Hope Is Not Enough (READ DESCRIPTION)

Prologue

The pathetic mewls and cries of starving kittens blare in my ears. I give a bowl of food to some kittens, then I give some water to other kittens. I choose one kitten and take it to the washroom. I give it a good scrub, then let it go out to play. I've cleaned about half the kittens when one ages up. I tap the gift, and I get a premium Golden Fish.
"Yes!" I shout, and then blush under the curious stare of TJ. "Watcha doin?" She asks me. I groan. "Leave me alone Jane." TJ scrunches up her nose. She hates being called her middle name. "Mo-om!" She jumps up from dad's chair and runs into the kitchen, where mom's making supper. I hear her tattling on me, and then my name is called.
"Cassandra!" I look up from my phone, where I just finished bathing another virtual kitten. "What?" Mom leans around the doorway and raises one eyebrow at me. "I mean, yes?" I correct in my most pleasant voice. "Come set the table Cassandra." My mom disappears back into the kitchen. I put my phone in my pocket and grunt as I get up from the couch.
I walk into the kitchen to see TJ sitting glumly by the dishwasher. There's a bowl of raspberries sitting on the table.
"Set the table Cassandra, Tara, you get us drinks." TJ sticks her tongue out at me and goes to the fridge. I step in beside mom and grab the plates from the cupboard. "Mom, you know I don't like to be called Cassandra." I tell her, "Why can't you just call me CJ, or Jazmin?" I actually liked being called Cassandra, just not by my mom. Mom gives me a reproachful look and sighs. "But Jazmin's your middle name, and CJ doesn't sound right on you." I roll my eyes, and finish setting the table.
I glance at mom out of the corner of my eye and she sighs. "Alright, come on, Cassie, call your father in from his study." I smile broadly and give Mom a hug. "Love you, Mommy." She hugs me back. "Love you too, Cassie."

The next day is normal. Well, it starts out normal. I go to school, hang out with my friends, sigh with the rest of class when a new science project is announced, and pretty much go through a normal day. Until I come home. That's when my life changes forever, and it will never be the same again.