Matilda asked why, huh? Teenage Noelle used to ponder about this when she first reunited with her family.
Back then, she had tried to mimic every flattering gesture Sandra had used to win over her family. But what did that get her? Indifference.
Things became crystal clear one day when she prepared a cup of coffee for Matilda. She had thanked her for the effort, only to discard it into the flowerpot behind her back.
That night, she overheard the conversation between her parents.
Matilda contemplated whether to take Noelle for an HIV test. At that time, she was too young to know what that was. It wasn't until later in life that she realized it was a test for AIDS.
All because she was almost sexually assaulted by her adoptive father. To her parents, that incident remained an indelible stain on her name.
Even if the truth revealed that nothing had happened, she was no longer pure to them, and she had lost the right to be their daughter.
At that thought, Noelle shut her eyes tightly
