This was then, this is now.

Struggles

Windy wakes up with a shock. she looks around her, darkness surrounds her, she feels sticky. finding it hard to breathe she gets up from her bed, hands stretched out in front of her making her way to the light switch. she turns on the light and opens her door. A tall built figure stands at the door way looking down at her, the pops so-called father figure that is meant to look after her. windy catches her breath at the sudden appearance of him.

he is probably drunk again or he is just in one of his sleepwalking mode.

she closes the the door, and makes her way to her study table, turns on her laptop that she had gotten for Christmas from the charity shop.the owner of the charity shop, Mrs pattie. she is a kind warm hearted old woman who also offers windy anything that she needs from the shop.

"mrs pattie has been a good woman towards me,mama" she says to her drunken mother, as she lays on the dark green couch that has more than three empty bottles of rum. after uncle ben came from his visit to Jamaica, mama has had all the kitchen cupboard filled with rum, whisky and beer. just for her and pops. mrs pattie says that i am a unique child, but i just see myself as a lost soul born into this world for no reason.

Turning on her laptop staring at her screen. she zones out.

"windy are you okay? i mean are your parents taking care of you?" says her English teacher Mr scarfold.

"yeah mama bought me new clothes, she went shopping downstairs and bought me cloths and new shows, she also bought me lunch" windy said excitedly, nodding her head while she speaks with a big grin on her face.Mr scarfold looks at windy with a worried expression. her dirty clothes, messy hair. she itches the back of her head and smiles two of her teeth has removed. Mr scarfold signs.

"windy im afraid your mum is not able to take care of you any more, you see, your mum needs help." he pauses looks down at his feet and smiles he puts one hand on her shoulder.

"she needs to get better and that wont happen if she has to take care of you." she starts to cry

"i dont want to be alone, i dont want mummy to be sick. i-i-i" she falls to the floor and cries.

end of flash back

That was five years ago. i haven't seen mother since and pops is doing way better than before.

she stands up from where she was sitting and walks to her wardrobe mirror. "i am better than i was before. i have found my purpose and nothing will stop me ." she smiles and says "that was then and this is now." she turns off her laptop, switches off the light and goes to bed.