Yes, Mother (Editing)

Chapter One:

FOUR YEARS LATER***

I awoke to pounding on my bedroom door. Sliding out of my comfortable bed, I drug my limp body to the door. There wasn't any light flooding through my windows because my curtains blocked all light. All I wore was my white panties and a red sweatshirt, but I had a good idea who was knocking on my door.

Flipping the lock, I turned the knob and my mother came into view. Her brown hair was hanging down lightly. A white blouse and basic blue jeans covered her slender body and her feet were bare, tapping impatiently on the hardwood. She stood tall, towering me just slightly. A scowl was on her slender face and her cocoa brown eyes with blue around the iris peered into my light green ones with anger.

"Madeline Renee!" Mother hissed.

"Yes mother?" I asked innocently.

I was still drowsy from my slumber and completely oblivious as to why she was upset with me.

"Do you know what time it is?"

Rolling my eyes, I responded, "Obviously not if I was sleeping and woke up to you."

Her right hand made contact with my cheek instantly. Instinctively, I gripped my cheek and rubbed in attempt to soothe it. Closing my eyes, the stinging pain made tears begin to form in the corners of my eyes. It hurt so bad that even massaging wouldn't make the effect wear off.

"Don't be a smart ass Madeline! Now apologize."

I knew from multiple occurrences that I needed to apologize immediately. If I don't, she'd get even more angry with me; along with worse consequences, like locking me in the closet.

"Sorry," I muttered as I kept my eyes closed.

"Sorry, what?"

Whispering, I said, "Sorry Mother."

Finally opening my eyes, I made contact with mother. A small smile was upon her face and she stared at me with compassion. Finally, I realized tears were running down my face and began soothing the pain in my cheek. That was most likely the reason why she watched me like that. Most times, she was hot and cold, but whatever mood she was in, it'd change to sympathy when I cried.

Mother's arm moved from across her chest to elevating to my face. Her gentle hand caressed from my chin to my cheek and softly ran circles on my face. Closing my eyes, I whimpered slightly, my bottom lip trembling. Mother pulled me into her embrace instantly and I wrapped my arms around her slender body. She smelt like roses, and of course, which matched her maiden name, which brought me to remember the years back.

Mother talked to me frequently about her past, but that was when I was younger. She always told me I was the only joy in her life. I knew she was never married, and an only child, at least to what she told me. She told and taught me lots of things; not to trust anyone besides her, not to lie or steal, to be grateful for everything I have and for what she does, to love her always, and, most importantly, not to question her, especially with punishment. I learned to not question that the hard way. I can remember it very clearly.

FLASHBACK***

With a pad of paper in hand, I ran through the house. Swerving between the doorways and end tables, I was in search of some crayons, which I couldn't seem to locate. As my feet glided across the hardwood floor, I removed my attention from where I was going, to the random thoughts and ideas brewing in my mind.

Instantly, I bumped into Mother, whom seemed less than pleased to be in this situation. Tumbling down to the ground, I gazed up at Mother, whom still stood. Her brown eyes peered with anger at me, her left hand on her hip and the right holding a basket of clean, folded laundry, resting on her side. There was no humor in her body language, and, by the scowl on her face, I knew I messed up.