lui (on break)

Chapter 1

I hate the winter... It's all grey, cold and sad. I hate my city! Well, I love Paris, but I just know the suburbs of my city. I stay at Courneuve. It's a too beautiful name for such a poor and aimless city, here nothing is new or looks like a yard.

My name is Leila, I'm 17 years old and I live with my mother, my sister Sonia, my brother Rayan and mainly my torturer father. He's worker at Peugeot since 20 years, he is unhappy and find all the possible ways to make our life difficult.

My family live in a little decrepit apartment and it's often hard to complete months ends. My sister and I try to find some little jobs to help. I work in markets the week-end, offer to do household, to give courses and I do babysitting.

As soon as I make a little bit of money, I give it to mom who quickly hides it so that my father does not confiscate it. It's not a lot generally, but it allows her to buy some things for herself.

Sometimes, I'm tempted to keep that money for me, because I could buy me some clothes. I'm very badly dressed, it can be very embarrassing. Most of the time, I get my sister's clothes and she is 2 sizes more than me.

But honestly, I don't care about my look, it's the last of my troubles, I have other problems to manage.

Of course, I notice the fashionable girls at the high school who make fun of me and make me hurtful remarks to reduce me. But I can't do anything so instead of answer, I swallow my tears and my pride and I try as best I could to ignore them.

-LEILA! What do you want for your birthday?

My sister bursts into my room and takes me out of my thoughts. She jumps on my bed, all excited. Sonia is both my sis' and my best friend. She's 22 years old and she is like a second mom for me.

-I don't know. Maybe a new jean or a schoolbag...Since I begin the university in October!

-No you're too crazy it's too much!! It's only your 18 birthday after all! You should just received a packet of tissues, it's largely enough, she quipped in front of my lack of requirement before of throw me a pillow in the head.

-Ok so what are you thinking about?

-I don't know, we could go for a ride in Paris, with the girls, go shopping and maybe even clubbing!

-Are you crazy! We can't even go at the end of the street without getting yelled at by dad or Rayan.

-Don't worry, I have a plan.

-Girls, come help me to make the dinner! My mom's voice resonates from the kitchen.

Sonia and me sigh at the same time and obey.

After have made the dinner, I put the table while my brother and my dad watch the TV, do not consider a second helping us.

I'm boiling inside, but I don't say a word, I've take enough shots in my life to know that a women have to know shut her mouth and must make her women's job which consists of serving men.

-Come eating, it's ready, says mom!

All the family settles around the table in silence. I begin to serve my father who hands me his plate. At the time to catch it, my fingers tremble and the plate breaks on the ground.

He enters into a crazy rage and one second later, I feel a big pain on my cheek.

-You cannot be careful! Do you know how much it costs? It's clear that you've not paid it!

I keep my eyes on the ground, too afraid to face his dark look. My lips tremble and I kneel to pick up the pieces of the plate.

-I'm sorry.

I fight to keep my tears inside. I know how much it irritates him when I cry. Like he repeat too often, I'm too weak and the only thing I can do is to "blubber". I hear my mother get up of her chair to help me...

-No! Let her makes it. It's your fault if she can't do anything, you do all for her!

I swallow my tears, get up and bring the scraps at the garbage. When I sit down, my father says me.

-You know now that you'll have 18 years old, you should find a real job to make yourself useful! Like that, if you break something, at least, you can replace it!

I look at him, trying to not cry and replied to him of an unsteady voice:

-And the university?! I have good marks. And I would like to study to...

He stops me banging his fist. I Blench.

-I'm not here to feed all of you until the end of the times. Find a job and go to the university, I don't care! Studies are useless! Who will hire a clumsy like you!?

With that, he violently quit the table; let me and the rest of the family finish the dinner in silence.

Back in my room after taking a shower, I slip into my bed and replay the scene of tonight in my head. The tears threatening to resurface when I touch my cheek and feel the pain cause by his brutality.

Why my father is so violent? Why he doesn't love and protect me like my classmate's fathers. Now, he requires of me that I find a job. I sigh, desperate...

Okay, calm down Leila! After all, it can be a good thing! At least, I could buy me some things, get out of this apartment, take care of my look and help mom. I just hope that he'll not hinder me to follow my studies.

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I'm not the author of that book, I just translate it.

The author is: birdy2404

All rights belongs to her.