Ella of Ash

Prologue

At five years old, my mother fell ill. I didn't understand it at the time, but she was always bedridden. We had to make a lot of trips to the hospital, and after a couple years, Mother had to live there. It was hard on me and Daddy. We visited Mother every weekend and on holidays for three years. Then she died. At ten years old, I had lost my mother to cancer.

By the time I turned thirteen, Daddy and I finally had life without Mother figured out. Daddy was able to smile, and I didn't cry when my mother came to mind. We were going to be OK.

Just before Christmas, Daddy told me there was someone he wanted me to meet. She was a tall blonde lady with a large smile and too much makeup. She smelled too strong and talked too loud, but Daddy liked her, so I was nice to her. She told me she had two daughters around my age and that I might meet them someday.

Two months later, Daddy married the blonde lady. Her two daughters and I were bridesmaids. The girls picked on me when no one was looking. My stepmother said that they were only teasing and that I was too sensitive, so I stopped talking about it.

A few months later, Daddy had a heart attack at work and died. Stepmother didn't seem very upset, but I was.

Soon after that, Stepmother made me move into the basement. I was told to do all of the chores in the house, and my stepsisters picked on me even more.

Fast forward to my eighteenth year... And my life hasn't improved.