Scarred Heart

Chapter 2

                         Lina's pov

Today was as busy as any other day. I woke up around 4 a.m. to prepare my dad’s clothes, since he leaves for the office at 7 a.m. I prepared breakfast while washing the dishes that Krista left uncleaned after using nearly five cooking utensils.

She should have at least cleaned some of them. Ugh! Why? Why? I am not only their abused child but also their overworked maid, or better yet, a slave without pay. It would have been nice if she helped, even a little besides we are the only two children here.

Can I really complain? And why should I? I have a roof over my head and food to eat, although the portions are small. They give me new clothes, maybe once every two or three years. When I am lucky,  Krista will have them slightly torn after she wears them. It's something to be grateful for, right?

“Are you done?” I hear Mom's voice behind me. "Yes, I am mom.” I replied, but before I could even finish, I received a very loud slap across my face.

“You refer to me as madam, not mom. Did you hear me? Me, your mom? Don't ever call me that again. It's Madam to you.” My cheeks burned, and my eyes became teary from the sudden slap. I desperately fought to keep them at bay, unwilling to let them fall.

“Did you hear me?” she demanded.

Yee…yees,”  I stammered.

Stop stammering, or you’ll get it from me,” she roared at me.

“Yes, Madam.”  I mastered the courage to respond.

“Good. Finish preparing my husband's food, or you will answer to me. Hurry!''

I hurried to make breakfast. She turned her back and left as her high-heeled shoes made clicking sounds with every step.

Why? Why is life so unfair to me? What great sin had I committed to suffer this much? to deserve such unfair treatment. My tears became more intense as I cried bitterly with anguish, regret, and hurt all mixed together. I screamed for help in my mind, begging someone to come to my rescue. But who would? A rejected, uneducated woman like me? Worse than a beggar.

I wish there was someone who could
comfort me and tell me that everything  would be okay. But who? everyone is too busy with their own lives. Ahh! It's so unfair. But what could I really do? I am as helpless as anyone else. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand, not wanting Krista to make it worse. She finds great joy in my suffering, and I don't know why. As far as I am aware I have never done anything to her to deserve her increasing hatred.

It was 8 am and I was relieved. Everyone would go to their respective areas of work and Krista would go to college. At least I would have time to breathe in peace while I washed the clothes .

I always felt envious of Krista. She had the chance to attend college. Mom said  it was a waste to spend money on me, especially when Krista had better grades. The house chores affected my Academic studies but they never cared. She asked me to sacrifice my time so Krista could have more time to study.

“Remove that smile from your ugly face,” she snapped. I quickly relaxed my face. How did Mom see it? I wasn't even smiling that much.

“Loidi maan krista,” (Hi, krista's mom)

“Acin kerac” (I’m fine) mom responded.

What's Nhial doing here? I thought I would be alone. I have never liked this man from day one.

“Ahh, you thought I would leave you alone? A thief can’t be trusted. Nhial is going to stay with you and make sure you don't steal anything or run away. Not that  I’m stopping you, but I won't allow you to steal anything. If you want to leave ,you can, but with nothing.”

“No, Madam. I would never steal anything. I don't need Mr. Nhial here,” I tried to protest, but she didn’t listen.

“Who told you his here for you? Do you really consider yourself that important?” She laughed mockingly.

“I don't care about you, I am just looking out for myself. I don't even acknowledge you.” I tried to make her understand, but it was pointless. 

“I don't like him.”  When I raised my concern, I was met with a slap. She held my hair and started throwing punches at me.

“How dare you?! This is my house, and I will invite whoever I please. If you want to boss people around, get your own house and do that. But not in my house. Am I clear?!

“Yes, madam!,” I responded, my voice shaky.

It wasn’t that I was bossy; I just didn’t like his behavior. I could never call him “ uncle.” He was a pervert and he would take advantage of an suspecting girl. People like him shouldn’t be allowed to roam the streets freely. They belong behind bars.

I’m saying this from experience, and I don't want any other woman to go through what I have gone through and what I have endured at his hands.
I caught him several times looking at me in a way that made my skin crawl. His eyes would linger on my body, my boobs, hips and other intimate parts.
I caught him stalking me, which only made me more determined to keep my distance from him. He took every opportunity to touch me inappropriately. He wasn’t here to watch over the house; he came to harass me.

I tried to tell her, but she never listened. She dismissed my words, called me names, and eventually forced me to drop my complaints about her drunkard brother.

“Achuil, it seems you're too soft on this girl,” he added, his voice taunting.

“She’s become so stubborn and doesn't respect her elders anymore. She needs a man to teach her a lesson." No! She can’t possibly agree to this outrageous request.

“She's all yours,” She  replied with an unsettling enthusiasm. Her heels clicked sharply against the floor as she exited the room, leaving me to defend myself. I calmed my nerves to appear strong.

He wasted no time and tried to touch me but I backed away.

“Don't be rude, get me a glass of water," he ordered, sounding irritated by my rejection. I hurriedly made my way to the kitchen, taking deep breaths as I filled the glass, then returned, setting it on the table. As I bent down, he spanked me. I froze, my anger  making my body shake.

“ Nhial, how dare you touch me like that?” I demanded an answer, my anger shot through the roof.

“Lina, why are you pretending? You know you want more.” I slapped him before he could alter more nonsense. The shock in his eyes made me happy for the first time in years. He never imagined that a woman he saw as weak could raise her hand against him. He could insult me, but I would not tolerate being violated.

"Lina, did you just slap me?! His voice was loud, filled with disbelief as he threw objects around the room in a fit of rage.

“What's going on?” Madam’s voice stopped his outburst, and just as I tried to explain, he interjected.

“ This ill-mannered child touched me!” He lied, and it didn’t surprise me at all.

“That's not true,” before I could finish, everything went dark, and I blacked out.

Note

Please don't be confused, Lina loves calling Krista's mom as mom because to her she is and desires motherly love that Achuil doesn't give her. Lina struggles a lot calling her Madam because Achuil prefers Lina call her Madam rather than mom. Lina still believes Achuil will take her as her daughter.