Necessary evil

Chapter 9

It's now Saturday and my mum wakes me up at 9.
"Melissa! Hurry up!"

I groan and roll over, and before I know it, the air is rushed from inside me as
I hit the floor with a hard thud.
"Ow."

My mum stomps up the stairs.
"Mellisa," she says, throwing the door open. "You said you would- What are you doing on the floor?"

I look up and tilt my head
"I'm hugging it, mum.
What the hell do you think I'm doing?!" I say, grunting as I push myself up slowly.
"What do you want anyways? It's a Saturday, leave me alone"

She crosses her arms then glares at me, tapping her foot.
"You said, no, you promised you would clear up the attic since I cleaned your room!"

I look at her disbelieving
"What? No I never! And you didn't have to clean my room, you cleaned it because you wanted to!"

She huffs
"Just do it!"
And with that, she stomps off, slamming my door.

I roll my eyes heavenwards and grumble under my breath, cursing everyone and everything as I get ready and have my breakfast.

I head to the attic to see dozens of boxes.

I slap my head with my hands and slide down the wall.
This will take me years.

After cleaning and sorting about 5 boxes, I open one to see letters on the top, they looked old and cruddy with rushed, fancy handwriting on top.

I pick the first one out
Dear Beth, January 28th 1998
I don't know what to do, they're coming after me and I know they're getting closer. I can feel them. I'm now 8 and a half months in, I think. I'm scared, not for me, but for Marc.
~ Dawn Katri

After dawn

Wait.
My dream
What if they didn't mean dawn as in sunrise?
What if, what if it meant Dawn, as in my mum.

I pick up another letter

Dear Beth, October 16th 1998
He's here Beth! Marc. I gave birth to my little baby boy. I just wish.. I wish that you could see him. I know they're getting closer, I know they'll find me soon. I'll do anything to keep Marc but, if there's a choice between me living and him, I would not hesitate in choosing him.
~Dawn Katri

My head is spinning.

I see another letter

Dear Beth,                      November 3rd 1998
Marc's gone. My baby boy is gone.
I don't know what to do anymore.
They killed him. They ambushed me.

I got away. I can't live anymore.
I need you. You're my only friend. I need help.
Please Beth, my baby boy is gone.

I'm alone
~Dawn Katri

I put the letter down and look in the box to see a few more.
I can't, I can't read them anymore.

My mum is lying. She's lying about everything.

Footsteps are thudding towards the attic as I shove all the letters to the bottom of my pocket.
My mum pokes her head in surveying the room.
"Woah," she nods in approval "you've been busy! Come down for lunch honey, I'll do the rest tomorrow."

I nod and force a smile.

Liar

"Ok mum, be down in a sec."

She leaves and gently shuts the door and I lean against the wall, wondering what the hell is going on.

Should I talk to her?
I don't want her to lie anymore but, I don't want to ruin our bond.
Maybe I should just leave it for now.

"Melissa!" A voice hollers from downstairs.

I sigh.
Why would my mum lie to me?

"I'm coming"