Hidden

"You weakling of a daughter..." Miriam cursed.

Erica fluttered her eyes standing with her legs shaking constantly.

"I asked you to wash the dishes, what did you do?" Miriam yelled smashing the ceramic plates on the floor.

Erica was startled.

Joan, Miriam's child from her previous marriage whom was three years older than Erica ran into the kitchen on hearing the noise.

It was still very early in the morning and the noise was quite unusual.

Joan gasped on seeing the broken plates on the floor.

"What is going on here mum?" Joan asked.

"Ask this good for nothing you call a sister" Miriam yelled dragging Erica by the ear and pinching it very hard.

Erica let out a loud cry, she felt this burning sensation on her ear.

"Mum stop it!" Joan yelled running to her.

Miriam pushed her away" would you shut your mouth up Joan and don't ever ask me to stop!"

She dragged Erica harder by the ear, she had a burning cigarette stick at the end of her mouth.

Miriam got it out of her mouth and plunged it on Erica's shoulder.

Poor Erica let out a loud cry.

"I asked you to wash the dishes and not to play with them, look at how dirty and disgusting they are!" Miriam pushed Erica away.

Erica fell on the floor with her bleeding shoulder.

"Mum I washed it well" she said in between tears.

"One more word from you girl and I would stitch your mouth up!" Miriam threatened.

Erica stood up and ran out of the kitchen.

"Come back here you little rat and wash these dishes!" Miriam yelled.

"Mum that's enough, I would wash the dishes" Joan said.

"No you won't! I painted those nails of yours yesterday and you aren't staining them" Miriam said.

Joan gaped.

"Mum why do you treat Erica like your slave? remember that she is your daughter too and we are sisters, she's only nine" Joan said feeling sorry for Erica.

Miriam dragged Joan by the arm out of the kitchen and pushed her to the couch.

"Don't you ever question me in this house Joan, I am your mother and I treat neither of you differently" she said sitting opposite Joan.

Joan shook her head "Mum I am not stupid neither am I blind, you treat Erica like rubbish, hit her and even damage her skin with burning cigarettes yet you do non of that to me, why???"

Miriam smiled "your sister behaves like a fool most times and that's why I punish her."

Joan scoffed "what do you think dad would do if he finds out?"

Miriam laughed "what do you think he would do? Hit me or what? Now listen carefully to me Joan neither you or Erica would say a word to your father, I am your mother and whatever I do is for the best, I don't want my daughters to grow up behaving like cows."

Joan gasped on hearing what her mother said but she was afraid of saying another word.

Erica sat outside crying her heart out.

Her white night wear was already stained with blood by the shoulder.

"Erica...." she heard a male voice call out.

She turned around and leaped for joy, it was her father dressed in his military uniform.

"You're back dad..." she cried out hugging him tightly.

But Andrew didn't look pleased to see Erica, especially with the blood stains on her shoulder, her swollen eyes and wet face.

"What is wrong with you?" he asked.

Erica shook her head wiping her tears quickly.

"Nothing dad..." she answered.

She could vividly remember the warnings of her mother about telling her father anything, she had threatened to hate her forever if she does that.

Erica didn't want to get hated by her mother forever, she wanted her mother to love her and show her so much affection just like she does to Joan.

"Erica you are lying to me, what? Is this not a blood stains on your shoulder" he takes off the clothe covering her shoulder and yelled.

"Erica what is this!" He cried out.

She shook her head in fear bursting into tears "it's nothing dad..."

He turned her around at once and opened her back, he could see red marks all over.

"Who hit you Erica? Who did this to you?" He cried out.

Erica was shaking, she was afraid of telling her father the truth and at the same time she was afraid of what her mother might do to her if she finds out that she told her father anything.

"Erica talk to me this minute, who did this to you?" He asked again looking straight into her eyes.

Erica broke down in tears.

She had no other choice than to say the truth.

"Mum did it" she said.

Andrew gasped letting go of Erica's arms "what are you saying?"

Andrew couldn't believe that his beloved wife could do this to their own daughter.

"What are you saying Erica?" He asked.

Erica swallowed hard, she knew her father would find it so hard to believe her.

"Dad is the truth..." she said crying.

He covered his mouth with his hand "Oh! My God! Since when have this been happening?"

Erica sobbed "since I was a child or maybe a baby."

Andrew who was squatting stood up at once running his hands through his hair.

"How could something like this be happening for years and I didn't know?" He thought aloud.

"Dad... you have always been away, at war and all that, so it's not your fault that you knew nothing, the only time I get to have some peace is whenever you are at home but once you leave, she turns me into a slave."

Tears swept down Andrew's cheek.

He squat to the ground, the floor was covered in carpet grass.

He held Erica's arm "I am so sorry Erica that I have not been there for you, is this really how she treats kids?"

Erica shook her head "no daddy please.... she does not treat Joan this way, she takes good care of her."

Andrew frowned looking away.

He stood up to his feet heading to the house.

Erica gaped and ran after him.

"Dad what do you want to do?" She cried out dragging his arm.

"To put an end to this nonsense before she ends up killing you someday!" He yelled.

I shook my head at once "Daddy please don't do it, she would hate me!"

Her father paid deaf ears to her and went into the house pushing the door hard.

Joan froze on the couch when she saw her father and the look on his face was heavy.

She turned to Erica and frowned.

Erica bowed her head sadly.

Joan had always pleaded with her not to tell their father about the constant maltreatments she got from their mother cause it might cause a huge problem in the family.

Joan who was twelve years old stood up at once and ran behind her mother.

Miriam was standing as well.

She could clearly smell trouble looming in the air.

"Hello honey, you're home.... you didn't call to inform us that you were coming" Miriam said in a sweet voice.

Andrew scoffed "I am so glad that I did not call."

Miriam chuckled nervously "honey you don't look okay... is everything fine?"

Her hands were trembling slightly.

Andrew was silent, glaring at her.

Miriam cleared her throat slightly "Erica love... go get your dad a cup of juice to calm his nerves."

"Do not move an inch Erica!" Andrew ordered.

Miriam gasped.

"Andrew! What has she told you about me? I didn't do any other thing other than to take very good care of her, you know Erica honey.... she never gets satisfied, isn't that right Joan?" Miriam asked looking behind at Joan who nervously nodded.

Erica's eyes widened, she didn't expect Joan to lie but she couldn't blame her though, she knew Joan was trying to protect their mother.

"I can't believe that you could be this heartless Miriam, after everything we have been through together, how could you do this to our daughter?" He yelled.

"I did nothing to her Andrew! That child is a bloody liar!" She cried out.

She still had a cigarette in her mouth.

Andrew quickly took Erica's clothe off "what is the meaning of all of this? You know I could sue you now and have you rot in jail!"

The house was getting hitted up and Andrew and Miriam weren't willing to stop.

They started screaming at each other.

Erica ran off and heed under the table close-by.

She felt totally drained when she saw it all, it was all happening right before her eyes.

Erica was filled with fear, her jaw couldn't stop dropping open at the sight of her parents dragging each other.

Her tender emotions were recklessly crushing into her own very tiny body, destroying her little hope of ever having the love of her mother into pieces.

Her mother Miriam was the hardest person she has ever met, unlike other mothers, she never shared the beautiful mother daughter relationship.

She remained hidden under the table watching the whole drama.

It was like those scenes Erica watched on television where the good and the bad fought against each other, her father was the good while her mother was the bad.

She bit hard on her lips rubbing her eye lids roughly.

"I must say that I blame myself for this, maybe I went too far" she thought.

Erica was just a child witnessing her parents yell and fight each other, her mother was hitting her father's chest continually crying loudly.

"Why is she crying?" Erica thought.

She clutched her feet closer shaking her head, she has always known her mother to lie and pretend a lot, though she wondered why are mother was like that but she couldn't understand, her mother was just so complicated.

Miriam was the one hitting her husband Andrew yet she was acting like he was the one hitting her, alot of times Erica had believed that her mother was evil yet she couldn't stop loving her.

Little Erica, a nine years old girl felt greatly guilty for being the cause of their argument, she blamed herself for telling her father what her mother had done to her while he was away.

The fire of guilt was gradually consuming her.

"I doubt if I would ever pardon myself for this" she thought aloud.

Erica wished she had endured what her mother did to her just like she has always done and remained silent, but she was afraid of getting addicted to pain, she was afraid of getting killed by her own mother some day.

The fear of dying young in the midst of daily pain being inflicted on her by her mother gave birth to her worse nightmare, which was the fight between her parents.

It was still the early hours of the morning, the sun was up and shinning, it was better off than the previous night cause Erica cried herself to sleep.

Her eyes were all swollen, they were so red and looked totally empty.

The once precious look on her face was gone, that's what you get when you're constantly slapped by an adult.

She wanted to express herself, she needed an apology or an explanation for being treated like a slave.

"Maybe I went too far, I should have being patient a little" she thought.

Erica was totally lost to an emptiness she feels within as she remained under the table whimpering like the child she was.

She was shivering beneath her breath with her hands covering her ears, she wanted the day to end, she wanted to wakeup from this nightmare.

Her face was gradually getting soaked with more tears, her tiny heart splitting into two.

They kept yelling at each other nonstop, cursing each other's existence.

The noise was over the roof and Erica feared it might cause an earth quake since their was a loud music coming from next door, their noisy neighbor who would always prefer loud music to a quiet one.

Miriam grabbed Andrew by the shirt pulling him very hard with a cigarette a cigarette still stuck at the end of her mouth.

Erica looked up from under the table to see what was happening, her eyes were very tiny and blue.

"You would do nothing Mr Johnson!" Miriam yelled.

That is what she always calls Andrew when ever they are thick in between an argument, Mr Johnson is what you here everywhere and not the usual sweet names.

"Let go of my shirt Miriam, let go!" He yelled back trying to get her hands off his shirt but she rather tightened her grip on it and made ugly faces at him.

Andrew was getting even more upset, Erica could clearly see depression in her father's eyes as he struggled to get Miriam's hands off his shirt, this seemed like an impossible mission.

It was getting very hot in the house with the noise evaporating high up in the air.

The arguments have become a normal routine in the family whenever Andrew returns which was easily resolved but this morning was hell on earth.

Joan feared that this time around, it might never get resolved.

Joan felt bad for both of her parents and knew things wouldn't have gotten this bad if her father isn't a soldier and is always around cause their mother only gets to maltreate Erica when he isn't home.

She glared at Erica who was shaking under the table and blamed her for everything that was happening and for not keeping her mouth shut.

Miriam was know as her husband and kids to be a smoke and drug addict but she barely does that whenever Andrew is at home.

She squanders most money given to her by Andrew on drugs which was totally unhealthy for her as a mother.

Miriam was a house wife who doesn't let a day go by without smoking a packet of cigarette, she's addicted to it.

Erica lacked the love and care of a mother, whenever her father is away, she feels like an orphan.

Most nights she goes to bed hungry and when she complains to Miriam, she gets cigarettes plunged into her skin.

Miriam always called Erica a nag, would call and would yell at her for no reason.

Sometimes out of fear, Erica ends up peeing in her pants whenever Miriam threatens to cut her ears off.

Two nights ago, had hit a wooden spoon on Erica's head and used a lok.

"You are out of your mind for confronting me in front of the kids!" Miriam yelled.

"You are so cruel Miriam, what type of a mother are you?" Andrew yelled.

This was getting frustrating for the kids, an argument that seemed to have no end.

Erica couldn't stop blaming herself for what was happening at the moment but at the same time she knew some day that her father might find out.

If only Miriam treated her just the way she treated Joan, she wouldn't have to complain and her father wouldn't find out that she had injuries all over her body.

For years Erica nurtured the feeling that her mother hated her and loved Joan, this got her jealous most times.

Erica couldn't forget that morning she woke up feeling that something was wrong with her and maybe that was why her mother hated her so much so she confronted her and threatened to kill herself, but Miriam only laughed at her.

Erica felt very stupid for thinking that she could get her mother's attention with such words.

Joan had her hair tied in pony tail with fancy ribbons and a nice pink dress on which moved left and right as she wrapped her hands around her mother's waist.

"Daddy, it's okay please" Joan cried.

Joan was bold unlike Erica who was always shy and afraid.

"Mummy please stop yelling" Joan kept saying with tears streaming down to her jaw but neither her father or mother listened to her.

Erica doubted if Joan would ever forgive her for reporting their mum to their father, Joan has always advised her to learn to tolerate their mother, but now Erica was wondering how long she was going to do that.

Erica brushed her tears off taking a deep breath.

"I am done with this marriage!" Andrew screamed.

Erica's eyes widened on hearing that, she grew even more scared with my fingers stuck in her mouth.

Miriam chortled "really? Is that it? Well I am sick and tired of you too!"

She went straight into her room, took her bags.

"Dad please, mum please...." Joan kept saying in tears.

Miriam returned to the living room with their bags few minutes later.

"Erica, Joan, we are leaving here this minute!" She said.

Erica's heart fell into her stomach.

"You are going no where with Erica!" Andrew yelled.

Miriam laughed "then watch me!"

Miriam found Erica under the table where she was hiding and dragged her out.

"Please let me go!" Erica cried out.

"You are going with me!" Miriam said looking mean.

"I insist that you are going no where with Erica, you can go to where ever you want with Joan" Andrew shouted.

"She is my daughter too and I would not have you take her away from me!" Miriam cried out.

Tears clogged her eyes.

"You should have thought about her when you decided to treated her like an animal!" Andrew yelled snatching Erica's hand off Miriam's.

"Let the girl make her decision" Miriam said turning to Erica.

"I promise to love and take very good care of you only if you came with me child" Miriam said looking into Erica's eyes.

Erica felt lost, she had always wanted to have the love of her mother and right now, she is offering it to her with an option.

She took a glance at Joan who encouraged her to listen to their mother with a sign.

Erica looked up to her father who only kept a straight face looking at Miriam's face.

"I... I... would stay with daddy" Erica said.

Miriam gasped "I can't believe that you would turn your back on me Erica, you are just a foolish child."

She held Joan's arm and left at once.

That was the last time Erica ever saw her mother or Joan.

For years Joan sent Erica messages and emails blaming her for their parents divorce, Erica hated that feeling a lot.

Years later....

Erica is a grown woman now.

Straight legs and with a beautifully curved body.

She was dressed in a yellow shirt and a pair of black trousers.

Her eyes were perfect as they connotes her sparkling skin color.

An elegant yellow ribbon was sitting on the side of her hair giving more volume to her looks.

Erica was waiting for her sister Joan who later became a friend when she got tired of blaming her for their parent's divorce.

Joan and Erica became best of friends even when they only saw pictures of themselves and never met.

Through the same emails Joan used as a medium to insult and say horrible things to Erica, they settled their differences and started having decent conversations over the years but they were never able to see each other since they lived in different states.

Andrew made sure that Erica had nothing to do with Miriam Johnson, her mother.

Erica was sitting in a coffee shop, she had a pipping hot cup of coffee sitting in front of her, she was busy writing on a book, she calls it "Hidden Diary" this was where she wrote down all her life experiences.

She was writing to keep herself busy while she waited for her sister.

Joan and Erica have been planning to meet for months but their busy schedule would always disrupt their plans but today, they are not letting anything stop them from meeting each other not even the fact that Erica is missing her lover.

Erica knew she needed to see him, she was tired of giving him constant excuses and not being able to be there when he needs her because of work but that didn't change the fact that she loves him alot and always called and texted to check up on him, she had planned visiting him before the end of the day.

Today, Erica is about to find out why her mother made life miserable for her as a child and she was so curious and at the same time nervous.

Erica believes that Joan has all the information she needed and has promised to share it all with her.

The day was still fresh like spring water and a free one for Erica.

Days as smooth as this don't always come her way since she was a creative writer and her job has been absolutely good at keeping her so busy.

You can imagine having to work your ass off even during weekends without having a single time for yourself.

She took more sips of her coffee as she wrote on her book.

Erica took a quick glance at her wrist watch and sighed.

Her phone started ringing.

She dropped her pen at once.

In a minute her once nervous looking face broke into a beautiful smile.

She picked the call giggling slightly.

"Hello Sarah, did you miss me?" She asked.

"You know I miss you Erica, enough of the games already" Sarah cried out.

Erica couldn't help but laugh at the way Sarah spoke, she had this baby voice.

"You see, exactly what I am talking about" Sarah said sounding pissed off.

"What?" Erica asked rolling her eyes.

"You are never serious Erica, I hope we are meeting tonight?" She asked waiting impatiently for Erica's response.

Erica was quite.

She frowned hitting her palm on her forehead.

"Why didn't I remember I was meeting her tonight when I was planning to spend the rest of the day with my boyfriend?" She thought.

She scoffed biting on her lower lip "what am I to say to Sarah right now?"

Erica actually accepted to hang out with Sarah that evening when she called last night.

They both shared the same busy schedule and barely spend quality time together as friends.

"Erica, you aren't saying anything?" Sarah yelled over the phone dragging back Erica's attention.

Erica sighed "Sarah you know...."

"I don't want to hear it Erica, we had an agreement, you know how busy I can get with work too, don't forget that I am a banker but I haven't forgotten how to create time for my friends unlike you" she yelled.

Erica nodded "I know...."

"Yes I know that you know Erica, so we are meeting this evening" she said boldly.

"Sarah I haven't seen Liam in a while now, I miss him" Erica said sadly.

Liam is Erica's sweet boyfriend whom she had talked about earlier, the one who her heart beats so loud for.

As far as Erica was concerned, Liam was the hottest dude around.

Sarah groaned "fine... have fun while I wallow in boredom."

Erica rubbed her hand on her head "Sarah I am sorry but I promise I would make it up to you."

Sarah chuckled "yeah.. yeah... I have heard those lines before, take care of yourself Erica."

And she hanged up before Erica could say another word.

Erica bowed her head looking a little upset, she could swear that Sarah was mad at her, especially when she sounds that way.

Sarah have been her friend since her days in high school.

Sarah was a tall slim elegant lady with dark long hairs, a smooth talker and very kind though her job was hectic she always had a way of making out time to club when she feels like.

Sarah was the party type of girl unlike Erica who was more of an introvert.

Andrew forced his daughter into cheer groups in the baseball team where Sarah was the cheerleader, he wanted her to relate with people and quit staying all by herself, he wanted her to have friends and that was how she met Sarah who was very much lively.

Erica hung her head in sadness dropping her phone on the desk.

"I am so sorry Sarah" she muttered.

"Hello..." she heard a female voice greet.

She looked up at the fair face staring down at her.

"Erica..." the lady called out.

Erica looked lost "do I know you....?"

The lady was quite beautiful though she looked familiar, but Erica couldn't place a finger on where she knew her from.

The lady laughed "don't be a drama queen Erica, it's me Joan."

Erica's eyes widened, she couldn't believe it.

Joan looked more beautiful than the pictures she saw.

"Oh! My God I can't believe this is you, I must say that your pictures didn't do justice to your beauty" Erica screamed standing to her feet.

Joan burst into laughter peering at Erica's face through her sun glasses.

They hugged each other and sat opposite themselves afterwards.

Joan took off her glasses.

Erica smiled, it was still the same Joan she knew years ago but she had rather become more beautiful.

After years of being kept apart by their parents, they finally came back together to make things right.

Joan said she had an answer to Erica's questions and Erica couldn't wait to hear it all.

They had a long conversation and finally they arrived at the main reason behind their meeting.

"Our mother had a mental sickness when we were kids and that was why she was rude to you" Joan informed.

Erica stared at her for a while trying to digest the information she just gave.

Erica shook her head "I don't understand Joan."

"I know you won't believe this Erica but it's the truth, mother took to drugs and excessive smoking when she felt hopeless about her mental sickness never having a cure, she lost control over it especially when dad didn't believe in psychiatric doctors being of any help and...."

Erica's eyes grew wide on hearing what Joan was saying, it was too hard for her to take the information down.

"Wait a minute..." Erica said looking confused.

Joan shurgged "you have any questions or are you doubting what I am saying?"

"Joan what the hell are you trying to say? You are saying that dad knew mum had mental issues and refused to help her get treatment for it? Are you indirectly saying that dad is the reason why mother was the way she is?" Erica asked.

"Exactly..." Joan answered looking mean.

Erica gasped.

"Joan can you listen to yourself? If mum's behavior was caused by her mental issues, why was I the only one suffering for it, her younger child while you were treated like a princess by her?" Erica asked with tears almost finding it's way out of her eyes.

"Erica I can't explain that but...."

Erica cutted in quickly looking upset "and she decided to focus her aggression on mutilating my skin with cigarettes and making life miserable for me?"

Joan sighed "you have no idea what our life was like when we left...."

Erica shook her head "you don't understand what mother made me go through...."

"But it was not her fault Erica, when would you understand that and forgive her?" Joan asked.

"You are always supporting her, you have always supported her!" Erica yelled.

"Erica she is still your mother, our mother...." Joan said.

"Well... sorry to disappoint you Joan, I don't have a mother" Erica said.

"Erica!!!" Joan called out in shock.

Erica looked away blinking her eyes severally, she couldn't believe that this was the truth, their father have never mentioned that their mother ever had a mental illness so what exactly was Joan talking about?

Erica knew that her father wasn't that heartless to deny their mother medical help, she has always known her father to be very kind and peaceful.

Erica turned to her "where is mother now?"

Joan shurgged "out of the states, don't worry she is fine now."

Erica was silent.

Joan grinned "I have missed you sister."

Erica didn't want the topic to be changed, she knew what Joan was trying to do but she decided to let go, she didn't want her mood to turn sour.

Erica have truly missed Joan and didn't want their first meet up to turn into a heated argument but she also realized that their friendship was smoother within technology, calling each other and sending emails.

Erica was beginning to feel very weird about Joan, like she was sitting with a stranger.

Joan fondled Erica's shoulder on noticing that she was absent minded "are you okay Erica?"

Erica nodded with an average smile "sure I am."

Joan ordered for a drink and they talked for a long while.

Erica lost track of time, she took a quick glance at her golden wrist watch and gasped.

"What is it?" Joan asked.

"I have to go now, I need to visit my boyfriend" Erica informed.

Joan giggled "you have a boyfriend?"

Erica nodded feeling very proud of herself "a hot one."

Joan laughed "now I am jealous sister..."

"Please don't be" Erica said.

"What about you Joan? Do you have a boyfriend?" Erica asked.

Joan laughed "not really, I haven't seen a good one yet."

Erica nodded "Soon you meet one as good as mine."

Joan chuckled nervously rubbing her hand behind her neck "I hope so."

"Would you be going back to...." Erica tried to say.

Joan cut her off before she finished her statement.

"I live here now" Joan.

They walked outside heading to Erica's car.

"I don't understand..." Erica took a glance at her while watching her steps.

"I just rented an apartment, so we are close to each other now Erica" Joan informed.

Erica smiled "sounds great! That sounds better."

"You stay alone?" Erica asked.

Joan nodded "you can come live with me if you want."

Erica was standing in front of her car now as she leaned on it fixing her hairs behind her ears.

"I wish I could come live with you Joan but I am fine staying with dad."

Joan gasped "you still live with dad?"

Erica nodded "is their anything wrong with that?"

Joan nodded "of course everything in this world is definitely wrong with it, you're a grown woman now so you deserve some good privacy or don't you like catching fun?"

Erica smiled "it does not matter Joan."

"Fine... if you say so" Joan sighed raising her hands.

"See you later Erica" Joan said giving her a hug.

Erica drove off in her car leaving Joan standing there with her hands folded.

Joan smirked fixing her gaze on nothing.

"Little Erica have grown into a beautiful lady I must confess, my father's love is doing alot on her" she thought aloud.

She grabbed her phone from her bag and dailed a number.

The receiver picked at once.

"I met her already and I am ready for plan "B" she hanged up looking thoughtful.

"Now let's see how well you have grown Erica" Joan said walking over to her car as she drove off.

Erica drove home, she wanted to have good bath before going to visit Liam.

Erica wanted to be sure she looked and smelt fresh, Liam paid alot of attention to these things.

Erica couldn't wait to tell her father that she met Joan today.

Luckily enough he was at home...

He was still very strong serving his country though he doesn't go to war or peace keeping anymore.

Erica greeted him with a warm hug...

"Guess who I saw today daddy...?" Erica asked.

"The president?" He asked fixing his gaze on the newspapers in his hands.

Erica glared jokingly at him "Daddy please be serious."

"I am serious Erica" he answered .

"Fine... I will tell you, I saw Joan today..." she informed.

"Who is Joan?" He asked lifting his eyes off the newspaper.

Erica gasped "Joan is my sister, your daughter....."

"Erica stay away from Joan" he said standing to his feet, he looked very upset and nervous.

For the first time in a long time Erica witnessed her father swing into a very unexplainable mood at the mention of his Joan's name.

Erica wondered if she heard clearly, she stuck her finger into her ears trying to wipe them clean.

"Father what are you saying?" Erica said looking totally dumbfounded.

"She isn't who you think she is Erica, you must avoid her" he answered.

"Joan is my sister and bestfriend father" Erica fired back staring at his face.

His eyes widened "since when??"

"We have been texting each other for years and we finally met today, I can't believe you are asking me to stay away from her?"

"It's for your own good Erica" he answered.

Erica shook her head "is that why you never told me that mother had a mental illness?"

He gasped "is that what she told you?"

Erica shurrged "do you have a better explanation for the bitter maltreatments I got from mother?"

Andrew was quite, standing there staring at his daughter.

Erica sighed "I guess you don't."

She walked away heading to my room.

Andrew scoffed running his hands throughout his hair.

"This cannot be happening..." he thought looking depressed.