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**Eliana Pov**

"Why are you late?.... Who do you expect to cook dinner or are you planning to starve us to death.... You wicked witch?!" My stepmother spat as she pulled on my hair.

I am sorry.... I am so sorry please.. was all I kept saying but she never let go off my hair. She was still dragging me by pulling my hair to the kitchen.

"What more do you want from us you wicked witch?!.... I knew you always wanted to kill us, just as you have killed your mother and father, I will make sure I kill you first before you get the chance to hurt us." she kept on rambling and finally let go of my hair.

 but then started kicking me on the side. I fell on the floor, I couldn't plead with her again because of the pain I was feeling all over.

"Get up ....Get up." She sat on me bouncing. I couldn't move. How was I going to get up? She was sitting on me.

"Get up.... Get up.... Wake up..... Mummyyyy. Mummy! wake up!" my 5 years old was bouncing on me. "I want food" she cooed.

I forced my eyes open, they landed on the little angel sitting on me pouting. Her dark golden blonde hair which is similar to mine looked rough and our matching brown hazel eyes looked like she was about to tear up. She looked so much like me.

 "Mummy, I want food. I don't want apples or bananas. I want cereal without milk and cookies and cupcakes and pancakes" Amelia continued mentioning and counting with her little fingers things that were impossible for her to consume at the same time.

Seeing my stepmother is something I wouldn't want to do. Not ever. I was glad it was a dream. I never dreamt of her. I don't know why I did today.

After I ran away from my town, I put the life I lived there behind me. There was nothing or anyone worth remembering, not even a friend. Only bad memories. I was not allowed to make any friends at school. I believe it was because my stepmother was not taking the risk of anyone finding out how I was maltreated by her. 

The one time I tried making a friend, she almost killed me. I didn't know how she found out about it. When I came home from that fateful day, I was beaten to the extent I couldn't attend school for a week. I was locked up for 5 days , after that I went back to my daily servant duties and 2 days after, I went back to school.

I am glad I left. But now she was hunting my dreams. I hope it never happens again.  

"Ok sweetie. I am up. Let's get you some food." I pecked her on the head before moving her aside to get out of bed. I helped her down as well.

We left the room and went to the kitchen area to prepare some breakfast. 

I made us some french toast, fried eggs and I sliced some strawberries for Amelia. She loved her berries at breakfast.

Between bathing and getting dressed, we were running late. 

"Shit!.... We are running late." I said out loud while putting away our plates in the sink.

"Shit.... Shit... Shit" Amelia kept repeating while I was trying to put her hair into a ponytail.

"Great parenting Eliana" I said to myself.

 I finally succeeded in convincing her to stop saying the word.

We practically stormed out of the house, holding Amelia in my arms to be able to go as fast as I could. We went to catch a bus to the school, but missed the first bus, now we had to wait another 10 minutes for the next bus. We sat on a bench at the bus station. Amelia hugged on to her "Mr teddy". As she named her brown teddy bear.

I already took an excuse from my workplace, letting them know I was going to report to work late. I need to take Amelia for registration into pre school.

"Sweetie, are you excited for your first day in school? You are going to make new friends and have classmates and learn to read and write and sing nursery rhymes and a lot more." I think I am more nervous than she is.I smiled looking at her. She smiled sweetly and nodded. I don't think she really understands me much though.

Today is the day Amelia starts her pre-school. That makes me excited and nervous at the same time. My baby is growing up so fast. I want to make sure she gets the best life she deserves. The kind of life I had with my parents before I lost them to the cold hands of death at a tender age.

What I am scared of is when Amelia gets to the age of realizing she is supposed to have two parents and then she starts asking me about her dad. That time I wouldn't know what to tell her. I know for sure telling her the truth will break her before she is even made.

If I tell her her daddy is dead, that would be a lie and I don't want to lie to her. What if later she crosses paths with him? She will hate me. Definitely hate me. I really don't know how it was going to be. But I hope by then, I will have the answer to give to her.

15 minutes later, we were at the front of the school "Flying stars" writing boldly. I checked the time: 10:00 am. 

*Sigh*

"Great! I brought her late on her first day of school. Good parenting." I mumbled to myself.

After asking the security for directions and thanked him, I picked her up to move as fast as my legs could take me. We went into the building then I put her down and held her hand. She hopped along as we went towards the headmaster or mistress's office. I don't know which one it would be.

I took a right and immediately bumped into a figure. That made me take a few steps back unwillingly. Amelia almost fell too but the figure grabbed her quickly before she reached the floor. 

"I am so sorry. Sweetie, are you ok?" I said without looking at the figure. I pulled Amelia to my side and made sure she was fine.

"Can you not run while holding a child?! This is a school premises by the way. What is wrong with you?" The figure said in a deep and harsh voice.

That did it. How can he put the blame on me when we were both at fault? We could as well blame the hallway for curving the way it is and we couldn't both see either of us coming. I wanted to be nice but I changed my mind. I looked up in anger….. but HOLY SMOKES!!!