Beast

prolouge

On my seventeenth birthday, they took my momma away.

It happened so suddenly, we were enjoying her famous lemon raspberry pie, which I have requested since I was a baby, and the next thing you know, the door slams open with the force of a thousand men. The quiet birthday song turned to chaos, they grabbed her arms, and swung her around. I lunged for my mother, but another burly man cocooned me in his arms. Struggling, I elbowed the stranger in his face and held my mothers hand for the last time.

"Momma. What do I do- what's going on! You can't leave-please it's my birthday momma!" Terrified, I clutched to her body. My nails pierced her skin so tight, that crimson blood ran down her arm to mine.

"Listen baby, my girl. Just remember I love you. And the beast is real and true and malevolent. Don't forget it, Marguerite." And then like a swift intake of wind, she was gone. Leaving me to drown in my puddle of self misery and disbelief.

I remember when I was cleaning up from the whole situation, and wondering what I had done to deserve this. Sure, in second grade I might've punched a kid for saying I was too short, and my momma and I did get in fights sometime. But it wasn't like my life was devoted to the gangs on the edge of town or the drug lords that lived up on the hill. I was a good girl. I was polite and respectful. My grades were high, and I made sure to never neglect my studies.

Sighing, I sat down on our oak table. I almost laughed, upon gazing at the burning candle. How in the world did it not go out? Shrugging, I made a wish and blew it out.

Listen. Don't be offended, but I just can't tell you what I wished for. After all, I do want it to come true.