My Dearest Sofia

Chapter 03

" I know what I'm doing, Dad." Sofia muttered, folding her dress and then stuffing it inside her suitcase. She could not believe that Mr. Elliot had called her and told her she was going to get the position. Yes, the job description was a little bit confusing but it paid five times better than what she and her father was making.

"But you are moving into a house with an old man, alone! What sort of proposition did he give you, huh? Sofia Wright, you stop packing this instant!" 

Sofia stopped what she was doing and then stood up to face her father. She tried to remember that he was just looking out for her well-being but to think that he would actually imply she would take money from an old man to be some mistress, that was way too much!

"Do you even understand what you're saying, dad? You just said I would sell my body to a lecher for money!" Sofia did not mean to shout but she was just to angry right now. It hurt her that after all the sacrfices she had done and what she had given up for the past few weeks were not enough. She planned, figured out what to do and worked her ass off but none of it was working!

"I'm sorry, honey. I- I am -I don't know-" She watched as his father sat down on her bed, rubbing his face as if to wake himself up from a terrible dream. "I would never think that of you, sweetie. I'm just too tired and worried. Now, you're telling me you're moving out and living off into some huge mansion in the city..."

"To work, dad! That's all I have been doing, remember? I've been working my butt off everyday so that you and mom don't have to worry about anything!" She cried. She did not mean to make it sound like she regretted any of her decisions or that she was blaming them for all her failed plans. She was just really sick and tired of being on the shitty end of life.

"I'm so sick of living like this! I am so tired of working too hard, being patient and kind to people who treat us like crap and still losing at the end of the day! I am so sick of seeing you come home, all covered in monkey grease, not getting enough rest and worrying the night away when you're supposed to be sleeping. I'm sick of seeing mom trying to mask her pain and trying to act all fine when she isn't all because she does not want us to dig ourselves an early grave!"

She stopped shouting when she heard her mother, hobbling into her room with crutches. "We're quite sorry you feel that way, Sofia. I-I know we always did not have the best of things but-"

"Oh mom! What are you doing up?" She sighed and went to guide her mother and sat her down on the bed with her husband. She then stood up and glowered at both of them. She was done being the obedient, meek and nice daughter. They were going to have to listen and agree to whatever she said. They can be angry later when they're living out of the rathole apartment they were all in and living in an actual house with a front and back yard full of flowers.

"Listen to me, Mom, Dad" She eyed them both. "I don't want either of you to think that I never loved my life with both of you, because I did. You got me out of that miserable orphanage and you gave me all the love and care in the world. Next, I don't want you to feel like I regret not using the money to go to New York and study at the university. NO mom, just listen up!" She held out her hand when her mother started to protest.

"Again, I never regretted anything I have done for both of you! I love you and I will always take care of you no matter what. But, you both know we're all not making enough. There will be bills knocking on that door pretty soon and we cannot afford them. Mr. Flinch, our landlord, is having a hissy fit because we're actually behind the rent again this month. Mom, you need to continue taking your medicine and your therapy sessions!" She continued, trying hard to keep her voice firm against the tears that were falling down from her mother's face. She closed her eyes and moved on.