Veil Of Shadows

Shattered Reflections

My thoughts clouded my mind as I stepped through the front door that night. I braced myself for the inevitable drama that awaited me.

My hand trembled over the doorknob, heart racing again. I turned the knob slowly, pushing the door open, only to be met with a sight I couldn't process.

Lali, my so-called stepmom, was tangled with another man in the living room. My heart ached as I watched them, their tongues intertwined, devouring each other. Lali was half-naked, clad only in a bra and panties, her body on display in a way that felt utterly shameless. His hands slipped under her clothes as she moaned, a name escaping her lips.

Disgust surged through me as Lali tilted her head, locking eyes with me. She didn’t flinch, didn’t try to explain herself. Instead, she rolled her eyes and returned to her actions.

“Go up and get changed. Come back down to do my laundry,” she ordered, still not looking at me, as if I were an afterthought.

“Yes, ma'am!” I replied, rushing upstairs. But then she called after me, “Hey, Lyra! Be a good girl and don’t let your father know about this. You know what I can do.”

I didn’t respond. I turned back and hurried to my room. Once inside, I shut the door, leaning against it as I slid down to the floor. Tears streamed down my cheeks. “Where... where did he find an animal for a wife? Mom was never like this,” I murmured, memories flooding back.

I remembered returning from kindergarten after another bad day. Mom would create food sculptures of my classmates to cheer me up. Those whimsical creations were the only things that made me feel better.

She was my strength, the one who taught me love. That moment lingered painfully in my mind—the day my mom lost her life at the hands of the person I least expected. I had just returned from school when I saw my dad with a hammer, mercilessly crushing my mom, who was already bruised and broken. His brutality echoed in my mind, a crime he remained oblivious to, even now.

I lay on the floor, tears soaking my clothes, fists clenched tightly. I was exhausted. After my mom's death, life became a nightmare I wished to escape, a place I wanted to obliterate. The pain was unbearable; after killing my mother, he married a witch who seemed hell-bent on making me regret my very existence.

Lali’s words echoed in my mind: “Don’t let your father know...” Even if I did, he would never believe me. He always chose to trust outsiders over his own daughter. I was merely a maid in his eyes, useful only as a servant, not as his child. It felt as if life had cursed me to be the unluckiest person in the world.

“Lyra!” a voice called, jolting me from my thoughts. I rushed downstairs, heart racing, my legs moving quickly as if they too feared punishment from Lali.

Once downstairs, I found her waiting for me. Before I could catch my breath, a slap landed on my cheek, turning my face to the side. I fought back tears; if she saw me cry, it would only get worse.

“Why haven’t you done the laundry? My guest has no clean clothes because of you!” she screamed, her voice dripping with fury.

I glanced at the man behind her, nearly naked in just his boxers, clinging to her as if unashamed of their actions.

“What’s wrong? Why are you staring, you shameless brat?” she snapped, and I quickly diverted my gaze, afraid that speaking would only land me in deeper trouble.

Just then, the door burst open, revealing my dad, rage radiating from him. He ignored the nearly naked man and crossed over to me in two strides. His eyes were red with fury, teeth clenched, revealing his fangs. Lali quickly shooed the man away, turning to face my father.

Confusion washed over me as he pointed his phone at me. My heart dropped as I saw it—the same pictures and videos they had taken. Social media was ablaze with posts about me, filled with vile comments that made me want to gouge my eyes out. I was being sexualized, harassed, and accused of doing disgusting things in the bathroom.

Looking up at my dad, I saw a storm brewing within him. This time, I knew life had no intention of letting me find peace.