Happiness. To some people, it's the feeling of loving the life you have. To others, it's the emotion you get when you are with the people you love. I don't know what Happiness is. Possibly at one point, I was nothing but happy. But that was in the time when I was just a clueless, innocent child. At that age, you don't understand what life really is. You don't know what pain is or what it is like to feel it. But I grew up and it was a rude awakening for me. The pain was all I felt now. The fear, anxiety, and depression destroyed me from the inside, out. My story is a cycle of it.
My name is Anna Foster. I am 18 years old and my story goes back to when I was 12 years old. My mother, Rose Foster, was 22 when she gave birth to me. She had lost it all. She was in her third year of college and she was raped. She kept it a secret for as long as she could but when her parents found out, they kicked her out. She dropped out of college and was alone to take care of herself. I had always thought that it was my fault for my mother's life is ruined. My mother stayed in a home for Woman and children and she raised me. I was a simple child, as she says. I played with Dolls, I was a happy child.
For my mom, it was hard to find a job. I was 7 years old when my mom found a stable job to help her and me. I didn't understand the kind of job she had. She said she was a server and I didn't think much of it. She stayed in the home for two more years before moving in with her new boyfriend, his name was Travis. For a now 9-year-old girl, I thought he was just a friend to my mom. Time went by and I grew up. I wasn't allowed to go to school thanks to Travis. I was stuck getting homeschooled though they hardly made me do anything. I was now 12 and that was when I began to understand things. I now know why I could hear my mom's cries at night and I now know that Travis was her boyfriend. I didn't enjoy living with Travis. He seemed like a nice man if you didn't really know him but living under the same roof was hell. He had a bad temper, was very rude to my mom, and he always eyed me up which scared me and/or made me uncomfortable.
When I turned 15, that was when I actually began to discover new things about Travis and my mom. I found out one day when I snuck into Travis's office. My mom worked as a Prostitute/stripper at the strip club Travis owned. That was why Travis had so much money. When I found this out, I broke down crying because I knew now what my mom meant by she was a server. I knew I couldn't tell her I knew because then I would get in trouble with Travis.
Another reason why it was hell living with Travis was that he had beaten my mom. I had permission to study at the library and I came back early to see him beating her down to the floor and kicking the life out of her. I had rushed in but it was no use. He hit me too. I tried to pull him off of her but he turned around, punching me in the face. I had a giant bruise on my face for a week but my mom was even worse. She had a swollen and black eye, a swollen purple cheek, and bruises all around her body. At that point, I wanted nothing to do with him. I begged my mom to run away but she refused. She wouldn't tell me why but she said she couldn't do it. I would have left myself but I was never gonna leave my mom with that monster.
It was my 16th birthday when Travis had a surprise for me. He took me to his club. When I walked in, the entire building was shaking due to the very loud music. Bright lights flashed different colors throughout the room and nude women were everywhere. I followed Travis into his office and my mom stayed with me. "So Anna, since you are becoming a grown woman, your mom and I have been talking and we thought it would be a good idea if you joined the family business, "He says. I was mortified. "What?"I say in fear. "Oh don't worry, I would never let you become one of the strippers. I meant you can work as a bartender, maybe help Reggie bus tables and whatnot"He says. I was relieved but I hated the idea of having to come here every day. I look at my mom but she wouldn't look me in the eyes. She didn't like the idea. "Can I think about it?"I ask. He nods and I stand up. "I'll see you at home, "I say to my mom before leaving them both in the office. I kept my head down as I walked out of the club. I sure as hell hated the idea of working for Travis but I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach that he wasn't gonna take no for an answer...
