Second Chance
Copyright © 2011 Kenia Rivera
I wrote this story quite a while back and wanted to posted it up to see what people thought of it. Hope you enjoy! :)
So here is the edited version, it took me a while to get it done XD
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Sweat was running down my brow as I concentrated. My arms and knees were aching, my back felt stiff from being bent over for so long. I scrubbed harder, not willing to give up so easily to the scum that had decided to make it's home on the bath tub. I paused to catch my breath, wiping the sweat that was beginning to build up on my forehead. While I leaned back to stretch my muscles, I heard footsteps out in the hall. Hoping that whoever it was would just walk by and ignore me, I set back to work.
“Have you cleaned my room, yet?” Henry, my older brother, asked harshly as he walked into the bathroom.
“Yeah, it's done. I just have to finish doing your laundry,” I answered, paying more attention to the tub than him.
“What?! I told you to do that ages ago!” He spat angrily. I felt him take a step closer towards me, my body automatically became stiff.
“Just finish up with my clothes, you stupid bitch,” he snarled, then stomped out of the room.
I sighed, relieved he didn’t lay a hand on me. I leaned back again, closing my eyes and trying to loosen my muscles up. As I let my mind wander, I thought of my brother and the person he had come to be. When we were young, he was easy to talk to; we would always get along. He would get irritated easily, but he was never a violent kid. I noticed he began to change when our younger brother, Lanny, passed away. He stopped talking to people; when he did, it was either one word answers or insults, but he wasn’t violent. When my mother passed away two years ago, he turned into this whole other person that I didn’t know existed within him. I thought he was fooling around when he began to order me around as our step-father, playing tricks on me as he use to when we were kids. But when what he said wasn’t done, he began to take matters into his own hands.
Reaching for the sponge, I got a tight hold on it and began scrubbing harder; enjoying the pain that was shooting up my arm. Personally, I preferred feeling the physical pain, than emotional. I was tired of crying and feeling the wretched pain in my chest, it led me nowhere but to my own personal misery. I scrubbed harder as the tightness in my chest began. I felt it get tighter and tighter as I kept scrubbing. Throwing the sponge into the tub, I stood up and closed my eyes as I leaned over the sink trying to breath in and out evenly.
As the image of my mother crossed before my eyes, my heart gave one last squeeze that sent me over the edge. The lump in my throat made its appearance then. I wasn’t over my mother’s death, no matter how many time tried to either tell myself or act as if I am, I wasn’t. She meant the world to my brothers and I. I always thought of her as an angel, with her love and patience. She would always be there for us and I can’t remember a time when she ignore us or even lay a hand on us. She would just watch us as we threw out temper tantrums and wear ourselves out, then take action. She would hold us close to her chest and kept us there until we were completely calm.
Why did you have to leave us, mom! I screamed in my head as I shut my eyes tightly, trying hard not to let the tears fall uncontrollably. I wasn’t in the mood for either of my brothers or Michael to find me crying. Michael, I thought angrily as I felt my chest being released and replaced with burning anger as I thought of that man.
I only believe that my mom made one grave mistake, a mistake that ruined us all. She met a man, knew and dated for about a month, then, out of nowhere, married him. I thought maybe it could have been love of first sight. I was a sucker for romance when I was a child, but once this man walked into our lives that bubble was burst for me.
------------------------------------
(Flashback to 8 years before)
"Mom, whatever you have to tell us, just come out and say it 'cause Jimmy is waiting for me to go play with him downstairs," Henry said irritated.
"Okay, just let me find the right words to put it for you kids..." my mom trailed off.
"Mommy, please tell us. Your scaring me!" Pouted Lanny, my younger brother.
"I’m sorry sweetie, this is just a bit hard for mommy to explain." She said as she picked up Lanny and sat him on her lap. "So, here it goes. I met this nice man and we have been seeing each other for sometime now,” she hesitated. “He is really sweet and kind. His name is Michael Rein. Well, Michael asked me to marry him an-"
"WHAT THE HELL?! Why didn’t you tell us about this man, mom?" Henry yelled.
"Let me finish first and then I will explain why, okay?" mom said calmly.
"Yeah, okay. Whatever." Henry crossed his arms over his chest impatiently.
"As I was saying, Michael asked me to marry him and I said yes." my mom smiled at all of us.
"I’m going to have a new daddy?" asked Lanny excited.
"Yes, sweetie. Your going to have a new dad." She smiled at him and then looked back at Henry and I. “I didn’t tell you guys about it because well, I didn’t have the time to say anything. I have been too busy working and making sure all of you were well all dressed and fed.”
“Yet you had time to see this man but still not have the time to tell us?” said Henry dryly.
“Look, I was afraid, okay?” Conceded my mom.
"Is that all your going to tell us or is there more, mom?" Henry asked annoyed.
"No that’s all, you may go out and play now. Be sure to get back before dinner." She said as Henry walked out the door.
"Yay, I’m going to have a new daddy! Dawn, we are having a new daddy!" Lanny said to me as he was jumping up and down.
"Dawn, honey, are you alright with this? I haven’t heard a word out of you since I sat you guys down." My mom asked.
"I’m fine, mom. I’m okay with it, as long as your happy." I smiled up at her.
"You are an odd nine year old child." she said looking down at me with her beautiful smile. "You want to help me with dinner? Michael is coming and I want to make it special."
"Okay," I said walking with her towards the kitchen.
As I helped her prepare dinner, my mom kept talking about Michael and how wonderful he was. She seemed so happy and excited that she finally "met the man of her dreams". Well that’s what she thought at least, but who knew the guy would be the complete opposite of what my mom dreamed of this guy to be.
"Lanny and Henry go change into something decent. Dawn, please help Lanny?" Asked Mom while preparing the table. I nodded and walked out towards Lanny as he went running up stairs towards Henry’s and his room.
"Hurry up kids, he is almost here!" We heard our mother call out, from the kitchen.
"Why the hell do we have to dress up for this guy?," Henry asked irritated.
"Cause mom wants us to." I stated.
"Do you want him to be around?" Henry sighed.
"Not really, but mom deserves to be happy."
"So do we!"
"Just hurry up" I said annoyed at my selfish brother. Mom deserves to be happy. She wen through a lot when dad was around. Even after his death she was suffering because of him. She deserves this! I thought annoyed at my brother.
"Kids, can you please come down here?" my mom yelled.
"The asshole is here, lets go" Henry said as he walked out of the room and down the stairs.
I had to admit, I was nervous and excited about meeting the guy, but there was this odd feeling growing in the pit of my stomach. I just ignored it and walked downstairs with Lanny.
"Children, I would like you to meet Michael." My mom smiled happily at the man standing next to her, with his arm around her shoulders. He had a big smile, so did my mom, as he was looking at her, but once his eyes landed on us the smile turned into an evil smirk and his eyes became darker. I knew then that my life was going to start going down hill. I knew then that this man wasn’t what he said he was, I knew all this as he stared at me and an eerie cold chill ran down my spine.
__________________________________
Don't forget to comment and vote! If you love it, fan! Until later my little kitties! ^_^