New Beginnings

Chapter 1

My first time to ever write a book. Enjoy!

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Alessia (pov)

I sat outside Annas office playing with my bracelet as I popped the gum I was chewing loudly. I waited for her to give me the stern look, as I had once again managed to get kicked out of my last foster home. But I knew the look wouldn't last long.

She was literally the only person in the world I never spoke rudely to. She had such kind eyes. I looked up at Anna as she walked out the door.

"I managed to get you another family Alessia, but please promise me you'll give them a chance"

I nodded, giving her my small rare smile.

"You'll be leaving for California first thing tomorrow morning."

I stared at her as tears threatened to pour out.

"But that's hours away"

"I know dear, but you can visit me anytime you want or I'll come up to see you"

I nodded not looking at her.

"Will you still be my social worker?"

"Ofcourse Alessia. I'll always be there for you, you know that"

she was about to extend her arms to hug me but stopped midair, remembering that I didn't like to be touched.

Anna (pov)

I slowly put my arms to my side and smiled at her. The poor girl had been through so much.

I still remembered the day I first met her four years ago.

She was brought in sporting a black eye and a swollen jaw. She bragged that the other guy got it worse. She was this tiny little thing with black hair down to her waist.

My heart broke when I read her file. She had been abused by her mother, frequently, who had now died from an overdose, understanding now what she meant by the other guy got it worse.

Four years since and I still saw the broken little girl infront of me.

I watched her sleep. Her face so pretty when she wasn't trying so hard to look mean and tough. I prayed for the day that a smile would be permanent on her face.

She insisted she'd stay with me while I worked.

My heart ached thinking about her going to California. Even though it was just a five hour drive, I would miss her terribly.

Alessia (pov)

I sat in the car looking out the window at Anna. She had tears in her eyes, so I looked away.

I didn't want to start bawling like a child, when it was the only thing I really wanted to do.

I know people didn't really like social workers, but Anna was different.

She was so gentle and genuine and she was so old so she couldn't really hurt me.

She had been in this business her whole life she told me.

I liked listening to her stories. She was so smart. She reminded me so much of Professor Mcgonagall, you know, that Gryffindor Professor in Harry Potter.

Anyway, I gave her one last glance and waved at her then I slumped back on the car seat and sulked the whole way.

I hated the whole world and everyone in it, except for Anna ofcourse, oh and the little boy in the last family I stayed in wasn't so bad either.

I liked him too. He would always steal some oreos from the pantry and bring me some, other than those two, everyone else could go to hell for all I cared.

My mother.

I wondered if my mother was in hell. Im pretty sure she was. All the guys she used to bring home. I shuddered at the thought of them.

When I was younger I didn't really understand what was going on. One of them used to look at me funny. I'll remember his face for as long as I live.

Once my mother wasn't home and he came over. He wouldn't leave even after I told him she wasn't home.

I sat on the couch watching Spongebob when I felt his arm on my thigh.

My heart skipped a beat.

What was goin on?

Then his face just covered mine and his mouth on my face as if trying to kiss me. I was so confused. Took me a while to get what was going on. I was freaking nine.

I scratched his face and as he winced back in pain I ran to my room and locked the door.

I sat in my cupboard for what seemed like forever. I only left when I heard my mother.

My mother ofcourse was so drunk she couldn't even get up the stairs.

I debated whether to help her or not. She was mean when she got drunk. I was still nursing my wound from last night that ran across my back.

I looked at her from my bedroom door as she grabbed the first thing she could find on the her bedroom floor, which was a hanger and she staggered towards me.

I was too slow and the thing hit me straight across the face. I screamed so loud and that made her even angrier.

"You lost me my richest customer you stupid fool"

I realised only then she was talking about the man who almost. I couldnt even. I hushed my screams as the hanger kept hitting every inch of my body.

"You will have to earn your keep in my house you ungrateful little shit, you made me look like a fool! He paid for you, you know? Good money too! Now I just lost all of it."

I really didn't understand what she was talking about until I grew older.

I loathed her. I loathed her with all my being. She would just sell me off to random men?

After that incident I learned to always keep out of the way. Always making sure I was never around when her Johns came around sniffing.

I still remember the day she died. I found her on the bathroom floor. I tried to check if she was breathing. I wasn't sure so I called the ambulance. When they got there it was too late.

One of them pulled me aside and sympathetically asked me if I had any family, which I didn't, I never even knew who my dad was. I don't even think my mother knew who it was.

They all kept giving me sympathetic smiles, but as horrible as it sounds, I felt relieved.

Relieved to finally be away from her. She scared the shit out of me and now she could't hurt me anymore.

They then took me to this huge building and that's where I met Anna.

In the four years I've been in the sytem, I've been to more families than the number of men my mother used to bring home.

So the Petersons were just another unlucky family that had to foster me. Poor idiots, they wouldn't know what hit 'em!

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P.S: The book cover is one of my works. You can check out my gallery on instagram (: 'an_artsy_life' @nawal.albeiti✌ xx