Masked Facade

Chapter 24: Old Ties

Alice's (Raelyn) POV  

Six years ago...

Stephanie and Daniel D'Cruz understood me rather than my situation and from where I came.

Your actions should let you question your choices rather than letting you feel contrite about it. Past will reside in the past if you won't let it influence your present and future because you owe it to yourself.

As much as Stephanie loved to quote this little piece of instruction time and again, she didn't fall into the failure category when it came to the implementation of the same.

While being coupled with a woman like Stephanie could seem like a rash decision, Daniel could never be enough lucky and happy than being with someone else. I thought so, at least.

When I wasn't in a state of mind to even spare anyone a single word, Daniel had his way of keeping me enthralled in his small talks even though I never did let him notice that.

With zero clue supporting the reasons behind my existence, at a certain point, I gave up without my conscience. Without my understanding.

I still didn't know what made them take me under their roof, but I had a feeling that it was definitely not the end. At least not yet.

Change was a misery when I had to endure the new environment with strange people around me. Stephanie and Daniel didn't rush things with me which I felt comfortable with to my bone. They know they could only offer me one thing. Time. With time, I warmed up to them. With time came a sense of belonging to someone.

It was only a couple of weeks since I officially moved in with my new foster family. I recognized no one but me since every damn thing around me was unfamiliar. Within the territory, I had very limited freedom. Not that I had the need to abide by their so-called rules, but for once when Stephanie and Daniel did things that a responsible adult would do for a kid, I became selfish.

There was this kid in my class who took advantage of my silence and called me names. I had only so much patience when it snapped within me. I punched her. Twice in the face. That was an entirely different story when my knuckles split cut due to the impact. The principal reported the incident to Stephanie and Daniel. They brought me to their place which was my new roof then. They just asked me to sleep it off but only after cleaning my wounds.

For any sane person that would seem very absurd. And I felt like I scared them away. After having dinner like normal people with all sort of talks excluding the earlier rebellious incident caused by me, Daniel asked me to stay through some show that was broadcasted in the T.V. I was waiting for the hitting and yelling to come but nothing. 

On voicing out my thought, Daniel gave me a smile that met his eyes and said, "You ain't a responsibility. You belong to us. So that makes you your own self's responsibility. I have no doubt that you didn't do anything intentionally but the anger and rage took hold of you. I can help you with it but it should be you who is willing to take that step."

When I asked him the reason, this time Stephanie stepped in and said, "Because we all have demons lurking in the shadows, wanting to come to the light. And good thing is you can control it."

"So, am I normal?" I remembered how confusing that statement was to me, yet I decided to ask that one particular question.

"Very much normal. Just like us. Like everyone else." Daniel said, him and Stephanie squatted down in front of me.

I did only one thing that summed up for a promise. An embrace. And with that embrace, I learned to embrace every fine detail of myself, irrespective of my many flaws.