FADED

"Leave me alone. I really wanna sleep. Can't I just stay in this damn house and sleep all day like every other person?" I moaned.

It came suddenly and I tell you it wasn't pleasurable at all. It was a slap right on her left butt cheek.

"Until you can start making your own money then you can sleep for as long as you like and eat without any care in the world" Freda's mom said with pure anger and irritation in her voice.

It was a holiday though. Summer. Who did not love summer? Everybody but Freda. It was hell in a cell. It was like prison. The only thing she did was to make sure everybody ate to their satisfaction before she considered herself worthy of food. She cooked, swept, cleaned, mopped, washed... Let's just say she was both a daughter and a maid... But she did not give a damn because what she only desired was to be at peace and feel like there was nothing to worry about.... But that was never gonna happen. As much as Freda wanted to just feel free and be like every other normal girl, she couldn't.

Freda described being a normal girl as one who had her nails, hair, shoes and clothes all looking glamorous.

It's not just that someone who had friends who wouldn't betray her nor back stab her nor make fun of her. But she knew all those things she desired would never happen. Never come to pass. It was one out of the bunch of weaknesses she had.

~Freda's POV~

"Are you done with the food you lazy pig?!" Of course who else if not mum.

"Uhmm... I just... I just... need to dish the food and set the table that's all mum." I say

Well... Seems I got carried away with my thoughts once again.

So, all I have left to do is wash the toilets and take my shower. I am so exhausted. What kinda family treats their only daughter like shit.

"Uhh... Is that even a question? Your family of course" these are times I speak to myself like i am some freak.

I left the dining room for the bedroom because my brothers are always there. Yeah, I have three brothers. The eldest is Jack. He can be annoying as hell, supports my mom most of the times, but I know he still loves me. Then my second brother, whose name is Precious. Like yeah, my mom gave him a girlish name because she said he looked like a girl and according to her, he suffered a lot when he was little. He always had illnesses and shit. Ohh and am older than he is. Then we have the last born, Jake.... He is stupid, arrogant, selfish, can be so loving only when he wants to put you in trouble or when he wants something from you. So you see brothers.

Boys are nothing but trouble and disaster.

"Hey, are you bunch of shits gonna come to eat or what 'cuz I see no reason as to why I would be the only one cleaning the entire house on my own every Saturday. Like bloody hell!" I ranted.

Let me tell you that before I said this, I actually thought about it twice.

Here comes nothing.....

"Actually that's because ya stupid" the first sentence was made. I don't even have to turn my head to ask or know who said that.

"You just kill your self over nothing Freda and you rant like a fool at times. If you need help you have the young rats to help you out. Anything out of the ordinary that they can't do then you push ya dull bones to the limit and there you get it done. Don't you listen to motivational speakers. I could give you a list of them if you want. Ohh ohh I just remembered... No matter how much you listen to it or watch the videos... Ya still dumb that ya brain can't decipher shit" Jack laughed.

Well... I did say there goes nothing.

I know on a normal day most people will take that as a joke and truly I used to take it as a joke but then the insults became persistent and there was no end to it. It's either I was insulted by my mom or my brothers basically rendered me unfit or useless for the day.

"Just go and eat your food before it gets cold or before mom comes here and says I didn't tell you guys breakfast was ready" I said with a little smile but I was hurt.

Just as I was about to leave the room my elder brother stopped me by placing his hand on my shoulder,

"We both know I was joking when I said all those things you know right?"

"Yeah right" I replied and moved to the kitchen.

~hours later~

Mmm.. yummy.

I had no damn idea I was this hungry. My love for food is undeniable. I would go to the moon and come back to earth just for food. I would kill anybody that touches my damn food.

I was on my bed with my plate by my side and my spoon in my mouth look at the ceiling. I smiled.

On my way to serving my self for the second time I remembered that I served my brothers first and this is already afternoon. So this means there is definitely nothing left for me to eat. So, I dropped my plate and spoon at the sink and hurriedly left to my room because I left my phone alone. My mom had already left for her saloon after calling me a pig.

I looked at my phone several times waiting for him to call me and tell me he was gonna come around today. I missed him so much that it made me wanna cry so bad but I just had a feeling he wouldn't call.

He was never there so why would he be today, what difference does it make. I just have to be alone, learn to live with it.

I waited. Checked the time and it was 1pm. I sighed because I was already feeling sleepy.

By the time I had awaken, it was 5pm. I was really that exhausted. I did not bother looking at my phone because I was just feeling empty already. I left for the kitchen.

I loved cooking with music blasting through my speakers. So I connected my phone to my speaker and boom the song, "Fine line" by Eminem!!

Music brought nothing but joy to my heart, after food then music or let's just say they are both topping the list.

I decided to prepare pasta and sauce with meatballs for dinner.

I did have some very interesting part of me that weren't interesting at all, because many people found it displeasing because am a girl.

When I was done preparing dinner and getting ready to eat 'cuz I couldn't wait for my mom or dad to get back from work, my speaker which was still playing songs from my playlist only happened to stop and then start saying numbers.

I recognized the number from the very first 4 digits. I knew who it was but I was too annoyed to pick.

So... Trust me, I let it ring. Actually for two reasons

1. Was actually because my ringtone was "venom by Eminem" to which I was already rapping and of course I said shit....

2. Was because... Like I said I was annoyed.

Just as the call was about to end. I decided to pick.

"The person you are trying to call is as annoyed as someone in prison and if you know you don't wanna die by her hands please do try to explain yourself as quickly as possible because this call ain't gonna last" I said in an automated angry voice.

I am very sure he would be able to tell that if I was close to him I would have strangled him to death.

The next thing I heard hit me like a missile. It was his laughter. I was about to hang up when I heard when he said, "I am sorry ok? Am so sorry. I should have called you and told you that something came up. My mom asked me to follow her to the mall and after that she asked for assistance with her work as we both know she has both morning and night shifts".

I signed, "You should have just texted me or something. What's so hard in doing that... After promising that you were gonna make it today. It's fine though... I'm glad you helped her to finish up. Hope you eat dinner peacefully. Good night Marcus" And with that I hung up.

I know... I know... Any sane girl would love to hear what he had to say properly and tell him to elaborate and bullshit like that but I wasn't up for that. I was pissed.

I looked at my food and definitely I was at a loss of appetite but I had to force myself to eat.

I barely spoke to anybody today and I wasn't really feeling like I wanted to communicate or anything. I wasn't feeling it. The usual 'me' after these kind of things happen with Marcus. I ended up on my bed and I opened my VLC player to watch my animes. I am currently on Vinland Saga now. Brutality and Violence were two things that fascinated me when it comes to movies and animes.

Several hours have passed of me watching anime when I decided to open my WhatsApp. I knew what was about to come but ohh well... And I was not surprised with the very first message of Marcus. Clearly stated I did not even have to open the message I could already read the outline. Fucker was pissed.

The only thing I did was just laugh.

Who wouldn't??. I closed the app and I went to bed smiling happily clearly waiting for what would happen next.

~Freda's Pov~

Hmm... Woke up early. This is new, never happens. Like literally never happens.

Foot steps, they weren't loud enough to hear at an instant... I turned around and realised I was the only one in the room. This is never possible. Where is Precious? Argghhh... I can't be in this again and that was when I was asked "what are you in again?"

Then the question was asked a second time, "what are you in again?" THA was when the glass of my windows shattered and a little girl stood on the window and she jumped.

I woke up with a jolt and I felt my leg stiffen.

Shit, it hurts!!!

I was about to touch my leg when I felt something was stabbed into my leg. It was a knife.

I screamed with so much fear that I moved out of bed with the knife stuck in my leg. I moved sluggishly to the window because I was dripping in sweat and I couldn't breathe properly.

As I leaned against the window, I felt a sudden presence in the room, and before I could move or dodge what was coming I was already thrown out of the window.

I woke up with a terrible jolt and I forgot I slept off on the floor while I was chatting, and working on my assignments at the same time and that was when my head collided with my desk.

"Shit", was the only word that I could utter. I realised I was drenched in sweat even when my window was wide open and the air was cool but my window was not open when I slept off. Ohh well. Who cares.

I just closed my book and continued my sleep but now the thing is I couldn't sleep. I was wide awake.

Only thing to keep me busy is my phone because I have so many unread messages I needed to attend to. Don't even get me started on the Facebook issue. Jesus Christ... It's what happens when you are pretty.

I smiled to my self.

I opened my messages only to find out that Marcus was actually very pissed. Like very very pissed. I sat upright like I was in an interview and opened up his message. They were so many and I knew exactly what it was gonna be about. I smiled at first. But then.....

Marcus: What the hell Freda, do you unnecessarily have to hang up on me like am one of your toys? You have no idea how much I missed you and this is how you...." He trailed off for a while. I did read every last one of it but the part that made me scared was when he said,

Marcus: "Am honestly getting tired of the tantrums you throw. You are never serious with me but when it comes to other guys you are all cool and sweet. I think we should just take a break from all this. Good night Freda".

This last part broke me in half because this jerk had no idea how much I loved him and he has left me alone for a month now always saying he was busy when we both attend the same high school like bloody hell!!!. I threw my phone far away from me and I laid back on the floor staring at my open window. Enough night sky... The stars were so bright for the night and the sky was pitch dark blue. I did not call it black because it just wasn't.

Well that's what I think....

I breathed out heavily and that was when I felt something cold trail down my cheeks to my ears. I was crying. For the first time in a long while I felt a sudden burn in my chest, it was horrible but I did not bother standing up and I let my tears and thoughts flow like a water fall...

And I realised this holiday is going to be a very dull one. No visits, no happiness. My room was my companion.

My alarm rang so loud that I sprang up like my mom had yelled my name again. It's the usual morning alarm not the normal alarm we all know. I tried getting up but I felt a headache and my vision was blurry. Ohh snap.... This can't be happening today not today of all days. I managed to stand up but I crashed into my desk jamming my waist on the edge of my desk. A groan escaped my lips. Maybe just maybe I cried till this morning because I can still feel my hair under my ear wet.

I made my way to the kitchen and I noticed breakfast was already prepared. For the first time in almost two years if am not mistaken, my mom decided to prepare breakfast. God I was hungry but I should have known better.

I was slapped from behind.

"What the hell are you thinking of doing young lady?"

"Uhh... Mom... Good morning... I just feel dizzy and my chest burns and my eyes.........." My words are getting slurry and I can't even hear my self. Whatever happened next I have no idea, no clue.

I woke up on my bed with a woman by my side. She was wearing a white coat and she had ginger hair just like my favourite cartoon character "Merida". She was just beautiful to even be a doctor and she is elegant. I am not one to look at a person for so long but this young lady and doctor was a definition of beauty.

"Hi... My name is Doctor Anna and I would be your doctor for a while", she said while smiling. Somebody should please shoot me. How would someone be this beautiful?

"You would be my doctor"

" Yes, of course"

"Awesome because you are so pretty and you look so cool to talk to and cooperative". I blurted out.

"Freda how stupid can you be at times. Shut ya trap you thwart".

I could feel my mom roll her eyes and look at me like I was a very stupid being but that did not bother me. What bothered me was the laughter that escaped my brothers' mouth. I felt embarrassed.

"I would love a moment with Freda alone" the doctor said with a smile.

At this point I felt like I was looking at my guardian angel but what she said next caught me off guard.

"You think a lot Freda. You need to relax and let somethings be. Let them happen because they have to happen. Your mom has actually been saying a lot about you. She said that she has noticed how you enclose yourself and push everybody away from you. You smile but it doesn't reach your eyes at all. It's like it's you against the world and that's not right".

I was quiet and I did not have anything to say but then she asked,

"About your parents... How are they?" That was a delicate question to which I did not want to talk about...

"They are fine"

"Freda that's not what I want to hear"

"I can't tell you anything about my parents because even if I told you there is nothing you can do. Jack is trying to get into the university and he is never around because he works part time at so many places and I do not want to disturb him. So, whatever happens am trying to put under control". I told her in a dull manner, I was no longer smiling or looking at her face.

"Freda just relax and focus on yourself. You are too hard on yourself and it's taking a very bad toil on your fragile body and you are pretty even with a bed hair. You have a boyfriend don't you?" Again I was caught off guard.

What da hell is it with this lady asking questions that I am not expecting.

I raised my head and gave a little smile but then I recalled that I had a very serious issue with Marcus,

"Yeah I do have a boyfriend"

She smiled, "Allow what to be to be Freda. I know you love your family and this boy you speak of just by the look and smile you give away easily. Just let what is meant to happen happen love. For now you need to rest. You are completely stressed out".

And with that she left the room and wished me a happy summer break.

I spent the entire summer break with my room and family. Nothing else. I really wasn't ready to text Marcus or confront him so I just let him be.

What wonderful summer break.