CHAPTER 3
1513 Words
As the sunset behind the rooftops painted the Brown house in shades of orange and blue. Most evenings in the house always carried unease, but tonight, the air feels a lot tighter like a storm was hiding somewhere in the walls, like a dark cloud
Lilly sat on the step outside the kitchen, her notebook open on her lap. She was trying to work on her school project, My Life, My Story, but every time she tried to write, her pencil strokes shakily over the page.
How could she write her life when her life felt like something she was trying to escape?
She pressed the pencil down and scribbled the first line:
Sometimes, home is the last place where you feel safe…
She stared at it, breath tightens, and chills ran through her body
It was the truth. She stared at it, breath tightening and fear holding on to her, but it was her truth
And the truth frightened her.
Before she could write anything else, Rose’s footsteps approached her
Flower, Rose said, sitting beside her. You haven’t eaten dinner. Why?
Lilly smirked. I’m not too hungry.
Rose placed a hand on her back. Is something wrong? Are you feeling ok at all?
Lilly paused. I don’t know what to write for my school project.
Rose smiled gently. Write what you feel.
That’s the problem, Lilly whispered. “What I feel is… hard, it's heavy, it hurts
Rose’s expression softened. Then write the smallest truth. One line. You don’t need to tell it all.
Lilly glanced at the line she had written. Rose leaned over to read it.
Hmm, Rose murmured. That’s powerful, deep, and strong.
It’s scary, it scares me Lilly said.
Truth, they say, is always scary, Rose replied. But it’s also freedom, light, and the way out. Before Lilly could respond, a loud crash echoed from inside the house.
Rose jumped up, dashing towards the door
Lilly dropped her notebook.
What was that? Lilly whispered.
Stay here, Rose ordered, rushing inside.
But Lilly didn’t stay. She stood, heart pounding, and slowly followed in
Inside, the house was filled with anger. Adam stood in the middle of the sitting room, hands balled into fists. His heavily pregnant wife, Clara, was standing anxiously behind him, her face drawn with worry.
And standing across from Adam was Adrian eyes blazing with rage written all over his face.
A chair lay sideways on the floor. That must have been the crash.
What is wrong with both of you? Rose shouted, rushing in between them
Adrian pointed at Adam, shouting, Tell him to leave me alone! Tell him to stop acting like my father!
I’m not acting like your father, I am the father in this house Adam shot back. And someone needs to correct you and put you in your place
You can’t keep treating Lilly like trash!
She deserves it! Adrian screamed.
Lilly froze,
The words hit her like a blow to the chest.
Rose gasped. Adrian! How can you say that? About your little sister
Adrian’s stare was vicious. Because she ruined everything! She ruined my childhood! She ruined
Adrian Brown! Clara snapped, stepping forward despite her swollen feet and heavy belly. How can a child ruin your life? She was a baby! A BABY! she screamed
But Adrian was beyond logic.
She took my place! He shouted. I was supposed to be the last-born the baby of the house. But no! They just had to have her and everyone started treating her like she was some special flower! Because she was, Rose shot back
Lilly’s breath tightening, her heart racing
She had never heard this before.
Not like this, not this raw, not full of so much hate
Adam’s voice was low and steady. So you've been punishing her for something she never did?
Adrian glared. You wouldn’t understand, You left. You weren’t here to feel it.
And you think she deserved your fists? Your insults? Your anger?” Adam stepped closer. She’s ten, Adrian.
Adrian’s jaw tightened. She’s the reason
Enough! Rose snapped. Enough! None of it was her fault!
But Adrian wasn’t done.
He turned toward the doorway and looked straight at Lilly,
And their eyes met.
His anger sharpened.
Lilly froze in place
Then he whispered, voice trembling with emotion that wasn’t just anger… but something darker, older, twisted with old hurts:
You shouldn’t have been born. It's all your fault
Rose gasped.
Adam swore under his breath.
Clara covered her mouth.
And Lilly felt like her heart fell to her feet.
Mrs. Brown’s door opened at that moment.
She had heard everything.
Her face was thunderous.
What is happening in my house?
Mom, Rose snapped, Adrian is saying horrible things to Lilly!
And Adam is correcting him! Adrian cut in. He’s always acting like he’s better than us!, because I am Adam shot right back
Mrs. Brown walked toward Lilly, the easiest target.
You! You, You, How many times will you cause fights in this house? Are you happy now? See how you’ve scattered everything!
Lilly backed away slowly
Clara stepped between them immediately. Mom, don’t shout at her!
Stay out of this! Mrs. Brown barked.
Adam moved to shield Lilly. Mom, you’re not listening.
Mrs. Brown folded her arms. I don’t want to listen. Since this girl came into my life, it has been one problem after another!
Silence, Cold, sharp, flame of silence ran through the house.
Lilly’s breathing turned shallow.
Her body trembled and numbness filled her
Those words were swords
Words she had always feared hearing out loud.
Rose stared at their mother in horror.
Mom… what did you just say?
Mrs. Brown hissed. I said what I said and needed to be said.
Adam looked like he wanted to shout, but Clara gently held his sleeve.
Adrian smirked slightly, satisfied.
And that broke something inside Lilly.
The room began to spin.
The voices blurred.
Her hands shook uncontrollably.
She turned and ran.
LILLY! Rose screamed.
But Lilly didn’t hear her.
Her legs were moving too fast.
Her vision was too blurry.
Her chest was too tight
She ran out of the compound gate.
Into the dark streets.
Past neighbors sitting outside.
Past children playing.
Past the familiar corners of her world.
She didn’t know where she was going.
She just ran, her slippers slapping the ground.
All she saw was her mother’s face.
All she heard were her brother’s words.
You shouldn’t have been born.
Her breath broke into gasps.
She slowed only when her legs could no longer carry her. She stumbled behind a building near the edge of their street and finally collapsed on the cold soil.
She curled up, hugging her knees, shaking violently.
Tears flooded her face uncontrollably.
She choked on sobs.
Her throat burned, tightening
Her chest hurt, and trying to give way
She had never felt so unwanted.
So rejected.
So… alone.
Or maybe she always felt it, but this dark night, this day made so real.
Back at the house, chaos erupted the moment Adam realized she was gone.
“Where is she? SHE RAN OUT! Rose cried out, panic shaking in her voice.
What?! Adam rushed toward the gate.
Clara shouted from behind, Adam! Don’t run come back! What if she..
But Adam was already sprinting down the street.
Rose followed immediately, barefoot, tears streaming.
LILLY! LILLY!!
Adam knocked on neighbors’ gates.
Rose checked every shop corner.
Clara tried calling out from the house.
Even Adrian, shaken by the intensity of what had happened, paced the compound with restless steps.
Mrs. Brown stood in the doorway, her face pale, her hands trembling slightly.
She opened her mouth to call Lilly’s name…
But no sound came out
After fifteen minutes of searching, Adam noticed Lilly’s school notebook lying near a dusty path, half-open
He picked it up, heart pounding.
Inside was the sentence she had written earlier:
Sometimes, home is the last place where you feel safe…
Adam’s breath caught, feeling trapped
He wiped his eyes roughly and kept searching.
Then Rose screamed from ahead:
ADAAAAM!!!
He ran toward her voice.
She was kneeling in the shadows of the building.
And in front of her, curled up on the ground like a bruised Dog
was Lilly.
Shivering, silent
Eyes swollen from crying.
Rose started sobbing uncontrollably. “Flower… oh God oh baby, Lilly.
Adam rushed to them, dropped to his knees, and reached for Lilly gently.
Flower… It's okay… It’s okay now… we’re here. Am here
Lilly flinched at first.
Then she looked up, her face streaked with tears.
Whyyyy don’t they want me? She whispered.
Adam pulled her into his arms in the most romantic, tightest hug he had ever given anyone
You ARE wanted, he said fiercely. You are loved. You belong with us. Don’t ever think otherwise.
Rose held both of them, crying.
We’re not going to lose you, or let your hands go she whispered. Not to this house. Not to their words. Not ever.
Lilly buried her face in their shoulders…
And finally, he let herself be held onto.
- Writer
