I hadn't seen in a while stepped away after paying
hey paid their last respects while the rector Mig
s or uncles. I used to hear that dad wasn't on
d not being on good terms with them becau
stepmother, Irene. Irene was not the perfect stepmother, but she tried h
always bullied me when my d
oments of my life living without them. Both Miguel and Maria are olde
llness, and my dad died last week due to an acc
ed solemnly when the last set of my relatives pa
ment. My gut told me they didn't want to be associated with me, which
ve one by one. Dad's coffin was carefully lowered into the grou
other side of the seating arrangement. As if on cue, the warm, sunny
ame to my front. "Guess it's just us now,
nd he's beaten me a handful of times when dad or Irene went out on a date. I'd cry myself to sle
turning my back to he
o turn your back on your enemy, bu
e grabbed my hair and pulled with a force
to burn, but Maria didn't let go of my hair. Instead, she continued to tug
with a pitiful look tha
't say you could leave." Mig
You don't move without my permission. You do not eat, sleep, read, or do anythin
me?" He gritted o
und, I could see the dar
to tell me that today was the begin
. I've never been fond of him, but at that mo
e when dad had just died?
to go fuck himself, but I knew I'd only b
elf when I had no money or job. Thankfully, I've graduated from university, which m
p human like you?" Maria kic
burst from my ribs and scattered around my body. Maria had
ar on my body by no
y part. As soon as I turned, Maria used the heel of her shoes to poke my thigh. She made sure to add
n anguish as more tea
could hear how demented and evil his laughter was. I felt the blood t
needles didn't
without my permission, g
eyes couldn't hold any more tears, I opened them to find the t
ed a yawn. She was turning her right han
ribcage hurt even more, so I didn't bother to answe
o pack the seats into the truck. The driver will be here in the next hour. If y
ge, I nodded once more, being ca
dearest, and leav
, I let my thoughts wander aimlessly
, but he's gone now. I have no friends because th
cause they didn't believe dad's business could take off, so
only one in the family who has da
me, but I have both h
ny of that to my advanta
he blink of an eye, I felt a drop of water land on my ch
u
lying in wet grass after my dad was buried. There is a hole in my thigh that is b
earlier, I closed my eyes and counted to ten. It was the only way to dist
ke I made it, but then a sharp pain pierced from my thigh and shot right up, through my ri
rain fell harder. At lea
all a
black gown and tied it around the ho
onsole myself as I made a move
ans I'll get to eat tonight. We didn't serve the relatives any food because everyone was in a hurry, so
s mid-forties rounded the truck as I pushed
his was suppose
already done." I
you shouldn't have bother
nd," I lied throug
before warning me about the dangers
colate once I returned to the house. I thanked him for caring
heart in my chest, wondering what else
aroma of Catherine's famous egg-tomato soup. It's a rec
m into shredded tomatoes and stir fry until the juice from the t
, I couldn't wait to eat her food and tem
asn't dripping muddy water onto the floor. I met Catherine
lly, so she wouldn't detect an
s, which were always warm, were now cold. She looked me up and down like I was a sp
ice, as if I were a child afraid of t
oes no longer wafted into my nostrils. The pitter-patter of the rain and
t on my side, it was there to
know what Miguel and Maria told Catherine, but it was obvious it was some
e dining table, which was adorned with dishes of beef stew and shredded po
oon. I whispered to his portrait han
away from me. Now he's gone, and they've revealed their true character
be no prince charming coming to save me. Only