You never know how strong you're until being strong is your only choice
Bob Morley
⚠️This chapter has someone being punched in it⚠️
It's my twenty birthday today I woke up, have a shower, brush my teeth and decide to wear jeans and a sweater since the weather was getting a bit colder now. I'm having a birthday party today loads of people will be there. By that I mean a lot of mum's friends who have kids my age that I see from time to time.
Oscar and my other friends aren't coming to my party after what he said to Debora. My mother decided he wouldn't be invited. The rest of his family aren't coming either especially since his father does ceremonial duties with the king, I know we are considered too low brow for them at least that's what my mother tells me.
There were birthday cards and gifts on the dining room table. I open the gift from my dad first it was a gift certificate to a private writing course held by a very famous author. I got jewellery from my sister and a book series I've been wanting to read from William. Grandpa gave me driving lessons and my uncle a Range Rover. Debora gave me a check for the charity I want to start.
I eat breakfast alone then I go on three engagements and when I finish my engagements I grab a McDonald's. I order a chicken burger meal and some chicken select. I also payed for whatever my driver and bodyguard wanted. When I arrive home I see a happy birthday banner and balloons in my apartment. I sent Emma a thank you text she tells me it was Debora's idea not hers.
The party went well except I didn't socialise with most of the young people there. It's while I'm cutting my cake and looking around the room I realise I wasn't good friends with anyone in it. Apart from my family I could only name three people I had a conversation with before today who was my age at my party.
I ask mum to set me up with one of her friends son she said no. I'm patron of a dyslexic charity now. I'm glad I listen to my cousin and stop being ashamed of having a condition that I can't control.
A year as passed and I turned down the chance to go to university. I'm just not in the right head space for it right now. My life consists of engagements and drugs.
Another year as pass yes even more time deal with it. When you have no friends you tend not to go a lot of places unless you have to. My social life is boring Oscar is clean and sober and is staying well away from me.
My mother is still talking my ear off about Debora. It's funny she's a loving mother in public to me but the opposite behind close doors.
I'm twenty-three soon and have nothing good going on in my life so I ask mum once again to set me up with one of her friend's son. She replies no and once again drugs are my new best friend.
I look at the date on my phone after switching off the alarm is that year right. How is it 2024 already wow time goes by quickly when you don't care and drugs is your best friend.
It's my cousin wedding day I want to be happy for her really I do. The wedding itself was beautiful the reception was too until it all went a bit Pete Tong(pear shaped) as Debora would say.
My mother tried to con my cousin to get a title for my brother when he marries. I mean when my father dies he gets his dukedom so I don't see what the problem is.
Debora complimented my other siblings hard work ethics but not mine. I felt like crap until a tall handsome guy with green eyes and black hair asked me to dance. I accepted only to have my mother step in saying she needed to see me urgently.
She took me in the bathroom and slapped me because Debora made her feel like crap.
"Fix your face up and come outside looking like nothing is wrong", she said before leaving the bathroom. I wish this was the first time she hit me but it's not. It started at 13 when I didn't want to take the diet pills she gave me.
I looked at myself in the mirror and could see the mark she left on me so I opened my purse and did a line of coke. As I finish I heard the stall door open. A teenager looking around eighteen or nineteen years old walks out of it.
"Here I got makeup in my purse that can help hide that bruise".
We heard a noise and turn to look at the bathroom door but no came in.
"Thank you I would appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone about what you just heard".
"You mean that your mother is a monster?"
"She's always been like that".
"Doesn't matter it's still wrong here this is my phone number. I'm Leila by the way".
I hold out my hand, "Victoria".
She laughs, "I know who you're".
We used our combined makeup skills to hide the bruise that was forming on my cheek. As I walk out the bathroom Debora comes over to me.
"I'm sorry for earlier you're my cousin I love you but the truth is you've been flaky lately is something wrong?"
I look at her wanting to say something about what was really going on with me but don't. I put my hand where my mother slapped me and she follows my hand. I can see her looking at my face carefully. She opens her mouth to say something but my mother with her perfect timing comes over.
"Victoria darling I've been looking everywhere for you. You must try the wedding cake it's divine".
The next day I spent the whole day in bed then my mother came into my room like nothing happened. She starts talking to me about her friend's son who would be perfect for me. Several days later I'm woken up by my mother who was extremely angry that I was in the papers. There was a photograph of me taking drugs. While I was at my darling cousins' wedding tarnishing my mother's reputation.
My mother punches me giving me a black eye. Not long after that incident I'm summon in front of the king and my grandfather. They tell me how disappointed they were in me. It's decided I need a long stay in rehab then they will decide about my HRH status.
When my uncle and grandfather inquired about my black eye I tell them I fell down the stairs in a drug induced haze and hurt myself. I was glad to be going to rehab it got me away from that woman for six months.
I didn't care about my reputation I just needed to be away from her. I arrive in the countryside at a farm which was now my home for the coming months. Where I'm introduce to Eric the owner of the farm he was an old gentleman in his sixties with a receding hairline .
"Welcome Victoria let me start by saying everyone is treated equally here", he shows me to my room. "You're very lucky you get your own room while you're here".
I look around my home for the next six months it contained a large bed, a dresser and wardrobe plus an en-suite. There's also a radio on one of the bedside tables. I unpack and transfer my clothes from my suitcase to my wardrobes and drawers. On the bed is a welcome pack I open it and see a timetable. The day will start at six with feeding the animals. Then we do whatever else is needed on the farm.
To my surprise I will be asleep when given medication to rid my body of any drugs in it. Truth be told I wanted the drugs out my system. How did I give someone such power over my life that I was destroying myself just to function?
It was said on one of my visits to a domestic violence charity when your partner hits you the first time. The reason they stay afterwards is you've told them it's okay to treat you that way. How you ask by not kicking him/her out.
The first time my mother hit me I should have said I wasn't accepting her behaviour. Then tell my dad or siblings. Heck when she gave me diet pills I should have opened my mouth.
There's a knock on the door, "Come in".
A blonde woman walks in the room, "I'm Christina I'm just here to show you around and introduce you to the staff".
"Ok", I follow her outside and close my room door. Where I'm shown the kitchen, library, tv room, bathrooms and the living room. Christina takes me to the office area of the building where I'm introduce to the counselling staff, the managers, and the nurses.
She takes me back to my room then locks me in for the night. I lay on my bed and smile I was finally free.