Dear Haley

Prolouge

August 2, 2016

I stepped back away from the hooded woman stepping near me. Swear rolled down my forehead, my tattered dress sticking to my sweaty body. I knew what she was doing. She was leading me to the pool a few feet behind me. I couldn't swim, and she must've known that. My heart pounded with fear, my mind jumbled with ways to get free. But I could only move back, back. I couldn't look anywhere else, only at the person in the hood. Her shiny brown locks glistened in the moonlight as she slowly inched near me. Every step she took forward, I took one back. I suddenly felt the smooth tile of the pool beneath my feet. I stopped in fear, but the woman kept walking. I took two small steps and found myself at the edge of the pool. I looked behind me and saw that I was on the deep end, nearly 7 feet deep.

The hooded woman stopped in front of me, only her mouth visible in the dark. I clenched my fists and lashed out through gritted teeth. "Who are you?! What do you want from me?! Tell me!" I demanded loudly, my voice cracking in fear. The woman's blood red lips dragged into a scowl, sending chills down my spine. The woman reached up to take off her hood. My eyes widened in horror. Her dark brown hair, light brown eyes just like Mother's. "M-Maggie?" I asked shakily. She looked right through me. "You took everything from me, Haley. Everything you have should've been mine. You ruin everything." She said softly. I swallowed the large lump of tears in my throat. "I was nothing while you and the others stood out in the spotlight. You were everything to Mother while I was simply the rotten apple in the bunch." I said, my voice cracking like a pubescent male.

I could see Maggie begin to soften, her shoulders slowly slouching as they usually do, her scowl turning into a soft frown. "I didn't want anything that happened to me happen to anyone. I took all the blows from both of our parents. You never said thank you. You never gave me pity. I deserve every bit of luxury I have. You deserve the lint in my pockets for all I care." I said bitterly. I didn't care if I hurt her anymore. Maggie's eyebrows furrowed. "I... I just want what you have..." She whispered. Still on my guard, I gently touched her shoulder. "You don't have to do it this way, Mag." I said. Maggie looked up at me, her eyes glistening with tears. I smiled softly. Maggie changed in less than a second and grabbed my hand. Her grip was strong and sudden, I couldn't move. "I'd rather do it this way." She said maliciously.

Maggie harshly flung me into the pool.