The Unfortunate One

Chapter 4: Ups and Downs

Days weren't very different, most seemed like they would never end. Every day had yelling, slamming, and hitting. This lasted almost a year. Nothing happened but just that; Yelling. Slamming. Hitting. Until the day came that changed our lives.

That day was the day we found out about Mason. Of course we didn't know him as Mason then, more like the person inside Mommy's stomach. It was a very bittersweet moment for me, I was so happy that I would have a new baby brother, but I was scared that they would treat him the way they treated me. I didn't want that to ever happen to anyone, ever. It isn't fun, it hurts, a lot. But they seemed to be very happy about it, unlike how they were for me. I was glad that they were happy about it, I was happy too.

So 9 months later there he was, cute as could be. So much different from when I was born, everyone was there. Celebrating, laughing, passing him around. Everyone was so happy, especially me.

Everything was so perfect. Mason was perfect, school was perfect, people were perfect, everybody was just...perfect. Mason required a lot of attention, and I loved giving it to him. I loved waking up at 3 am and rocking him back to sleep, and warming up his bottle and giving it to him. I loved his giggle, and when he played peek-a-boo with me.

Mason was their number one, and I was so happy about it. Because that not only meant that they treated him right, it also meant there wasn't any time to focus on torturing me. But you don't know how good an up feels, until you feel a down...

We were back to exactly the way it was before. Days weren't very different, most seemed like they would never end. Every day had yelling, slamming, and hitting.

Mason was getting bigger, and things were changing back to the way they were. My mom was back at work, giving her the perfect amount of stress to send her over the edge. I understood how much she was going through, but I didn't understand why I was the only one that she treated this way.

It was the end of the quarter and I guess I fell a little behind. I had a B in math...and mom was not happy. I wasn't allowed to play outside or with Mason for two weeks and I had to play "maid" until then. Not to mention the few red marks she left on what had then become my shield. She had taken a lot before, but this seemed ridiculous. Now I couldnt even see my own brother? I just couldnt understand.

I guess nothing gold can stay....can it?