One
961 Words
“Damn it, Alejandro! You already took everything from me!”
Mom’s scream echoed through the house.
“You ruined me… You and your daughter destroyed everything I could’ve been!”
Her voice cracked between sobs and rage as she hurled the truth at Dad.
Listening to her felt like my heart was being torn apart piece by piece.
“Hon, please. Calm down. You’re imagining things,” Dad tried to console her.
I didn’t know why they were fighting, but worry gnawed at me. Mom looked furious—terrifyingly so.
“M-Mom? Dad…” My voice trembled as I stepped closer.
“P-Please… don’t fight.”
Tears rolled down my cheeks as soon as I said it.
I know… I know I’m being selfish right now. But I don’t want my family to fall apart.
Mom looked at me.
Her eyes were full of pain, hatred, and sorrow.
Before I could react, she marched toward me and slapped me so hard I fell to the floor.
“This is all your fault! Because of you, my life has been miserable! You ruined everything!”
Her words stunned me. A sharp, unbearable pain shot through my chest. Mom grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked it violently.
I didn’t even get the chance to move. I was frozen—not from shock alone, but from the weight of what she said.
Dad and the nurses rushed to pull her away. I stayed on the floor like a statue—unable to move, unable to speak, unable to even say I was hurting.
I couldn’t say anything because I didn’t know what hurt more—
the slap,
the pain in my scalp,
or my heart.
Everything hurt.
I didn’t know how I was supposed to react.
I wanted to be brave—I didn’t want Mom to see me cry.
But I couldn’t do it.
All I could do was sob as my hands trembled uncontrollably.
This was the first time I saw Mom look like she genuinely wanted me dead.
Was I really that terrible of a daughter?
What did I do so wrong?
Why can’t she love me?
The pressure on my scalp eased; they had finally pulled her away. My head went numb. Then I felt a hand gently touch my forehead and cheek.
Dad.
“I’m sorry, baby… I couldn’t protect you,” he whispered, his voice breaking.
“D-Dad?”
My voice cracked. His eyes were filled with pity—something I hated seeing. I never wanted anyone to look at me like that.
“All my life, I kept hoping that if I just loved her enough, she’d love me too. I tried, Dad. I really tried. I was patient, I was kind—I never gave up on her. But she never even tried. Why? Why does she hate me so much when all I ever wanted… was her love?”
Dad stared at me, stunned. I could see the pain in his eyes too. But he didn’t say a word.
Silence.
And that silence screamed everything he couldn’t.
A bitter smile formed on my lips. I forced myself to stand even though my legs were trembling.
“I-I’m going to school now,” I said, wiping my tears and forcing a smile.
---
“Oh my God, are you okay?” Era kneeled in front of me, cleaning the scrapes on my knees.
“Y-Yeah.” I forced a smile. The truth was, my whole body ached.
“I know you, Adi. You’re not okay.” She sighed and sat beside me.
“Come here.”
She gently pulled me toward her. My eyes widened in surprise.
She hugged me—warm, sincere, comforting.
For a moment, I felt safe.
“I’m always here for you, Adi. If you need someone, I’ll always be here. You’re not alone. Be strong, okay?” she whispered.
My heart melted.
“T-Thank you… for staying with me through everything,” I said quietly.
Maybe Mom couldn’t love me.
But Era and her mother showed me the kind of love I never got at home.
Era handed me a chocolate bar. She knew it was my comfort food. No matter how heavy my problems were, eating chocolate always made me feel a little better.
---
Classes ended early today—we only had morning lectures.
I spent the entire class staring blankly at the back of the room. My wounds weren’t even fully cleaned because the teacher arrived before Era was finished. I didn’t want to interrupt class just because of a few bruises.
At school, everyone looks at me like I’m a princess.
Dad owns this place.
Everyone assumes my parents treat me like royalty.
If they saw these bruises, everything would panic. I don’t want that.
“Let’s go?” Era asked. She invited me to the mall today. It was rare that we were both free, so we took the chance.
We were also celebrating…
It was my eighteenth birthday today.
We went to makeup stores, ate together, and played in the arcade.
The day ended happily—with my best friend by my side.
We won a lot of plushies in the arcade. I took one home.
When I got back, the house was silent.
Too silent.
I sighed.
This house feels empty.
Lifeless.
Like no real family lives here.
I dropped my things in my room… and then quietly walked downstairs.
I went straight to the basement and lay down there again.
I don’t know why… but I’d rather sleep here than in my own room.
Maybe because it’s the place I’ve known the longest.
The place I grew up in.
The place my mother taught me to call “home.”
- Writer
