What Matters Most

Chapter One

Prologue

Sang~
14 years old

    I was walking through the woods behind my house just to have some fresh air. I made sure all of my chores were done, made sure my room was cleaned and breakfast was made.

    I felt like Cinderella with an evil step mother and step sister. I was the one who had to do everything while my father was on his  business trips. He was never home anymore and when he was he would only stay for a night or two.

     Things weren't always like this though. I used to  be happy, I used to be loved. When I was six everything changed. My mom died in a car accident and took all the happiness with her. My dad was never the same again. He could barely look at me now because I reminded him so much of my mother. He couldn't talk to me because he felt like he failed me. It was why he got married, he wanted someone to take care of me. He thought that Denise would do a good job but he was wrong.

    On the days that my dad, John was gone, I was abused. I had to deal with cruel words and harsh punishments. The worst one was just the other day. As I was cleaning the kitchen floor on my hands and knees, because that's what Denise wanted, I was singing. I wanted to keep my mind busy instead of thinking about how awful my life was.

    Denise didn't like that. She said a few choice words about how I had no singing talent. She told me that I wasn't allowed to sing or talk in the house, or well anywhere. She made me drink lemon juice and vinegar mixed with a cap full of bleach. After that she slammed my hand in the door, smashing a few fingers. I also got a busted lip and a black eye from being her punching bag. I have tried to stay out of her way since.

    I found the field of flowers and my normal spot where my blanket was rolled up in plastic so it wouldn't get dirty. It was my safe place. My 'sister' Marie didn't know about this place nor did my mother. It was the once place I could be happy, be myself. That's all I wanted. I wanted to be happy with a family that loved me and wanted me around.

    While I was laying down, I thought about school and what it would be like. My step mother never let me go to school. She told my dad that she wanted to homeschool me but never even tried. Everything I've learned has been on my own.

    My dad would give me money that I kept hidden from Marie and Denise. With that, I was able to buy the books I needed to keep up with my curriculum. I was actually learning college level stuff now since I had nothing else to do. I had to hide my books in the attic space that I have in my room just to keep them from being torn.

    When I noticed the time, I realized I was late for making lunch. I rushed to fold up the blanket and put it in the plastic.  I raced home and through the back door open, only to come face to face with Marie. She was two years older than me and towered over me with a smirk on her face.

"My mom is going to be so pissed when she finds out you were out of the house." She sneers. 

    I put my head down trying to keep the tears in. I could beg Marie not to tell but then she'd tell her mom that I was begging and the punishment would be worse.

    Marie walked away, typing on her phone as she no doubt went to find her mother. I decided to make lunch hoping it would distract her from punishing me. I knew it wouldn't but I hoped. 

    I was almost done making lunch when I felt the air shift. I didn't dare turn around, I knew I would only see her glaring at me. I also heard Marie laughing, no doubt knowing what was going to happen.