VALERIE
It was July 22nd, my eleventh birthday.
A day I used to dread, a day that reminded me of the pain and loss I felt when my mom was taken away from me.
But now I didn't hate it as much anymore.
Regina, had helped me see that birthdays could be special again. She had celebrated with me last year, and I was excited to do it again this year.
Regina was now engaged to dad. I hated it at first but I was okay with it now. If it meant daddy had moved on, that he was finally happy then I was okay with their union.
As I looked at the pretty, pink dress with frills that Regina had bought for me, I felt a mix of emotions. I wasn't a fan of pink but I couldn't complain since Regina had chosen it specifically for my birthday. I took a deep breath, letting the soft fabric feel gentle against my skin. It was a symbol of her effort to make me happy and I appreciated that.
I made my way downstairs, feeling a little nervous. My family was gathered in the living room, and I could hear their chatter and laughter.
When I saw them, my heart swelled with love. There was my dad, beaming with pride, Abuelita holding Acio's hand and Grandma Esme and my aunt Dexy, who always seemed to carry a scowl on their faces.
“Here she is!" my dad exclaimed, opening his arms for a hug. I ran to him, feeling his warmth and love. He twirled me around, and I grinned, letting go of my worries. For a moment, I forgot about the pain and sadness that had consumed me for so long.
“Mi amor!”
I turned to see Abuelita, holding Acio's hand and I smiled, genuinely happy to see them.I went over to them and as I hugged Abuelita, I felt a sense of comfort and security. She was always there for me, offering words of wisdom and love. Acio, on the other hand, made me laugh with his goofy smile. He had grown up so much, and I couldn't believe he was already fourteen.
“Happy birthday, Val.” He said with his goofy smile.
I smiled at him, staring up at him. At fourteen he was so tall. He stared at my dress and he smirked. “Who gave you that dress?”
“I did.” I turned to see Regina.
When I turned to Regina, I felt a surge of gratitude. She looked beautiful, as always, and her smile lit up the room. She kneeled down to my level.
“Hey there, girl. Happy birthday.” I smiled and hugged her.
“You look so beautiful, Valerie. That dress suits you.” I stared into her smiling eyes and grinned. I stared into her eyes, feeling tears prick at the corners.
She led me to the center of the living room.
As we gathered around the table, I saw the huge chocolate cake with candles lit. Grandma Esme grumbled, "Let's get on with this. I have better things to do.”
I stared at her and she scowled. She had always hated me. I thought it was because of mom. She'd barely gotten along with mom when she was alive.
“Yeah, I don't want to be here.” Dexy, my aunt, chimed in. She was daddy's younger sister and was just two years older than me. She too, hated me.
But Regina's firm voice told them off. “You two, enough. Curb your nasty attitudes for today. It's my Valerie's birthday.”
My heart swelled at Regina's words. She was such a good soul. She had become my advocate, my protector. I felt loved and cherished in that moment.
She will never be able to take my mom's place but I'd reserved a special place for her in my heart.
I smiled as everyone sang "Happy Birthday," I felt a sense of joy I hadn't experienced in a long time. I cut the cake with Abuelita, Acio, and Regina, feeling their love and support.
Abuelita and Regina fed me a piece of cake. When Acio teased me, bringing the cake to my lips only to eat it himself, I scowled and he laughed. I smirked when Abuelita smacked him on the back of the head. He rubbed his head, glaring at my nanny. I was feeling happy to see my family interacting like this.
“Hey."
I looked at Regina. “I’m so glad you've warmed up to me, Valerie. I promise to always be there for you.”
Regina's words brought tears to my eyes. In that moment, I knew I had found a new mother figure in Regina. She had won my heart with her kindness, love, and patience. I felt grateful for her presence in my life, and I knew that I would always cherish her love and support.
“I love you, Val. You're the daughter I can never have, the daughter I wish to have.”
I sobbed.
Her words meant everything to me. She had become a source of comfort and love in my life, and I was grateful for her presence. I wished I could tell her how much she meant to me. I will one day tell her.
But...that day never came.
Little did I know that our happiness was short-lived and life had other plans for me.
********************************************
It's been a week since Sinobelle moved in with us and she’d managed to make my life a living hell.
She’d manipulated Raquel against me, bullying, taunting and hurting me emotionally and physically. I’d resorted to wearing long-sleeved dresses and jeans to cover up the bruises she’d left on my skin. The pain was a constant reminder of her cruelty, and I felt like I was walking on eggshells around her.
I felt like I was trapped in a nightmare with no escape. Sinobelle's grip on my life was suffocating and I dudn’t know how much more I could take.
I'd tried to tell Raquel but I'm mute, unable to express my pain. Besides, she wouldn't believe me. To her, Sinobelle was an angel, incapable of harm.
I used to be seen as an angel by Raquel but now I was the villain, trying to harm Sinobelle. It hurt me deeply to think that Raquel saw me that way presently. Her love for Sinobelle had blinded her and I felt like I’d lost my ally.
As for Reed, we barely communicated. Our relationship had deteriorated rapidly, beyond repair. He'd been working non-stop due to a crisis at his company, leaving home before I wake up and returning when I was asleep or pretended to sometimes.
I felt like I was alone in this struggle with no one to turn to.
I'd stopped visiting home since Sinobelle's assaults began. I didn't want to put my loved ones in harm's way.
I'd been lying to my little family, texting and video-calling them, pretending everything is fine. Their visits were short and I made sure they didn't find out about the truth. I didn't want to complicate things further. Already, Raquel was treating them differently and they'd questioned me about her behaviour. I'd lied to them, not wanting to ruin everything.
I wondered why my life was always filled with pain. I’d become one with pain, my life an endless cycle of heartbreaking experiences. Now, I was just trying to survive, to make it through each day without breaking.
I sat on my bed, raising my sleeve to reveal a bruise forming on my wrist, where Sinobelle mercilessly crushed me with the heel of her shoe. The pain was unbearable, and tears stung my eyes as the memory of her first assault resurfaced.
