Aurelia

Shadows of the past

When Lia walked into the house she saw her mom drinking again. It was an all-too-familiar sight. One that had become part of her daily reality. She threw her shoes into cupboard with clatter. Then she stormed up stairs. Her anger bubbled over. The sight of her mom slouched on couch with a bottle in her hand always made her feel helpless and frustrated. Every gulp her mom took seemed to swallow up last shreds of family happiness. 
Lia's mind drifted back to days before everything changed. She remembered waiting eagerly for her dad to come home from work. His presence was a comforting certainty in her life. But one fateful night that certainty shattered. Dad had been in car accident and didn't come home. The sudden loss left void that no amount of time could fill. The House had once been a warm place of laughter. But after his accident it felt cold and hollow.

The weight of her dad's absence seemed to grow heavier with each passing day. Her mom's drinking had started soon after. It was as if alcohol was anway to drown out grief that seemed too big to face. Lia tried to understand. But arguments and bottles piling up around house were constant reminders of how things had gone so wrong.

Trying to escape suffocating sadness, Lia retreated to her room. She put on headphones and turned up the volume. Music was her sanctuary. It was a place where she could momentarily forget chaos of her home and loneliness she felt. The familiar rhythms and lyrics provided temporary escape, a small bubble of peace in her turbulent world.

As soothing melodies wrapped around her Lia hoped that perhaps tonight would be different. But then a loud crash shattered her fragile calm. Her heart raced as she pulled off her headphones and rushed downstairs. The sound of breaking glass had become dreaded signal. It was a sign that things were about to spiral out of control.

When she reached kitchen she saw her mom standing by the sink face flushed and streaked with tears. Her mom had just hurled glass into sink shards scattering across floor. Lia's breath caught in throat. She tried to process the scene before her. 
"MOM, what are you doing?" Lia's voice trembled. Fear and frustration crept in. 
Her mom turned toward her eyes red and unfocused. Without a word she picked up another glass. In moment of unthinking rage, she threw it at Lia's shoulder. The glass shattered against her skin. Lia cried out in pain. But physical pain was nothing compared to emotional toll. Ache of losing dad and constant battles with mom's addiction weighed heavily on her heart. 
Her mom fell to thenfloor sobbing uncontrollably. Earlier's anger dissolved into tears. Lia stood there feeling the sting of glass on her shoulder. Deeper stings of her mom's broken promises and erratic behavior hurt more. House which once echoed with laughter and love now seemed to close in on her with emptiness and despair

Lia looked around at scattered glass and disarray. Her mind raced with thoughts of what could have been an Image of her dad laughing and playing with her, was a painful reminder of happiness they lost. Dream of family that supported each other seemed out of reach. It lay buried under weight of her mom's addiction and their shattered lives.

She wondered if there was way to fix broken lives. Could they ever find a way out of endless cycle of pain? Lia's heart ached with hope that maybe just maybe things could change. She felt deep yearning for something different, something better. It was fragile hope one that flickered like tiny flame in darkness of her life. She knew it wouldn't be easy. Change seemed like impossible dream. She faced daily reality of her mom's struggles.

Shattered glass on floor reflected her own fractured dreams. She wondered if there was a way to piece them back together. The thought of leaving this turmoil behind felt overwhelming. Yet, the thought of staying and watching things stay the same was unbearable. Lia faced uncertain future. Her heart was heavy with weight of her past and hope for better tomorrow.

As she looked at her mom who was now huddled on kitchen floor, Lia felt a mix of sadness and determination. She knew that finding a way out of this dark place would require more than just wishful thinking. It would take courage support and a lot of hard work. For the first time in a long while, she felt a flicker of resolve. Maybe just maybe, she could help her mom find a path to healing. They could create a new beginning for both of them

Authors note:

This chapter wasn't the best but I hope everyone enjoyed it!! [this chapter was edited]
Next chapter will be lit!