THE TOXIC DEAL

1. RISE AND SHINE

"Some days I'm broke, some days I'm rich

some days I'm nice, some days I can be a bitch

some days I'm strong, some days I quit

I don't let it show, but I have been through some shit

I can swear, I can joke

I say what's on my mind

If I drink, if I smoke 

I keep up with the guys

and you see me holding up my middle finger to the world

fuck your ribbons and your pearls

'cause I'm not just a pretty girl"                           (Nightcore Red ft. KC & Thatcher)

"mom... dad" I whispered while walking down the dimly lit long hallway. The place was quite familiar though I had never been there before.

The walls were decorated with many frames depicting beautiful sceneries and some were displaying the pretty flowers. The place was so quiet that I could hear the light padding of my footsteps. Peace of the place was disturbed by the only sound of fire crackling in the fireplace which was coming from around the corner. My hands were sweaty which I rubbed on my jeans in nervousness. I kept walking till the end of the hallway and slowly entered the dimly lit living room where the fireplace was situated. 

I scanned the large and spacious room decorated with expensive wooden furniture and artefacts. The middle of the room had a fine quality rug on the floor which was enhancing the classiness of the place. The ceiling was decorated with different lamps and in the middle, there was a huge chandelier hanging. The walls were decorated with wallpaper with elegant designs and family photos.

I observed the wall in curiosity as one of the photos caught my attention. It was a picture of a family. Father, mother and daughter. The man had a lean built with jet black hairs and blue coloured eyes. His face was adorned with a simple but loving smile. His hand was draped around the shoulder of his wife. The woman was simply stunning with natural features like wavy brown hairs and chocolate brown eyes with honey gold streaks. She was holding a baby in her hands. She was looking affectionately at the baby and her face held the bright smile. It was a kind of smile you want to see getting home after surviving a rough day. The smile that could take away all your worries in a moment. Looking at the picture brought a sad smile on my face as I watched the picture in awe.

I was broken out of my stance when the sound of laughter fell on my ears. I snapped my head in its direction. There was this same family that I saw in the picture sitting on the floor with many toys scattered around them. The mother was laughing at her little girl crinkling her eyes at the corners while the little girl was stumbling while trying to walk. And the father was looking at both his wife and daughter in adoration a small smile plastered on his face and a look of proud in his eyes.

The scene in front of me was so beautiful that my smile widened looking at their happy faces and I could feel the moisture at the corner of my eyes. I couldn't describe the feeling but I felt like I was at home. A place where there is a treasure of love and care they say. A place that I never had and I might never have.

I was smiling like an idiot standing there not caring that I was intruding their private moment. Suddenly the father and the mother lift their head slowly and met my gaze with their blank one. All the happiness and smiles vanished from their faces. My smile retreated as my hand reach to my necklace a habit that I had when I feel nervous or feared.