The Beginning

“Don’t do that; get out of my luggage,” Laura warned her daughter as she tried to zip another bag for the trip ahead. They were headed back to New York, and they were about to miss their flight.

“Mom, just a minute,” Lisa said, pouting as she finally pulled out the shiny face cap her mother had packed away. A triumphant smile was on her face as she put on her found treasure.

“Where is Liam? Liam! Get down here now!” Laura shouted for her son to join them.

“I’m coming, mom!” Liam screamed, his small voice making Laura smile and shake her head.

"Lisa, put that back in the bag and go bring your brother,” Laura told her as she picked up her handbag and looked around to be sure she was not forgetting anything.

Running on her small feet, Lisa hurried up the stairs.

"Liam, we have to go now; come on out,” Lisa said, standing at the top of the stairs, her hands on her waist as she gave her orders.

Laura looked up at her daughter, chuckling at her statement. Lisa was always acting like she was her brother’s older sister.

"Lisa, don’t order me around; we are age mates." Liam shouted as he ran down the stairs with his Avengers’ toys tucked under his arm.

"No, I came out first, so I’m older than you,” Lisa chanted as she ran down the stairs too.

“Boy twins are always the eldest,” Liam argued.

Laura laughed, wondering where he had heard that from.

“Mom, are we finally going to have a dad?” Liam asked as he ran towards Laura, his eyes twinkling with excitement.

“Liam, I told you already, you don’t get a new dad like a new toy,” Laura said, answering the same question for the hundredth time.

"Hmm, mom,” Lisa replied her mother, rolling her eyes in disbelief as she added, “everyone can get a new dad; Poo got one.”

Laura, who was talking to the driver, “Get the luggage’s by the door, please,” only heard the last part of her daughter’s statement. So, she asked, “Who is poo?”

Lisa rolled her eyes at her mother as they entered the car, while Liam laughed hard. Laura wondered what she had gotten wrong this time around.

As the driver drove out of the compound, Lisa brought out her latest cartoon character, Teddy, and said, “He is Poo Mom, the Panda."

“Oh, right, that’s Poo,” Laura replied with a roll of her own eyes, one of the many things her daughter learned from her.

In no time, they were at the airport, and after going through the necessary process, they were admitted on board the airplane.

“Mom, don’t worry, like Poo, we are going to get a dad too,” Lisa said in her baby-like voice with a yawn.

“We’ll find a dad and bring him to you,” Liam added as he closed his eyes.

They were exhausted from the stress of getting on board the plane.

Laura shook her head as she looked at her children. She had told them their father was in heaven, for lack of any other thing to say. Now they were convinced they could get a new dad, like one of their classmates at school whose mother had gotten married to another man.

“Sleep now, my darlings,” Laura replied softly as she strapped them into their seats. Laura stared at her twins as she thought it was going to be a long flight. In no time, the plane was up, and Laura rested her head on the headrest as she closed her eyes to the memory of the home she was returning to after seven years.

******

“Hey, get out of my way,” Laura shouted as she raced towards the park on a skating board. She loved to skate and feel the night air on her face. It was the only time she felt free. Free from those she called family, free from the pain and hatred she felt from them.

"Careful, Laura, you’ll hurt yourself,” Gift said behind Laura. Gift was Laura’s friend, neighbor, and family friend. They were thick as thief’s and always together.

Finally, at the park, Laura flopped down on the grass, staring at the sky as she panted and breathed in exhaustion.

“There you are,” Gift said, finally catching up to Laura. “I thought you said Jared invited you out; why aren’t you going?” Gift added.

“I will, Gift; I just wanted to feel a little freedom before I continue the life that was created for me,” Laura replied.

After staring at the stars for a while, Laura got up. “I really don’t feel like going," Laura said.

“You don’t want to get on the bad side of your father again, Laura; you know how important this union is to him,” Gift replied.

“Okay then, I’m going now; I’ll see you tomorrow, Gift; wish me luck,” Laura said as she left her skating board with Gift, dusted her jeans, and waved Gift goodbye as she left.

Laura was mandated to see her betrothed, Jared, whenever he called. “He will get to like you better that way,” Jerry Phillips, Laura’s father, had told her.

“Like I have any choice in the matter,” Laura scoffed as she got to the hotel Grace had directed her to. She was shown to a table that was already occupied by Grace.

“Where is Jared?” Laura asked as she took her seat.

“My god, Laura, you look like a stray cat; you could have at least put some effort into dressing up,” Grace replied.

The restaurant they were in was located in a hotel—one of the most luxurious hotels in New York—but Laura didn’t care; she was determined to ensure Jared did not like her. Grace, however, was adored in a beautiful dinner gown that clung to her body like a second skin.

“How I dress is none of your concern, Grace, and why are you the one arranging a dinner between Jared and me in the first place?” Laura asked, curious for the first time about the dinner.

“Well, I’m your stepsister if that means anything in your book, and also, dad asked me to be here to keep an eye on you and make sure you show up for the dinner,” Grace replied.

Laura squinted her eyes at Grace; she did not trust her one bit, but she had no choice. Especially because she did not want to get on the bad side of her father at the moment.

Laura was betrothed to Jared so she could marry into a wealthy family because she was the result of Jerry Phillips affair outside of marriage.

“If I hadn’t gotten a message from Jared, I wouldn’t be here, Grace,” Laura replied as she picked up the glass of wine in front of her and drank the whole contents at once. Although she wondered why Jared would set up dinner at a hotel, she didn’t give it much thought.

“Hey, slow down on that; you don’t want to get drunk before he arrives, do you?” Grace said, her smile so sweet that Laura almost believed Grace was finally behaving like a sister to her.

“Quit the act, Grace; we both know you don’t really care,” Laura replied with disdain all over her face. Laura kept taking more wine as they waited for Jared to arrive for dinner.

A few minutes later, Laura said, “Wasn’t this dinner supposed to begin fifteen minutes ago? And when exactly are you leaving Grace, or you’re going to… jo…in usss… to..oo” slurring the last three words.

“Now you’re drunk,” Grace replied, dropping her glass.

“Wha..aat, meee, dru--nk, no--oo, I am no--ot drun..nk,” Laura replied, her eyes closing. She tried to focus but couldn't. Her eyes looked towards her glass of wine, and that was the last thing she saw before darkness took over.