Stolen heart

The Harts family lived in a modest two-story house on Elm Street. The paint was peeling, and the roof sagged under the weight of forgotten dreams. Mia, the eldest daughter, often wondered how their home had once been a sanctuary—a place where laughter echoed and love flowed freely. But now, it feels all broken. Max, Mia’s father, was a skilled quantity surveyor. His days were filled with blueprints, cost estimates, and meticulous calculations. But when the construction industry hit a slump, Max found himself without a job. The once-sturdy walls of their family life began to crack. Elena, Mia’s mother, was a rising star in the fashion world. Her designs graced runways, and her name was whispered in elite circles. But the pressure was relentless—the deadlines, the demands, the constant need to create something new. Elena’s fingers trembled as she stitched delicate fabrics, and her nights were haunted by visions of unfinished dresses. One day, she collapsed in her studio, her heart racing like a runaway train. Her secretary rushed her to the hospital immediately. The doctor’s diagnosis was clear: stress-induced burnout. Elena’s career crumbled like a fragile chiffon gown. And then there were the siblings. Mia had two younger siblings, Simon and Luna. Simon, the middle child, was a troublemaker and a stubborn one. At ten years old, he had mastered the art of annoyance. He pulled Mia’s hair, scribbled on her textbooks, and hid her favorite earrings, and made fun of her. Simon’s favorite phrase was, “Watch me!” He climbed trees, jumped off swings, and tested the limits of gravity. His defiance was a symphony of chaos. Now he was fifteen, Mia thought this time he was going to become less troublesome, but she was wrong. Every moment he gone, he would make fun of her voice, and the way she dressed. Mia was kind of a intrepid child, well she had a charm when she was an intrepid child and a charm to her when she was a lady. Luna, the youngest, clung to Mia like a shadow. At six, she had the wisdom of an old soul. Luna’s eyes held secrets, and her laughter was a tinkling bell. She followed Mia everywhere—into the garden, up the stairs, even into the bathroom, even now that she was eleven Luna would whisper “Don’t leave me”, her tiny hand gripping Mia's shirt. Her personality was like that of an Aquarius: quirky, intuitive, and fiercely loyal. The Harts house echoed with silence. Max spent his days sending out resumes, his pride crumbling with each rejection. Elena retreated to her sewing room, her once-vibrant fabrics now gathering dust. Simon banged pots and pans, composing a cacophony of rebellion. And Luna? Luna sat by the window, watching the rain, her eyes wide with wonder. Mia tried to hold it all together. She cooked meals, paid bills, and listened to her parents’ whispered arguments. But her heart felt like a broken piano—each key out of place, the melody lost. She missed her father’s laughter, her mother’s late-night stories, and the way Simon used to cling to her leg, begging for bedtime tales. One moonlit night, as the rain tapped against the window, Mia sat on the porch swing. Luna joined her, her small frame shivering. “Why doesn’t Daddy come home early anymore?” Luna asked, her voice a soft breeze. Mia patted her head thinking of what to tell her. “He has a lot of work to do now,” she whispered. “And Mommy? She’s making new designs.” Mia said this because she didn't want her to worry ,but who would have thought little Luna k New already. Luna tilted her head. “And Simon?” Mia smiled. “Haha Simon is a wild one. He’ll find his way around someday.” And so, they sat, two sisters under the moon, listening to the rain. As the seasons changed, so did the Harts family. Elena’s stress-induced burnout had transformed her into a tempest. Her once-gentle hands now clenched into fists, ready to strike. Max, desperate for work, took odd jobs that barely paid the bills. His frustration simmered, boiling over at the slightest provocation. And then there was Mia—the family’s silent witness. She bore the brunt of Elena’s wrath. The fashion designer’s once-elegant fingers now left bruises on Mia’s skin. “You’re a burden,” Elena would hiss, her eyes aflame. “can't you do anything right?,do you want to kill me?,how wicked of you.”Mia looked confused and hurt at her mother's words.,She was woken up by her mom to prepare some oaths for her,Mia having no clue of what the doctor has told her mom not to eat,and what she should eat added sugar to the oaths,making her mom say those hurtful words. It's not like she was told of what her mom was supposed to eat and what she wasn't supposed to eat. This went on for days.Mia will always retreat to her room, her piano the only solace,the keys absorbed her tears, the melody a comfort to her,crying herself to sleep. Max her father didn't know about the happenings in the house because he would leave early in the morning and return home late at night, barely eating anything and going straight to bed because of his exhaustion. One night, as rain tapped against the window, Mia sat at her piano. The keys were chipped, like her fractured heart. She played a mournful melody, each note a cry for help. Luna slipped into the room, her small frame trembling. “Mia,” Luna whispered, “why does Mommy hurt you?” Mia’s fingers faltered. “She’s broken,” she said sadly,“And sometimes, broken things lash out.” Luna climbed onto the piano bench. “We’ll fix her ,we will do our very best to pray for her that's the least we can do"Mia said. "will God hear our prayer" Luna whispered "of cource He will,especially your prayers Luna". Regardless of what Mia had said and hoped nothing changed, Elena criticizes Mia for not achieving enough academically, socially, or personally. Whether it’s her choice of career, friends, lifestyle, or even her manner of dress, Elena scrutinizes every aspect of Mia’s life.This constant shaming leaves Mia perpetually seeking Elena's approval,unable to grow independently,doing everything she can to please her. Elena could condemn every choice Mia makes , and making Mia take hers as the ultimate and right choice so every little thing she does she gets approval from her mom.She couldn't even make decisions on her own thinking that when she goes by her choice she would be going the wrong way and regret it, because Elena went to the extent of manipulating Mia’s perception of reality. She distorts events, denies her own hurtful actions, and makes Mia doubt her own memory and sanity. Gaslighting leaves Mia feeling confused, isolated, and unable to trust her own judgment When Mia expresses pain, fear, or sadness, Elena belittles her experiences and seeing it as a drama,she never took her emotions seriously. Mia’s emotional distress is met with invalidation, leaving her feeling unheard and insignificant,and keeping everything locked in her heart.She would cry in silent making sure no one heard her, fearing that if they heard they will criticize her for being a drama queen.It was only by playing the piano or singing that could help her endure. Elena can even go to the extent of manipulating Mia’s perception of reality. She distorts events, denies her own hurtful actions, and makes Mia doubt her own memory and sanity. Gaslighting leaves Mia feeling confused, isolated, and unable to trust her own judgment Mia couldn't take it anymore she wanted to get rid of herself,and forgot about singing and playing the piano.Her home became a suffocating place to her ,and being controlled by her mom made it sickening because she couldn't even go out to get fresh. Immedietly she steps out for some fresh air or to buy something her mom would call out to her and ask where she is going.So the only time she gets to have time outside would be when going to school of being sent to get groceries.immediately she gets home she goes straight to her room. Because Mia knew her mom was hurting she never hated her she still loved her no matter what,after all hurt people hurt others it must take a few hurt people not to hurt others. As for Simon he would insult Mia anytime he wanted even if Mia failed to do something he would criticize and judged her,well it wasn't surprising for Mia because she knew the cause of Simon's behavior towards her. If her mom treated her right then her brother would treat her right. Mia started isolating herself from her family and started sending Luna away she feared that if Luna stayed with her she would become like her well that was her thought,her brain was a mess and she couldn't think straight any more ,but upon all her advances of pushing Luna away ,Luna never stopped clinging to her,so she allowed her to have her way.