Broken Innocence

2. What should have been

When Mia returned home the sun had already began to rest. She instantly noticed that her father's car was not in the drive way but what was new there?

Mia's father was rarely at home. And when he was the house was filled with shouts and arguments.

Mia remembered a time where they were happy. When her dad would play with her in the garden as they waited on her mother's special cookies to finish baking in the oven. She used to make the best cookies.

Her mother doesn't bake anymore. And her father doesn't play in the garden. In fact, the only time the three really spent together were at rare family events and rehearsing the perfect behaviours and responses to keep up the family image.

The Roberts weren't as privileged as the Knight family. However they were pushing upper class. Blake, Mia's father, was working his way further up the finance industry and doing quite well for himself. Yet he would never let his daughter or wife forget how hard he works to provide the bare minimum for them.

When Mia was born, the family didn't have much. But as they made their way up the chain of wealth, greed overtook their outlook on life.

The knight family were very privileged. Roger had made his fortunes and took pride in knowing he was at the top. His father before him didn't believe in nurturing children. "There is no need for aimless fooling around" and so Roger pleased his father by pushing himself to be the best of the best. Yet nothing was ever good enough.

Now that Roger had children of his own, he took from his father's parenting. "Children need to be educated and formed into decent adults. The next generation to take on the family name. It's called 'tough love'"

Melissa, the Knight siblings' mother, was different to her husband. Reece and Autumn adored her. She was their everything. She was beautiful and kind. She did love her children. However there was something she loved more. Something she craved. Freedom.

Stuck in a marriage that was Roger and Melissa's was difficult. There used to be love and friendship. But Roger let his image overpower. A picture perfect family, owner of successful companies, respect from the community. What more is there?

If at any time Melissa would slip up, she would pay the price. There was no love or appreciation in their relationship anymore. However there was someone who did care. Who wanted her. Blake Roberts.

Much like their children, the two had their own plans to escape their unsatisfactory reality. The difference was that they would leave behind the innocence of whom adored them the most. Despite everything.

They didn't deserve that. All children deserve to feel loved and safe at home. They should have got that. They should have been happy.