Chapter 1

CECIL is twelve years old at that time and all she can wish for is nothing for having a perfect life at that time. She has a wonderful parent, a loving mom, and a very supportive type of father. Her mother gave birth to a young baby boy a month ago named Calix.

 

She suddenly craves an ice-cream, so they are inside the car and on the way to her favorite ice-cream shop. She said to her parents that she deserves it for having A+ scored on her exams.

 

“Mom, I love you, Dad, I love you, both of you are the best!” she said that time while giggling. She is grateful for having them. She wishes nothing but to be with them for longer years until she gets older. But it looks like her wish isn’t meant to happen, as she saw her mother crying, and her father looking hopeless.

 

“Save yourself with our daughter! They need you, we can’t survive this, I have to sacrifice,” said her dad. She looks confused as hell on what is really happening.

 

“I can’t live without you too!” her mother said sobbing and looking at her. She is seated at the back of the car, and she is crying as she realizes what is happening. At that moment, she can’t only blame anyone rather herself.

The next thing happened, and she saw herself waking up from her old dream that happened 12 years ago. She is already 24 years old, Cecile is living in her parent’s house old attic. She and her brother live with their aunt on their mother 's side. A kind of Cinderella type of story she is living.

 

“Cecil!” said her brother who wore stained old clothes. She can’t even afford to buy their things. Her Aunt Margaret took all her salary, she barely had a dime, she secretly hid a few bucks on her shoe.

 

“Yes, Calix? Are you hungry now?” she asked her younger brother, who is a little child-like compared to other 12 years olds there. That is also the reason why Calix did not attend school.

 

“Yes, and Aunt Margaret did not give me any food,” he said, sobbing to her. Cecil’s heart almost broke apart as she saw her brother looking pitiful. What she deserves was stolen by her Aunty who used her hard earned money on her beauty products, and her daughter’s things.

 

She promised to herself that they will go somewhere, escape from this hell hole. She just can’t go away and leave, because this house is legally their property, and the only memories left by her parents. But she had enough; she is secretly saving up money, enough for them to leave here.

 

Cecil took a box hidden under their bed. There are still biscuits there, at least it will be enough for their poor stomach. After their small conversation, Cecil needs to leave their attic as she hears her Aunt yelling. Margaret might be mad because of having no money.

 

She went down and met her Aunt’s slap. She felt the stinging pain on her left side of her face, she is so used to this that she doesn't cry anymore.

 

“You and your stupid brother, what an ungrateful brats! Work! Do a job inside this damn house, because you are indebted to me forever! Don’t you dare going home here without any single penny, or I swear, you will have no roof, nor a house to stay for the rest of your useless life,” her Aunt nagged non-stop. All she can do is insert her words on her left ear, and dump it off from her right ear.

 

She started working on their messy kitchen. She felt nothing but a hidden anger from these two women who enslaved them. Took all their property, and gambled it until nothing was left for them.

 

Cecil is so mad at her cousin too, Dianne, who sits on the couch, eating cereal and apples, watching TV, wearing clothes and make-up that came from her own pocket.

 

“What are you looking at? You dirty lowly human, work your ass, or else mom will be angry at you again,” Dianne told her with a smirk on her lips. She is so mad that she wants to slap her bitch-like cousin.

 

She ended up working, famished, and also had to go on with her work. She is working triple while studying. She said to Calix to hide and lock, or the witch aunt of them will do something again to her poor brother.

 

“I TOLD you, you should have left that house a long time ago. That aunt of yours, especially Dianne the slut would not change nor do good to you and your brother!” nagged by her best friend Shaina.

 

“That is my plan, but my money is not enough…” she said, sighing while cleaning the toilet room.

 

“There is little easy money, only if I had your looks and body, maybe I can sell this useless body for more than a penny!” Shaina told her. But she will never do that, selling her body and what? At least she wants to give it to her husband, no one else.

 

“No, thank you. You know that I don’t like that idea, besides, I am not that pretty nor have a good shape,” she said.

 

After their part-time job, and having their few bucks of salary, she decided to buy something for them to eat, only for her and her brother.

 

But in her unfortunate life, rain poured down so strong, but she still ended up buying Pizza on plastic.

 

WHEN she arrived at their house, she saw her things wet in the rain, outside the gate, and her brother was crying there, freezing to death.

 

“What is happening here?!” she said yelling and kicking the old rusty gate. But the house looks empty, they were really evicted.

 

“Cecil, so cold” mumbled to her brother before he passed out. Her eyes widened and called her best friend using her old phone.

 

“Shaina, please! Help me!” she said begging.

 

She doesn't care about their things. She ran as fast as she could until she reached the nearest tall tree. Shaira arrived with her old car, and they went to the hospital.

 

“Please, I am begging you to help my brother!” she said to the doctor.

 

“I will do my best, but your brother looks weak, and has a major heart complication too. Please prepare the right amount of money.” She felt hopeless, crying in desperation. All she asked was where to find a huge amount of money, until she remembered her friend telling her to do that little dirty job. She has to, for her dear brother.