The Missing Pages

Chapter 3

Maya hates when everyone categories her as an alcoholic. There was a time when she would drink non stop but it's not like that anymore. Growing up with an alcoholic mother who also took drugs did not help the situation. She would never become like her mother. The truth was that Maya was neglected most of her life. She was only happy when her father was around, however, her parents messy divorce caused her father to leave her. She still remembers the day her mother had paid three men to threaten and beat up her father.

"You don't need him in your life. He is a useless father and husband."

Maya was only eight years old at the time. She loved her dad and if she had a choice, she would have lived with him but he had no job and nowhere to live. The last memory she has of her father is walking out of the door holding a suitcase. His face was swollen, red and bruised.

"I love you monkey." He said, with tears rolling down his cheeks.

One thing her father doesn't know is that her mum was pregnant at the time. Till this day he has no idea about Mason. Mason is now 13 and the sad part is that he looks just like their father. He has asked about his father but their mother warned him to never mention it again. Maya was the one to share some good memories of her father but that would just upset him. He would ask her why he wasn't there for him but she couldn't tell him. Compared to Maya, Mason has a good relationship with their mother. She didn't want to destroy that. She is now clean from drugs and barely drinks. It still doesn't make her a better person. Maya still lost the relationship she had with her father because of her. She had met some junky, claimed she was in love with him, cheated on my dad and had the audacity to call him a useless person. As soon as Maya turned 18, she did everything she could to look for her dad but it was always a dead end. Her mum has never apologised for what she did. She doesn't care for Maya the way she does with Mason. There was a time it used to bother Maya and upset her but now she just doesn't care.

She is now 22 but three years ago moving out was the best decision she had ever made. She remembers how she would spend everyday in a library so she wouldn't have to be around her mother and the men she would bring home. That's where she met Amy who offered her a place to stay. Amy works at the library and she loves her job. She also has family issues so they instantly clicked and they were able to relate to each other a lot.

She rings Amy after work to tell her she will be home soon and whether she wanted anything to eat. Apparently she had ate already so that left Maya heading towards the local takeaway for some food. She got to her apartment door with her kebab sandwich when someone grabs her shoulders and whispers 'boo.'

"Jake you stupid idiot, you scared me!"

Jake is her boyfriend of 2 years. They met through mutual friends. He is one of the reasons why she slowed down with her drinking and she loves him for that.

He kisses her lips and smiles down at her.

"You are so beautiful."

He moves her hair out of the way.

"Now there is no need to lie Jake." She smiles.

He's really sweet however she knows that she looks nothing but a mess right now after a dreadful day at work.

She opens the door with the keys only to be engulfed in a huge hug from Amy.

"I missed you babe! How was yesterday without me?"

Maya recalls what happened yesterday but she quickly hides her emotions by smiling and grabbing Amy's hand.

"It was okay but how was it at your parent's place?"

Amy was trying to make things work with her parents.

"It was great! Things are finally getting better."

Maya hugs Amy again.

"Okay am I third wheeling over here?" Jake asks from behind.

Maya laughs.
"C'mon, you can join in."

Maya doesn't know where she would be without these two.