Chapter 2

“LANI!” 

I jumped in surprise when my mother called me again. This time, her voice thundered all over the corner. I gulped, then hurriedly made my way toward the lounge, only to find out how messy the whole place was.

It’s on weekends. I don’t have school to attend or a job. I merely work on Monday and Wednesday. Sometimes Tuesday, when I don’t have much on my plate. 

“I notice you’re hiding something from me.” 

My whole world went ballistic, and my breathing became shallow. 

“W-what do you mean?” I tried to smile my way through but it was useless.

“A mailman always wanders outside the streets. It’s not like you often see one unless there’s a letter to be delivered.” 

I bit my tongue and shrugged my shoulders casually. If I say anything, I know she would just cause havoc. 

I turned around, deciding to ignore her. I was about to walk away when I felt something solidly hit the back of my head—a loud shattering of glass rings in my ear simultaneously. 

Drip. Drip. Drip. 

Something was leaking. I slowly raised my hands, touching the back of my head. At the same time, my eyes roll down on the ground to see the bottle of beer splattered with its intoxicating liquid. 

I just finished mopping the floor.

“DON’T YOU DARE TURN YOUR BACK ON ME!”

She pulled my hair, beat me like a pulp and even drag me all over the house while screaming how worthless and a p*ece of sh*t I am.

“IMBECILE! GOOD FOR NOTHING CHLD! I SHOULD HAVE KILLED YOU LONG AGO!”

I was limping when I got back to my room. Gladly, she got tired of beating me. My head was spinning, and my vision was slowly fading as if I was going to pass out. I was about to lie down when I remember the letter I am expecting from him.

I tried picking up myself but I ended up crying miserably. I can’t move my body that much anymore but remembering the letter that gave me the only hope to live is ennobling me to get up.

When I finally got out of the house, I walked past the living room but stopped when I saw my mother was with another man. Both of them were naked, eating each other out. 

They haven’t noticed me yet, so I leave them alone in the other direction.

I was limping when I arrived at the mailbox, and astonishingly, there was a new letter from him. I immediately took it out and read it here.

  

However, just when I was about to open it someone snatched the letter from me. I glanced up in horror only to see my wicked mother holding the piece of paper in her hands.

“N-no…” I mumbled to myself.

My mother tear the envelope and read it in front of me.

“M-mom, don’t-”

She slapped me right across the face before I could even finish my sentence.

“Silence, you freak!” she yelled,m continuing reading the letter.

I could feel my body trembling in fear and repugnance while imaging the things she’s going to do with me. I silently swallowed the lump in my throat then played with my fingers anxiously when she’s finally done.

“You’re planning to escape, huh?”

There’s no point in denying it. I closed my eyes, ready to face her wrath.

My expectation was meet when she delivered a blow in my stomach. Her kick was strong and hard that I choke out a blood.

“YOU TOLD SOMEONE ABOUT ME?! HOW DARE YOU FLIP THE TABLE!”

She started to beat me again but this time it’s way worst compared to the past few days. The thunder roared, going along with my emotions. I couldn’t even feel my muscles anymore.

“You’re the one who ruined my life! I lost my job! My dream! And even my life because I have to raise someone like you! You’re useless! You deserve to die in hell!”

She kicked me in the face and after that everything was a blur. I coughed out a blood then slowly raised my head. Even if my vision is a little blurry I could see my mother holding the letter in her hands, waving it right in front of me while wearing a devilish smile.

“You’re not going anywhere! I will never set you free out there! You don’t deserve to be happy!”

“M-mom-” before I could even finish my sentence, she tore the paper in front of me. At the same time, I could feel my heart shattering into millions of pieces.

“You’re going to die here…” she said before leaving me alone outside. I could feel some of our neighbors are watching us and even my mom’s man but they wouldn’t care.

No one dared to take a step forward and offered their help.

After a few minutes of pure silence the rain poured mightily. The thunders are deafening and everyone immediately went inside their houses, except me.

My whole body is numb. I didn’t move all day until the sky is already turning dark. I was about to pass out when I remembered the letter. My eyes widened.

The letter!

I pushed myself to crawl towards the teared pieces of paper. I groaned in torment while trying to force my body to sit up because I have to read his letter.

Adam is my only hope. Just when I was about to kill myself before he suddenly came to my life. He gave me a purpose in this cruel world and told me he will always be there for me no matter what.

The thunder grow louder but I didn’t flinch. I have to fix these broken pieces together!

“Dear Lovely,

I will fetch you. Let’s meet up August 23^rd, at five pm. You can find me at the local center mall. Make sure to look for a man wearing a red shirt and black pants. You will know when it’s me. Just trust your instinct and we will see each other. I will wait for you and will look for you.

Love,

Adam.”

August 23^rd…

That’s today…and it’s already night…

Oh no, am I too late?!