Chapter 4 Harper

My sister and I had to make sure we please Mom or get punished sadly my father couldn't be of any help.

Her words were law and order around the Marshall family.

"Speaking of groundedness. How was the last time?" I could feel the mockery in her tone.

"It was splendid. I had time to revise my maths assignments and read great books. I'm thankful you gave me that opportunity." I answered quickly as I knew complimenting her would boost her ego.

Way to go Harper! Smart girl.

"Your Aunt Matilda will be arriving later tonight. The bitch never calls or informs earlier before stepping her poverty-stricken legs to my house." Mrs. Marshall snarled.

I couldn't believe my ears. Did Mom just call Aunt Matilda a bitch?

Aunt Matilda was my dad's elder sister. She's married and has two boys Jeremy and Barnabas.

It's no news that My Mom and her don't get along but that was harsh.

"Wow! I'm excited to see her. It's been a long time since I saw her." I chipped in with dreamy

eyes.

"I don't know why she's coming here but I'm sure she's always hungry and ready to milk us dry." Mrs. Marshall snorts irritatedly.

"But Mom, she's our Aunt. We can help her. Her husband got into an accident and has been bedridden for years. She needs our support and funds."

I could barely finish my statement when I felt a hard slap land on my cheek.

The pain jolted through me as I was taken aback which got me unaware as I fell to the floor holding my cheek as tiny sobs broke from my throat.

I was on the floor with my hands on my cheek feeling the impact of the slap. It must have gotten red and swollen because of the force of the slap.

What had I said wrong to get humiliated and slapped by my mother over a harmless statement?

Mrs. Marshall crouched to the floor and poked her long red painted nails at my collarbone with a scowl on her face. "Let today be the first and the last time you'll ever open that stinky gutter mouth of yours to go against my opinion. This is my house and I lay the freaking rules. I'm law and order around here. Be warned!"

Her fingers dug into my skin roughly and painfully and I began to whimper slowly. I held my pains and let them burn in my throat. I won't give her the satisfaction of seeing me in pain.

"Did I make myself clear?"

"Yes," I replied softly and zoned out from the space entirely. I tried to get my mind out of my body so she could do whatever she wanted and leave.

I'm no longer the six-year-old Harper who will cry and scream in pain as she laughs and drinks from her glass of Scotch.

I'm an eighteen years old woman and I'm strong enough to weather the storm. I've done most of my life alone.

Mrs. Marshall grabbed my hair forcefully and hit my head on the hard floor with a thud.

"Stupid witch! I asked you a question and you had the guts to keep me silent. Who the fuck do you think you're? Fool!" She yelled.

I could taste a bitter metallic taste hit my mouth as blood dripped from my forehead that earned a cut from the hit.

"Answer me!" She yelled pulling at my hair tighter that felt as though a chunk of my rich golden hair must have pulled out.

"I'm sorry mother." My strained pained voice managed to speak out. My hair hurt, my forehead hurts and my entire body hurt from the impact the slap caused that made me fall to the ground.

Why didn't I keep shut when mother was talking? I caused all this to befall me when I knew my mother's temperament and how much she hated anyone standing in her way of bringing a different opinion from hers.

"Shut up you little worm! Who's your mother? Call me Mrs. Marshall. My child can't be a dumb nerd like you. Clara is a million times bigger than what you can ever become or come close to in your entire pathetic life!" She screamed at me.

I didn't know when the tears started dropping from my eyes. The tears and pain I've held in and swore I won't let her see them anymore.

But her words have struck a chord in my heart that led the tide of pain to come crashing in like a tornado.

"I'm sorry Mother." Sobs racked my body as I nearly convulsed with the pain in my heart and the physical pain she was inflicting on me.

She pushed me to the side as I lay sprawled on the floor and hurting. "Get your lazy ass up from that stinky floor. Don't let me wait for you downstairs. I give you two minutes to get cleaned up and fix your mess." She yelled and straightened her suit. Her palms started dusting off whatever she thought she wanted to wipe out of her clothes.

"Yes, mother," I replied quickly before my cheeks would receive slaps and my scalp grabbed tightly.

My scalp hurts and I needed to apply some ointment to help reduce the pain I felt and heal scars if there's any.

"You're not going to school today. You'll stay home and help the maids take care of things. After all, it's your Aunt Matilda isn't that right?"

"Mom, I have an exam at school. Please let me go to school. I don't want to fail." I pleaded.

"Why should you worry about some exams? You're not smart at all. Your teachers complain about your inability to solve sums. You're a dullard under the sheepskin of a Nerd." She snorts irritatedly.

I crawled out of the floor. My throat felt dry as though I swallowed nails with tears streaming down my cheeks. I stood on my feet. "Mom, I have a suggestion."

"What is it? You better don't waste my time. I'm late for work!" She exclaimed and shot me a haughty glare as I nearly froze.