Anathema *In editing*

Chapter Two

'If you spend so much time in trying to abolish your mistake then you will spend only a little amount of time accepting your mistake and learning from it.'

Elizabeth lent against the wall in the light blue bathroom in slight exhaustion, her mind was spinning with revolutionary thoughts that she felt like she was close to drowning in her own mind.

In the short three months of her daughters life Elizabeth had came to realise that being a mother came with some heavy prices. Before her daughter was born Elizabeth had so much leisure time she often had no idea how to waste it. Elizabeth's appearance had always been something she had valued as a young woman and due to her old heritage she was often pervaded around due to her beauty and talent with cosmetics.

One of the heavy prices was that Elizbaeths appearance and beauty had began to fade, Elizabeth would spend less time on herself that it had became apparent on her body. The spilt ends at the end of her hair and the wrinkles growing on her forehead was clear that stress and motherhood was slowly taking its toll on her. There was more that was also affecting her too, just this morning Elizabeth had pulled on a loose shirt and trousers and normally if she had stained it she would have immediately changed it without a second thought but now she hasn't and she's proudly parading the stains of motherhood.

"John it's bath time!" Elizabeth called while flicking the tap off and approaching the impatient three month old.

"John?" Elizabeth called again- her voice more firmer and crisper than before. The loud noises down the hall continued however and Elizabeth grew impatient and slightly aggressive at her husbands  behaviour. She knew he could hear her he was just blatantly ignoring her.

"Don't worry baby girl, I'll just bath you by myself." A hand lay against her daughters neck gently while she placed the wriggly baby in the warm bath water. Even though the moment she and her daughter were about to share were special Elizabeth couldn't help but feel disappointed and cheated that John wasn't here to witness it himself.

Ever since the night after they had brought their daughter home John had became obsessive in ensuring the safety of his family. He felt like he owed it to them and himself if he kept them safe. But Elizabeth couldn't help but believe maybe he was just doing this as a way of proving himself or reinstating his pride that he lost.

Moments later, a very wiggly  and smiley baby was placed into the porcelain bath tub.  "There we go sweetheart,"  she  cooed softly before she scrunched up her nose and staring  at the baby with crossed eyes. A bubble of delight quaked from the babies lips and Elizabeth grinned.

Elizabeth cupped her hands and scooped some  warm water up, the water trickling into the baby's pudgy belly. After soothingly washing her daughter Elizabeth affectingly rubbed baby lotion into the pale skin before stopping and staring at the giggly baby.

"Here comes the tickle monster!" Elizabeth exclaimed in a high pitched voice before drumming her fingers across the baby's belly as if she was playing the piano.1.2.3.4.  Squeals of happiness echoed throughout the room before the sound of an unimpressed man clearing his throat caused Elizabeth to turn around in a startled mess.

"I was just coming, I was just cleaning up." John said sullenly, his eyes glancing around the room absentmindedly.

"You blatantly ignored me and her bath would have became cold." Elizabeth shot back before turning to lift the oblivious baby out of the soapy water and into a fluffy towel.