Viridity - p.jm

IV. Painful Past

It hurt.
A lot.

As I watched tears roll down my Mother's cheeks, like rivers. Unstopable rivers.

I wish I could've done something. But just because of my selfish behaviour, I held my place and watched. Watched how my Mother was punched, kicked. I was afraid to get the same "punishment".

Since then, I became so strong, so brave and so strict. Since then I always owned the whole place, seeing other people as humans that I need to protect. It seemed that my personality changed since then... When I held my hand up and oppose.

"It's just a scam, you dumb woman! You're not sick!" -I stare at my Mother as she lays on the floor, in front of my Father. A loud slap echoes through the wooden and cheap house.

"You need to work! I will not be the only one working late! Stand up and work for your family! Now you just lay here while your husband earns all the money!" - Father's sole flies into the woman's stomach making her curl up.

Tears on my cheeks dry up as I'm no longer able to cry. My eyes are burning... And my palms clutching the hem of my checked uniform skirt. What is the solution in a situation like this? The wooden chair squeeks as I try to reach for the phone on the broken table. My Father turns to me in a second, eyeing me from head to toes. His angry expression scaring me horrifically. I hang my head down as I hear him approach me with a black suitcase in his hand. My hair covers the sight on my sides.

"Don't act so innocent!" -he swings his arm back and slaps me with a huge force, my head flying to the side while sweat droplets fall down my forehead.

"And while you go to school and do nothing, your Father is earning money with his bare hands! No help at all from you filthy woman!" -a spit from his mouth travels onto my face. I sob as I hold onto my injured cheek.

"Father, pl-" -I look up to him, with begging eyes.

"Silence!" -he yells, pushing me from the chair and I fall down desperately. My back contacts the floor and I feel like I'm unable to breathe. I turn to the side as I see the man walking up to my mother.

"If you don't want to earn money, you don't need food then, I guess..." -his voice trails off as he kicks my Mother one more time. She rolls out of agony while the front door is slammed by the man of the house. He left...

Again, I was worthless...

"Mother!" -I scream as I somehow manage to stand up and dash towards her. I sob as I kneel next to her, putting her head on my lap.

"Oh, Mother. I'm sorry" -I cry out as I slowly caress her short black hair. Through her tears she manages to smile. She holds my cheek in her hand.

"Sung Hee, you're apologizing again. It's not your fault, dear" -with her thumb, she slowly wipes my upcoming tear away. Trying to comfort me.

"I don't want him to come back, Mother. I want him gone... I want him GONE!" -I scream out as I mean it all. He doesn't deserve a good life. He deserves to live in hell...

"Daughter, he is the only way we can have a proper meal. If he leaves, we're going to be left without any food" -her soothing voice reaches me as I look into her kind eyes.