Chapter 1: How Did It All Start

How did it all start? Oh, yes. It started with the abuse from my father, Victor. "Why are you always reading and going to school Elena, but seem to never have money to meet up with rent or when I need to smoke" he would scream at me. I had gotten used to his abuse after my mom's death when I was 5, he had taken up the habit of being an alcoholic, and now I was 19 years old facing his daily abuse and harsh words. 

Even with how he behaved I still tried my best to take care of both of us, working side shift at a diner and still trying to study to become a lawyer under a fully funded scholarship in one of the best schools, I was in my final year, and couldn't wait to be successful. 

"Elena, I need some cash for some important things," my father said with a commanding tone.

"I don't have anything to give you papa, the money with me is for our rent, I can't let you use it for drinks and smokes," I said firmly. And just like that that I triggered the harsh words again.

"You are useless. With such curves and a beautiful body like yours, you could get us out of this poor life, but you waste it," he screamed, walking out on me. At this point the insults didn't hurt anymore, I picked up my bag to head to school and was met with my second abusers, my neighbors. 

"You are just wasting your time, you would soon end up like your father, the only good thing he had in his life was your mother," my neighbor blurted out. I sighed, looked at her, wondering how good it would feel when I prove them wrong.

As I got to school I was met with my final abusers, the cherry on the cake, my classmates.

"See how cheap she's dressed, how did she even end up in such an expensive school," a girl whispered to her friends as I walked passed her, almost like she wanted me to hear what she said and just like other days I didn't care, I mean what do they want to say that my own father hadn't screamed at me.

In class I sat alone, no friends, no one wanted to interact with the poor girl, at the beginning when I got here it was sad but now I couldn't give two fucks. 

After a long day at school, I still needed to get to my shift at the diner but one of the mean girls in my class felt today was her day. “With how you dress I can't just imagine where you live,” she mocked me.

I smirked. “No, you can't because unlike you, I don't have some rich papa tending to all my needs, especially the unnecessary ones,” I retorted. She kept mute looking for a perfect comeback but I was not willing to stand around to hear what I already know, so I left.

Things were easier at the diner. No abuse or harsh words just everyone minding their business. 

“Elena I would cover your shift, you should be home reading for your exams,” Sofia said smiling. She's my co worker and a nice person, sometimes we have small talks but would always end short, it was a safe space. 

“You don't have to,” I said feeling tense.

“Yes I don't, but I can and I definitely take you as my little sister, so just leave this to me,” she said collecting the uniform back from me. 

“Thanks,” I said smiling. At least one person still had my best interest at heart.

Going home was a 40 minute walk from the diner. I took my time walking home thinking of how life has been treating me badly. 

“Elena, I thought you had evening shift,” Marcus yelled trying to catch up with me.

“I do, but Sofia offered to cover it because of my exams,” I explained. Marcus was my childhood best friend, well I didn't know if we were friends anymore because he looked at me weirdly these days, especially after joining some bad gang in the neighborhood. 

“Should i walk you home?” He asked giving me that same perverted look. 

“No you don't need to,” I said walking a bit faster than him. 

“Okay, I will see you later,” he said waving a good bye. I nodded avoiding eye contact with him.

I got home tired but still had to read, I did not want to waste the opportunity of letting Sofia covet my shift. And luck was on my side, because my dad was not around to complain and yell as usual, I could finally study in peace. 

I decided to do some chores before studying because the rodents kept chewing on the boards and the leaking roof just made everything worse.

I complained to the landlord and instead he mocked me saying I don't pay enough to get to complain for anything and I had no useful items for the rodents anyways.

I kept quiet on the matter because I didn't want any issues with anyone in this neighborhood and no one was going to support me anyways, so why try.

After cleaning up the board pieces, I went to my room, preparing to study when I heard a knock on the door. I sighed, reluctantly going to open it to see my drunk father, I rolled my eyes, there goes my studying time.

“Why… why did you take so much… much time to open up?” he struggled to put words together. I ignored his question and helped him inside.

“Papa aren't you tired of this habit, do you want to live like this forever?” I asked fed up by his behavior. 

“How dare you…” he did not get to finish his statement when he collapsed on the floor.

“Papa,” I rushed to him panicking but he wasn't moving.

“Fuck,” I screamed out of frustration.