Chapter One: Mother

"A voice...?" she thought,

Raising her head
From her knees.

Kneeling down in front of her
Was the kind-faced maid.

"Miss, I have come to fetch you. It is time for supper." She spoke carefully,
Trying to hide any emotions.

Her head lightly swayed side to side,
"No. Don't want."
"Miss, everything's alright now." Her voice cracked,"You don't have to worry no longer. Your father has slipped away into his office and your mother is waiting for you in the dining room." She lifted from her knees, "Please, come along now." She held out her hand.

She sniffed,
Getting up from the corner.
She wobbled passed the maid
Who then took her hand back.

The kind-faced maid,
Trailed behind her.

Eyeing the dark purple
Oval
Around the girl's left eye
As hey exit the bedroom
That was now,
Completely dark.

She wanted to speak up,
Treat the girls eye,
But the Master of the house
Ordered them
To never treat her wounds
And to ignore her very presence.

Pretend that she is nothing more
Than a passing shadow.

But the Missus,
Ordered otherwise.

Leaving the staff
In a limbo
Of uncertainty.

   "Ignore her"

"Do not ignore her"

   "Treat her"

"Do not treat her"

The kind faced maid
Continued to follow,
Down the hall
To the half spiraled staircase,
Allowing her mind
To be in a tug-a-war
Of her own morals.

"Was it alright to say that the Master is away?" She questioned herself, thinking back on her words. "What if the Master heard me speak in a way? He would've thrown me out into the cold."
Her body shivered.

She pressed her hand
Against the polished railing,
Holding onto it
For dear life.

The little girl
Stepped off the last step
And the kind faced maid
Let go of the rail.

The two made a right turn,
Strolling down the small hall
Until they reached the opened door
Dining room
Where her Mother sat,
In front of a buffet of food.

Her light orange hair
Was loosely curled
Draping down onto her pale shoulders.

Her eyes were enlarged
And red
And still had tears on the corners
Of her lids.

A trail of dried blood
Above her fuchsia colored lips,
Could be seen
Coming from her nose.

Black and blue bruises
Painted her bare arms,
The only skin
She allowed to be seen
Within the turquoise dress
That hugged her body.

"Sweetheart sit down." She demanded.

She nodded her head,
Trotting over to the seat
Across from her Mother.

A nearby butler
Rushed over
And pulled the seat
From the table.

She climbed into the seat,
And held her head down,
Staring at her reflection
Within the empty red plate.

The butler
Pushed her chair in,
Making sure it wasn't too close
To the table.

"Thank you. You may all leave now." She croaked.

A murmur of,
"Yes Ma'am." rang
As the staff filtered out
Of both exits.

"Darling, Mommy needs it." She spoke lightly, "Mommy needs you to go get it tonight okay? She really needs it. I know it's cold outside but...You understand, don't you? Mommy cant do this anymore. Mommy needs to be happy too, understand?"

"Understood." She mumbled.

"Good girl, good girl." She smiled, "Now let me give you some food."

She stood up, wiping her nose with the edge of her finger, "Mommy had the staff make you your favorite food night. Mashed potatoes, yams, ham...You still like those things right darling?" She walked around the table and picked up a glass bowl of mashed potatoes.

She nodded,
Knowing that
her mother's kindness
Was only because
She had asked her to leave
Tonight.

To get her her favorite,
Glass Powder.

The very thing that makes her happy.

02