3

                                    

                                          
I wake up to a pair of my eyes staring down at me. A woman sits still in a rocking chair at the far corner, watching with caring eyes but an angry scowl. 
                          
The man staring at me is familiar.
                          
"I don't know you anymore." A woman's voice says. 
                          
I look to my right and see a beautiful woman staring at me as well. 
                          
Her hair is up in a crown braid and her glittering outfit shows off her status. 
                          
"You, are a great disappointment. You are nothing, you are no one, you are not our daughter." The woman continues. 
                          
Tears gather in my eyes.
                          
The man speaks now. "Do not cry!"
                          
I stifle the sobs. 
                          
"What have I done? I didn't do anything!" I say softly.
                          
The man laughs. "That's just it. You didn't do anything because you can't do anything and you don't know how to do anything! You are the dumbest, ugliest, most useless person on earth. I don't know why you were placed in this family." 
                          
Silent tears roll down my cheeks and the woman slaps me. She holds my face in her hand, closing the distance between her thumb and pointer finger. I feel my cheeks turning red.
                          
"Don't you dare cry. You look even more hideous now." She hisses. "I can't believe such an ugly thing like you came from me. I wasted nine months of my life for you! No matter what blood says, you are not my daughter."
                          
I hold back the rest of my tears as my parents steadily raise their voices, yelling at me for all things I can't do, failed at, and most importantly, everything I am and cannot be. 
                          
The next thing I know, a stranger's hand holds my wrist and pulls me away from the only house I've ever known.
                          
My parents stand at the door waving goodbye with a mocking expression and joyful eyes.
                          
I'm their daughter by blood but they disowned me. I always did my best, but in their eyes, I did nothing. I tried to love them- but they hate me...
                          
Someone shakes me and I jolt up. 
                          
"Serene? What's wrong?" 
                          
Odeo's concerned face stares at me. Behind him, Hannah holds a cup of tea.
                          
"You were sobbing, dear." Hannah says, handing me the cup. 
                          
I wave her away and she places the cup on the night stand.
                          
Hannah looks at me with a concerned look and a sad smile before walking out, leaving me and Odeo alone.
                          
I look at the window and see that the sun is setting.
                          
"What time is it?" I ask quietly, my voice getting hoarse.
                          
"Six." He replies. 
                          
I slept for four hours?
                          
"What happened, Serene?" He asks, holding one of my hands in his.