A Sibling's Love

chapter 1

Chapter 1

May 15, 200

Laura’s mother beamed at her as one of the maids placed the veil over her face. Her mother, with all the wedding adorations, looked like she had just stepped out of an old romantic Hollywood movie.

 The snow-white, lacey wedding veil, that whispered softly each time it brushed her mother’s delicate face, was adorned with tiny crystals that shimmered almost as brightly as her eyes in the afternoon’s sunlight. Although the veil ran down her back and all the way to the floor, you could still see how gracefully that Melody’s, Laura’s mom, dark, ebony hair cascaded down her back in a mass of perfect waves.

The dress was very conservative, yet it enhanced Melody’s sensuality somehow. The corset that hugged to her sides and bust, but not in a scarlet type of way, was adorned in more elegant lace and white gems that Laura had never seen before in real life. The skirt was full and ran down to her mother’s feet; much like the way that a princesses would.

 That was what her mother seemed like now, a princess. If there would have been a picture of Cinderella while dancing happily away at the ball, Laura would have bet that she looked just like her mother did now. She looked so graceful, poised, and so… blissfully happy.

Laura had never witnessed her mother this happy and vibrant before. Maybe this time would be different than all the other dark times of her miserable life. By the way that her mother looked now, no one would have guessed what they have been through.

 Laura let out a quiet sigh. How her mother had managed to stay so gorgeous, was unfathomable to her. She knew that her mom was exceptionally striking. She also knew that she didn’t inherit Melody’s looks or grace. On a lot of levels, Laura was extremely glad that she was rather plain looking. Her mother’s beauty honestly terrified her, for she had seen the awesome power of it and the dreadful horrors of it as well.

Laura shivered as silent terror of remembrance caused goose bumps to run over her flesh and close her throat.

"Baby,” Melody crooned to her as tears of happiness and joy had finally caused her big, expressive eyes to glisten, “This is it. This is our fairy-tale ending.”

 Laura certainly was hopping so. Her mother had gone through many boyfriends, but none of them had lasted for more than a few months. In Laura’s opinion, all of them had been losers; big, ugly, monstrous losers who were very scary and very vicious. Some of those losers still haunted Laura’s dreams at night. Maybe this loser wouldn’t be as bad.

Laura flinched when the short, plump, black maid laid her stubby hand on her bare shoulder. Laura hated to be touched by anybody, including her mother. It just seemed unnatural and brought back painful sights and memories.

          Being careful to scoot away without seeming rude, Laura eyed the woman to judge her. Over the years, Laura had become exceptionally good at reading people just by their appearance and body language. Prior times in her life, she had to be in order to survive.

          The woman had a small stature when it came to height. Laura, only fifteen, stood at least an inch taller than the black woman without heels. Her clothes were like the other maids’ uniforms, a simple square cut dress with a white apron in the front. Laura guessed that the woman’s size shoe was about a six in women’s, and if she was being generous maybe a six and a half.

          Her face, rounded like her body, was not menacing or ugly; it was pretty enough, and looked… maternal like. Even though she was overweight, Laura could tell that the woman took pride in her appearance, and yet wasn’t extravagant, but simple.