The Diamond Family : Book 1, The Diamond Trilogy

Chapter 4

I sat by the window for a while, listening to the clink of music the raindrops made as they hit my window. Elisa, who would usually be humming, listened too. It was like a wordless lullaby that casted us to sleep. My eyes became heavy as the thick raindrops hit the window in rhythm.

Elisa stood by her bed fluffing her pillow and laying out her blanket. She gave me a soft heartfelt smile before patting her bed, telling me to sit on it. I listened, taking a sluggish seat.

Due to the raging storm, we were left with cold hard food. Elisa's stomach was louder than the rain clinking at the window. We were both exhausted from little food and a long day of chores. It seemed the mood of the weather was the mood of Miss Dianna. Her voice was as frightening as the thunder.

A few pieces of wood blew off different parts of the building, scattering all along the lawn. I knew that tomorrow wouldn't be any better considering the damage it's doing to the landscape.

The storm wasn't even that bad, but our orphanage is very old and ridged. The place carries this ghostly feeling. Bugs crawling in the cracks of walls or scurrying across your floor. Most things here like furniture, play equipment, and other basic essentials are as old as the place. Everything here is sponsored by the city, but they gave up on this place years ago. Most of the Caretakers here don't even get paid a lot, causing them to leave most things for us to take care of.

"Lost in thought, again?" Elisa guessed, sitting next to me.

I signed. "You know me too well."

"I was cleaning under our beds, and I found this." She grabs a small shoebox from her nightstand, handing it gingerly to me. I took a deep breath, already knowing what was in the box.

My touch had to be light due to the fragile cardboard. Inside held things I hadn't touched since I was eleven. Small tattered chapter books and folded school papers lied inside. Buried deep in the box was a single photo.

Tears collected the tips of my eyes as I stared at it.

It was a tattered photo of my mother and me. I look to be about six, holding a huge grin as my mother tickles my stomach. Two light brown braids fall down my tiny shoulders. My mother stares at me with such adoration, smiling from ear to ear. Her slick brown hair falls down her shoulder in perfection. Instead of her normal worn and drunken eyes, they stare happy and hopeful.

I remembered that year my grandma got back in touch with my mother, but then died the year after. My mom soon picked up that toxic bottle again. When my mom got pregnant with me with no husband or job, well, my grandparents nailed her for it. They cut off any ties with her. She took drinking as a safety net for her problems and responsibilities.

My grandma found out she had cancer and didn't want to leave on a sour note, so she reached out to my mother. Less bottles were of the counters. It was like paradise for a while, I could experience the life of a normal kid. But that didn't last long, clearly.

"Is that your mom?" Elisa asked, staring closely at the picture between my fingertips. I never talked about my mother much to anyone. Elisa always told me about her parents, and how she lived in poverty most of her life. This caused her parents to give her up due to not being able to provide for her.

I nodded. "Yes, but this isn't how I remember her being."

Elisa shrugs with a frown plastered on her doll face. "Well, how do you remember her?"

"Drunk." I shrug simply.

She gives me a pointed look, trying to budge the truth out of me. "Elisa, there isn't much I can tell you about her. Truth be told, I don't know much about her myself."

"I know. I'm sorry. It's just you know everything about me, but I don't know much about you despite knowing you since you were eleven!" She whines, fiddling with a piece of hair.

"You know I'm private. It's just the way I am. Plus there isn't much to me." I shrug, placing the photo back in the box and shutting it carefully.

"I know that you're a thinker, you like to read, you despise the idea of a family," she paused, thinking. "Oh, and your favorite food is chicken noodle soup. But there must be more than that."

Elisa was always the type to make people smile, but right now she was being irritated. I was never the one to yell, but after everything, this day had brought me I wasn't opposed to it.

"Look, I'm not in the mood. I think we should get some sleep. Today has been a long day for both of us." Elisa gave me a hopeful nod.

"But, missy. We are continuing this discussion in the morning." She says in a motherly tone. Although I don't look forward to the conversation ahead — I know that Elisa won't reset till it's answered.

Elisa quickly braids my brown hair, her fingers moving naturally speedy. This was something that she enjoyed doing. She used to tell me it reminded of her mother braiding her own hair. Even though it was a simple braid, Elisa shined with pride at her work.

I curl up in my bed. Though hard as a rock I learned to fall asleep rather quickly on it. The scent of laundry detergent still lingering on my white sheets, helping me fall asleep faster.

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Sorry for the shorter chapter. I knew this one wasn't that intense, but I felt that it needed to be shown. This chapter determines the past of Elma's mom, and shows the reason why she became an alcoholic. It also shows the depth of Elisa's character. I feel that you can see that Elma has closed off her past and the grief with it. Reading the story in Elma's perspective shows us what Elma kind of feels deep down, but for characters around her; they don't know much about her because she's a very private person. Anyways, I promise the next chapter will be long and full of suspense!