"You're not going to this charity ball, Annalisa!" My mother commanded. I flashed her a look.
"Why? Why can't I go to a cancer research charity ball? What is so dangerous about me going?" I asked, trying to keep my voice level. My mother scoffed.
"You could get separated from your father and me, you could get hurt—"
"I could have a few moments of peace without you or Dad," I muttered under my breath.
"Also, there's no reason for you to go."
"So, basically, you want to leave me behind like I'm a child. Again."
"If you act like a child, you're going to be treated like one, Annalisa," my mother answered. I raised an eyebrow.
"I'm twenty-four. I'm not a child, Mom." My mother snorted.
"Wouldn't know it from the way you act, Annalisa."
I pursed my lips, biting back my thoughts. And no one would know that you're an adult from the way you act, mother. I'm not going to answer. I don't wanna get into another argument with her over something stupid.
"Are you sure I can't go on Saturday, Mom?" I asked, glancing at my father, hoping he'd stand up for me for once.
"No. Don't you have work the next morning? You need to go to bed early, so you can get up on time. Don't forget to get all of your chores done and make sure you keep an eye on anything else that might need to be done. If I come home and find out that you didn't do any of the things I asked you to do, I'm turning off your phone for good."
I nodded, my heart sinking, as I bit back yet another reply. Why am I not surprised? He doesn't stand up for me ever, so why would he start now? It doesn't even matter that she's wrong and that I don't have work tomorrow. This isn't even the first time she's done this. I turned and started to walk back into the kitchen, my heart sinking even further.
"Melissa, we should let her go to this charity ball," my father said. I froze, surprised, and slowly turned around. My mother snorted.
"You're kidding, right? First, she doesn't have the time to go to this charity ball. Second, she doesn't have a gown that she fits into that works for the theme. Third, why should she get to go to a charity ball when she has chores that she hasn't even done and probably won't have done on Saturday?" My father just closed his mouth and stayed silent. I sighed and my shoulders slumped. I knew it.
"I'm going to go do my chores. Then I have to go look through my email for job offers," I said softly. I turned around and headed into the kitchen to put away the clean dishes and wash the dirty ones. As soon as I was done, I headed into my room to scroll through my email on my phone.
"Hey, Annalisa. You okay?" My best friend, Jayne Silver, texted me. We'd known each other for a few years and were so close that we were practically sisters. I sighed as I paused in scrolling through my email.
"Yeah, I'm okay. What's up?"
"Not much. I just got a feeling something was off with you." I chuckled softly and sighed. She always knows me so well.
"If I tell you, will you be okay? I know hearing...stuff about my family life bothers you."
"Tell me." I sighed.
"You know that charity ball for cancer research this weekend?"
"The masquerade one?"
"That's the one," I answered. "My parents are telling me I can't go, even though when we donate money to the charity, part of it is mine from what I earn at my job."
"I'll be right over." I smiled as I texted back.
"Okay. Thanks, sis. See you in a few minutes." I opened my text chat with my mother when she walked into my room after knocking once. She didn't even wait for me to answer.
"Did you finish your chores, Annalisa?" I stopped typing to look at her and nodded.
"Yes, I'm looking through my email for job postings at the moment. Jayne is coming over to help me."
A few months ago, I would've hated lying to my mother. But honestly, I was at a point where I no longer cared and just wanted to be able to get a job and leave. At least I don't have to lie about Jayne coming over. It'd be much more complicated to explain why my bff is here if I'd given no notice. I breathed a sigh of relief when my mother left for work, with my father driving her, as Jayna arrived. Jayne smiled at me as I let her in.
"Hey, sis. Let's go talk." We walked into my bedroom together. I flopped onto my bed as she sat down beside me. "You're going to that charity masquerade ball." I flashed Jayne a look, surprised by her boldness.
"What?"
"You're going to that ball and I'm gonna help you get there."
YOU ARE READING
Paying for Their Sins
Fiksi UmumA young adult, Annalisa's life takes an unexpected turn when her family kicks her out of the house and then begs for her to come back. She is given a place to stay by Lucian Accardi, the head of a powerful mafia family based in New York City. Litt...
