would never happen. Holding onto that hope makes me feel a little better, that maybe there is a chance he is starting to realize that what he has done is incredibly horrible.

     I've been in my room, packing. Not to get married though, to run away. I refuse to get married at my age, it doesn't help that I don't know who I'm even getting married to. What if he is some horrible guy that only wants me to abuse me. Keep me as his little toy. 

     It makes me sick to think about it. I will not get married. I am going to run as far as I can. 

     I think my mom has been suspecting me of running, but I'm not exactly trying to hide it from her. If anything, my mom will help me get out. On the other hand, if my father does find out, I'm sure he will find a way to make my life more miserable during my marriage. 

     A small knock echo's through my room, making my body jump. It's not my dad, I'm sure of it. My dads knock is harsher, really makes eyes widen and heads turn. It's my mom. I make my way to the door and open it a crack, enough to where we can both see each other. 

     "Yea mom..?" I whisper. I don't know where my father is right now, but I don't want to take a risk by speaking to loudly. 

     "Can I come in sweetie, we need to talk quickly before your father gets home." Her voice sounds very soft. Not like she is worried at all. 

     I open my door wider and let her walk in. Even though it has been confirmed that my dad isn't home. I don't want to take any chances. He comes home at night and manages to not make a single sound. I wouldn't be surprised if he is creeping around without us knowing right now.

     "What's going on mom? Has something changed? Did dad tell the guy I-" She cuts me off, surprising me a little. My mom has always been one to hear the full story. She is very respectful and is the 'glass half full' kind of person. 

     "Kassie, your father will be home in less than an hour. If he sees that you are gone, he will put the blame on me. You know I have never asked you for anything more than love, but please do not go. I am afraid of him Kassie. I am afraid of the lengths he will go to." She sounds so pleading and it hurts. 

     "They are willing to give us thousands if not millions if you do this. Please think this through for all of us. I will never let anyone hurt you Kassie, I have been the one to raise you and I know what is best for you. Nothing will stop me from standing up to the man you marry if he isn't everything you deserve."

     I know what she is asking. She doesn't want me to go because she needs me, but I never thought she would be so money thirsty. 

     "Mom... are you telling me to marry him. Marry a random man, someone who we have no idea what he wants with me. How do we know that he won't hurt me? How do we know he will even let me talk to you?" I'm starting to get frustrated with her, she is on dads side. I don't believe it. 

     "Do you seriously think I want this Kassie. No, I don't. I wish we could all be happy, I was Stanley didn't have gambling problems, I wish he wouldn't do the stupid stuff he does. But there is nothing we can do about it. I'm sorry you can't choose your path of life anymore. But please make the best out of this one. You keep saying what if he is bad, but what if he isn't Kassie. What if he is amazing, what if he gives you big opportunities. It's a fifty fifty chance that he is the love of your life. Just do it for me, don't think about dad, think about me."

     The back of my throat starts to burn and I can feel tears rising. My mom is right. I need to do this for her, as much as I don't want to. 

     "Promise me mom, that when you get this money you won't let dad push you around anymore. Promise me that you won't forget who you were when we didn't have that much money. And please promise me that you will never ever forget about me and will always love me the same. I will do this for you, not because I want to, but because this is what seems to be right."

     I don't get a reply from her, my father storming into the room cuts off the conversation. Leaving my unpromised promises lingering in the air. 

     We don't speak after that. None of us. I know my father saw my half-packed bag, I know it made him angry, but he didn't say anything. Instead he just left my room. 

     My mom gives me a look full of sorrow. She nods her head once, her way of promising me that everything will be alright. That I will be fine and so will she. 

     I hope she is right.