e was being careful of objects that could harm her and large people that could knock her down. A wide smile appeared on her lips when she caught a gli
catch her breath. She looked up with a smile on her face and walked further into the shop, slightly closing her e
ater Jezebel offered to her. She waited until she had calmed d
hat forced a burst of rustling laughter out of her. No one had ever related her with marriage but Jezebel and she wondered why. Besides, she knew that even if she did want to
or even related her to it. She was just Esmeray, the girl everyone maltreated and go scot-free, for she had
efore she turned to her with a smile, "I told you, Jezebel, that I'll never get married. Even if Papa will take me to the runaway this m
back home." She sat beside her as Esmeray immediately ventured into the meal, "And I've always told you, Esmeray, you'l
Esmeray knew will never happen. They spent over an hour in the shop as she helped Jezebel with everything that she want
ure she walked soundlessly to her room, which was the attic. Some days sleeping in the attic had been her worse nightmare, there were scorpion
ister shouted toward her mother and Esmeray knew it was time to stop playing the hi
. There were times when she wanted to give her a medicine of her own but she could not, even though she was a yea
almost immediately at the pressure her stepmother, Yamla used in hitting her. "Didn't
er about a husband but for these people, she was certain they belittled her and thought she would have to stay with them until her la
"Papa, I..." she began, but the sound of his belt on her was what made her shrill in a cry as Yamla kept conveyi
and it hurt as hell should. He beat her to his satisfaction and mercilessly threw her out of his way as he stomped to his room. She looked up to see Akasha and Yamla smiling w
f the beating she had got, but for the way her heart ached. She heard the sound of laughter and from the corner of h