In My Life

Chapter 2:

Heartache pulsed within Olivia, her emotions finally breaking through the surface. Words had never struck her like this before, and the fear that they held truth was paralyzing. Was this truly how others saw her? She dashed through her front door, racing upstairs, tears streaming down her face.

Ed was jolted by the noise from the door, hurrying from the kitchen to find his daughter in distress, running up the stairs. "Liv? Are you alright?"

She slammed her bedroom door and collapsed onto her bed, her whole being aching. Olivia felt so wounded and betrayed that she could no longer hold back her tears.

Ed sighed as he climbed the stairs, gently opening her door to see her lying face down on her bed. "Livvy, what's wrong?"

Clutching her pillow, she sobbed uncontrollably. "I'm sorry; it's nothin'."

He sat carefully on the edge of her bed, rubbing her back to comfort her. "Tell me what happened today."

She turned her face slightly towards him, trying to catch her breath. "I try to be so confident and so positive, ya know. I do me best to fit in with everyone but I just can't. I'm just not good enough."

He wiped a few tears from her face and chuckled softly. "Oh, Liv. Ya know you're the prettiest girl, at least in me eyes."

Olivia possessed a rare and radiant beauty that set her apart from the other girls. At 5'8", she was taller than most of her classmates. Her long, ebony hair was her signature, envied by many. But wasn't her looks that isolated her; it was more about her family's unconventional history, especially after her mother's passing.

Olivia's mother, Evelyn, was a Liverpool native, growing up just a few houses away from the Stanley's, Mimi's family. Evelyn met Ed in a local pub, and their whirlwind romance led to marriage in 1938. Olivia was born on August 9, 1940. Evelyn's upbringing was difficult; her parents married young and faced many hardships, ultimately divorcing at a time when such separations were rare. This led to social scrutiny and judgment, casting a shadow of depression over Evelyn's formative years.

"Then why do they treat me so cruelly?" she asked, tears continuing to stream down her cheeks.

"They're just envious, m'love. I wish your Mum were here to guide you through times like these, but you know you can always rely on Mimi or Julia for support. You're truly wonderful, and I'm so proud to call you my daughter. You don't need those cruel people as mates; you have John," Ed reassured her, gently brushing a few stray hairs from her face.

Fresh tears rolled down as she recalled Pete's harsh words about her mother and that John had remained silent. "I'm not sure how good of a mate he truly is," she sniffled, sitting up and wiping the tears away. Olivia tried to push it aside, but the pain and anger still simmered within her. Pete was talkin' about Mum, and what a headcase she was and sayin' I was exactly like her," she sighed deeply, trying to steady her breath. "And John just stood there, he didn't even say anythin'."

Ed embraced her warmly, gently rubbing her back in comfort, "I'm so sorry, me dear. Ya know nobody could help your Mum. I tried me best to help her, and you were the only thing that she truly cherished. She loved you immensely, and if she would have allowed us all to help, she would still be here because of you. You are different," he said, placing a reassuring hand on her head and holding her close. "You're much stronger than your Mum, and she would be incredibly proud. Don't listen to anythin' that you hear, because it's not true. You have so much strength in you that she never had and she tried to have. Never doubt that strength, because anyone that says otherwise is rubbish. Do you understand?"

She squeezed her father tightly, her voice barely a whisper, "I hear you, Daddy. I just wanna leave this place."

"Just a few more months until you graduate and you know I will support you in any way. If you still want to be a model, you know I'll help you with that," he said, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead with a warm smile, "Don't let other people's words get you down, ya hear? That's what they want."