Obsession With The Wrong Brother

Chapter 1 Precious sat in the dimly lit room… crying. Every day seems worse with each passing moment, how long could she keep enduring this? How many more slaps, more insults, more nights of swallowing her tears before something inside her gave out completely? Looking back at seven years ago she wished she had stayed with her poor parents. At least hunger was better than pretending you were safe. At least poverty was better than abuse in a luxurious home. The door suddenly opened but she didn't bother turning. “Didn't you hear me come in?” her sister’s stern voice came. Well…stepsister. “Good evening, ma.” She greeted, not lifting her head. Seven years of training taught her that silence was safer. Keep your eyes down and your mouth shut. Don’t exist unless spoken to. “You're very stupid! Haven't I tried for you…. You this ungrateful little brat.” she continued, her voice rising with each word. “Why did you serve my husband like that?” “Like what?” Precious asked before she could stop herself, and the next thing she felt was a sharp slap across her face. She held her cheeks looking up now. “Oh, you are even crying? What exactly is your problem!” she asked raising her voice. “Whoever sees you will think I'm suffering you! I feed you, clothe you, sent you to high school and yet you still remain ungrateful.” Deep inside, Precious heart shattered into a million pieces. Where had she gone wrong in life? What sin had she committed at birth that made her deserve this? She had tried. God knows she tried. She woke up early, washed plates until her hands cracked, folded clothes until her back ached, smiled when her mouth wanted to scream. And still, it was never enough. “I go out to make ends meet every single day! Every f*****g single day, and yet you still treat my husband like trash!” Evelyn yelled. Precious last patience finally snapped, she rose up from the bed. “How exactly did I treat your one in a million loving husband?” Evelyn looked at her, shocked she was actually talking back. Precious was never the type to raise her voice, she barely talks even when accused of something she didn't do. “Please tell me aunt, what have I done! Haven't I tried, haven't I endured enough! Do you want me to die before you’ll finally be happy?” Evelyn quickly pointed her fingers at her. “whatever nonsense you are spilling is none of my f****** business!” she continued, “If you can't forgive him, then that's your problem. I already made sure he apologized.” she said. Like that was supposed to fix everything. Like 'sorry' could erase his hands, mouth and dirty looks and nights she couldn’t sleep. Like sorry could erase the trauma of that night. Tears flowed freely from Precious's face. “Be honest aunt, if he had done what he did to one of your daughters would you have forgiven him?” Flashback Precious casually kneels on the floor, folding her nieces clothes and her sister's clothes into each separate drawers. Her sister, a lady in her late thirties is seated on the bed playing a game on the phone with her daughters. Beth was eight and Angela was fourteen. “Mom, you will fail! Don't swipe it that way!” the youngest Beth spoke chuckling at her mom's bad attempt at the game. “Let me help you.” Angela the oldest said, taking the phone. “But honestly, I tried right?” Mrs. Evelyn said smiling at her two daughters who were already engrossed in the game. Her eyes finally darted to her younger sister on the floor, she frowned when she saw precious putting her clothes into her daughters drawer and her daughters clothes in her own drawer. ‘Is this girl ok?” she thought. Then playfully she spoke. “What are you doing, this girl.” But she got no response, it was as if Precious wasn’t even there. As if she was a ghost in her own life.. “Precious!” she shouted again. Her daughters who were engrossed in the game finally looked up, their eyes darting from their mom to their aunt on the floor. “Precious!” Mrs. Evelyn shouted the third time and that was when she finally looked up. “Ma?” “Geeze! Are you ok?” she asked, and precious nodded. “You’re ok and you’re mixing my clothes with my Beth’s clothes. Precious looked inside the drawers and that was when she realized what she had been doing. Her hands moved slowly, taking out the clothes, putting them in their rightful place. She hated moments like this, moments that reminded her she was always one mistake away from punishment. “Beth and Angela.” Mrs. Evelyn called. “Yes mummy” they both answered at once. “Go to the sitting room.” She ordered. The girls eyes darted between their mom and aunt before they reluctantly left, shutting the door behind them. “Precious..” Mrs. Evelyn called. “Ma?” she answered, her heart beating faster and her fingers trembling. “Sit down.” She ordered, patting the bed. Precious slowly stood up and sat down. ‘Was this it? Finally?’ she thought, stupid and hopeful despite everything. Maybe this time her sister would see her. Maybe this time she’d be treated like Beth and Angela. Maybe this time… “Is anybody bullying you in school?” she asked, but Precious nodded negatively. “Did someone touch you?” Her throat suddenly became dry, she could feel tears prickling at the corner of her eyes. She always hated this part of her… the weakness of crying at every moment she got emotional.