The Broken Songbird

BETH'S POV My voice flowed out of my lips as I tried to sing perfectly, searching my head for the lyrics my father and I used to sing together. At first, my voice came out shaky but after a while my dry throat grew better and I got louder trying to ignore how cold my room was. If this pig's sty could be called a room. Despite staying with my mom, I was treated worse than even a cockroach. I didn't have a bed, a toilet, or clothes. I don't have anything. Negative thoughts filled my head and I squeezed my eyes shut raising my voice in a way to drown them out. So much that I had not even realized someone entered until a huge amount of cold water landed on me. I let out a gasp in shock as I turned, running my hand down my face. My chest pounded heavily and I stared at the people who did nothing but cause me pain. Sophia and my mother. Sophia held a dirty bucket and that was when I realized the stench coming out of me. Oh god. What was in that bucket? Sophia and my mother both exchanged a funny look and I watched them laugh out, holding their tummy like this was a comedy show. Fear filled my veins as I raced towards them, kneeling just a few feet in front of them. "Good morning. I'm so sorry. Did I wake-" I tried to sign with trembling hands but I had barely finished when my mother slapped me across the face. My head felt like it had just been forced off and I took in slow breaths trying to prevent the tears from falling. "Don't you ever try and do that again. I'm not going to speak to someone as disgusting as you." I nodded, trying to understand how my biological mother ended up treating me worse than anyone ever did. "You're so useless. It's past eight on a Monday morning and you haven't even made the table ready for breakfast. Disgrace," she yelled turned to Sophia who nodded aggressively enjoying this a bit too much. I opened my mouth wanting to explain that I had no idea I had been singing for that long and apologize but like always no words came out. Sophia rolled her eyes. "Freak." "Go on, then," Mother snapped. "And if that table isn’t ready in ten minutes, you’ll regret it." She turned to Sophia with a sickeningly sweet smile. "Come darling, let me help you with your hair," my mother said, her voice thick with love as she walked away. "Yes mum!" Sophia answered a at and I couldn't help but envy her. She stared down at me with disgust and just when I thought she might spit on me like she did last time, she kicked me. I fell to the floor in a loud thud and she ran out leaving me to my silence. I stayed still for a while trying my best not to let the tears fall. I was already too weak to cry. Once I felt like I could do it, I wrapped my hand around my cane helping myself up. I limped out of my room and upstairs trying to ignore the full ache in my legs. If only they didn't refuse to get me help. There was no point thinking about it. I had work to do. Breakfast came together in silence. I barely tasted or smelled anything, just kept my head down and hands moving. When I finished, one of the maids gave me a tray meant for Brenda, the old house librarian. My heart lifted, just a little. Brenda was the only person in this house who treated me like I was human. When I walked in, she beamed. "Beth! My baby. You’re glowing this morning." I gave her a small smile and signed "Thank you." "You look a bit weak and pale though," she observed and I only shrugged not wanting her to worry. "Here, take mine," she muttered, pushing the tray of all sorts of food towards me. "Here. You sing for me, I’ll pretend I don’t see you sneaking food." I felt my cheeks flush and I gave her a tiny smile. Slowly the melody left my lips and she closed her eyes resting her head on her head rest. We talked for a while, well, she talked. I just listened, enjoying how it felt to be seen as a human but she had to ruin it. "Where is that b***h?!" Sophia’s voice rang out through the halls and I froze as it recalled to me. I'm still in hell. I nodded to Mrs Brenda and signed quickly, "I need to go. Sophia’s calling me." Just as I grabbed my cane, Brenda grabbed my hand, placing it in hers. "Don't mind them. Your sister and mother are only jealous of you and they hate that so they think all of these would make them feel better." "Don't stop dreaming and it will all work out for you," she finished planting a kiss on my head and I nodded again trying to push the tears back. At least this time they were happy ones. The hallway suddenly felt cold as I stepped out and it wasn't from the weather but it was from Sophia 's attitude. She was like an ice queen and I couldn't wait to be away from her. I gripped my cane harder, breathing in deep through my nose, and climbed down slowly. When I reached the last step, I lifted my hand to sign "I'm here," but before I could finish, Sophia’s foot slammed into my cane. It slipped out from under me and even though I tried my best to hold onto something I went falling on the floor. My whole body ached but I tried to push myself up either way. Sophia scoffed. “Who the hell do you think you are, standing up like we’re equals? Get on the damn floor.” I wasn't in the mood to argue so I just swallowed and knelt in front of her. She stood above me, one hand on her hip like she was some queen on a throne. “You're going to clean my room top to bottom, and make it sparkling. Victor’s coming over tonight.” She practically squealed. “You’ll get my bath ready. Pick out my gold silk dress—the one that shows my shoulders. Iron it. Spray it with that vanilla mist I like. And don’t screw anything up.” Victor? That name echoed in my chest like a distant bell. There was only one Victor whose name always comes up in the conversation in this house. Victor De Luca. He is the owner of a record label who went around finding new talents, and with just a single audition, one's life could change. He was the dream of many women. And he was coming here? Sophia smirked, clearly reading the shock on my face. “Yes, that Victor. He’s coming to hear me sing. I’m going to be a star.” She flipped her hair, laughed, and walked away, hips swaying with exaggerated pride. I sat there on the floor, my palms still stinging, heart beating way too fast. Is this a chance?