The Love We Share

Chapter 1-That Damned Window

A/n: All rights reserved. Do not steal my ideas please and thank you!!

Aleigha didn't grow up in a normal house with a normal family. Her town was small, and her house was as well. It was a two-bedroom house with one bathroom. The living room could only fit a couch and a tiny tv smooshed in between the wall and the washing machine with the broken drier on top. The only other room in the house was the kitchen with a tiny table centered with one chair. Why only one..? Well, I'll let Aleigha explain the rest.

Aleigha's POV-

It was dark and I felt a shiver rise my spine as the crisp air flowed through the open window. I had but one blanket and a pillow that were far too small. The black curtains tickled my feet at the end of my bed as the wind picked up. The moonlit up the night along with my room.

It was so cold, but I couldn't do much. I suppose you could say I could close the window. That's what any logical person would do. But not here, not in this house. You see if I were to close that window it would cause something fierce. Something I would only understand.

You see I made the mistake of closing the window last winter... It was so cold if you were to go outside with three heavy coats on, you would still get frostbite.

But for my aunt she wanted me to feel exactly how she is, bitter cold. She made sure to close my door and lock me in at night, scared I would steal as I am a thief in her mind. She believes since I stole her freedom I would steal more.

I didn't care that she had locked me in at night as time grew. The only thing I cared about was closing that damn window. I was so tempted but scared of her threats. She said to never close it. No matter the circumstance.

But last winter I was so desperate to feel the warmth I went against every fear in my body and shut that damn window. It was the best and worst night of my time spend here. As warm as I felt I couldn't get rid of the coldness within the air. It's like my aunt was in my head making me freeze within.

I couldn't sleep until morning when I heard the lock jimmying back and forth. When the door swung open I saw her. She wore a nasty face as she looked from the window back to me.

"Stand up." She had said ever so calmly it was alarming. I was nervous to follow her instructions, but did so anyway."Hands-on the wall. If you move or flinch it will only get worse for you dear." She sighed and I heard her gather something from the hallway closet.

I didn't know what she would do. But before I knew it she came back with a belt. A black leather belt that would surely sting if she were to hit me with it. She started to swing back and I swear the next second was so slow as I waited in anticipation. But as slow as it took it still came. When it did it stung and I flinched in pain.

"You flinched dear." I heard the smile on her face as she turned the belt around. The metal now being swung towards me. It took everything within my body not to move or scream as the sharp metal made contact with me. I felt warmth trickle down my back. My mind was blank. How can someone do this? Why would someone do this?

"Alright dear, that's enough. Don't close the window again and you'll never deal with that again." Oh, how I wish those words were true.

That was the night I learned my lesson to never close the window. It was also the night I gained a weirdly shaped scar upon my back. The first scar of many more to come.

I guess you can say that I'm not wanted here. Unfortunately, my parents passed away three years ago and left me to my father's sister. He thought I'd be good for her lonely life. He was wrong. It turned out to be the opposite, she was bad for me. Her cold bitter soul would never be good for me.

I wanted nothing more than my parent's back. That I had persuaded them to not go out on that icy day instead of watching them go. Their car wouldn't have slid off the bridge and I'd still have them here with me. Life would have been so much better. Easier. Less painful.

They'd love me. They'd remember how to spell my name. They'd just be there for me like any guardian should. And I would be there for them. I'd do anything for them.

But that couldn't happen, and I knew that. So I just have to sigh and hope I can get some sleep tonight. After all, I always have to be my strongest for school tomorrow. I rolled my eyes at the thought and drifted to sleep.