Chapter 1.

Emma.

“You’ll always be a worthless piece of shit!”

I jolted from my bed drenched in sweat, panting heavily as my chest heaved up and down. The memory of my high school bully yelling at me in front of the whole school is still as clear as day. 

I will never forget his face and the horrendous things he did to me.

Sophie, my little sister, busts into my room with worry-filled eyes.

“Are you okay? I heard your voice,” She sat beside me holding my shaky hands as she tried to calm my nerves.

“Yeah, just a nightmare.”

Sophie frowned, her brows creasing together before sighing, “You’re making me worried, Emma. These nightmares has been a common thing for you this past month.” 

I sighed, “it's okay Sophie, I'm fine.” 

“Well when you're ready, come downstairs. I'll make breakfast.” I exchanged a smile before she stormed off to wherever she was.

Sophie was in her last year of high school, it was difficult to pay her fees with a dad who turned into drug addict. My mum, Amelia, divorced my dad, Greg Addison when his new company went bankrupt. 

My life wasn’t all that tremendous the time I worked to graduate high school. I still don’t know how I got through College but it wasn't easy and living in this sort of way was hell knowing our mother abandoned us to go find another rich man. Such a gold digger!

The loneliness soon led to my dad doing drugs to ease the pain he felt toward Amelia, at least that's what he presumed. 

Sometimes, when we tried to get rid of these drugs, he would take out his anger and frustration on me and Sophie, especially me. His anger soon turned physical, I would end up with bruises on my face just cause I asked for the money for Sophie’s school fees. Dad and I were always on quarreling terms and Sophie felt guilty about it. 

There was a time when dad went out of control and started whacking me nonstop, Sophie made an effort to get between us but ended up getting hurt herself. It was tragic and pathetic that my Father turned out this way, I mean, wasn’t I the young girl you always called your princess? Why the sudden change?

I wouldn't blame him though, it's all mum's fault.

And now, I'm left to drain myself in part-time jobs that could barely pay the fees for Sophie's education.

The house we lived in wasn’t one that would make your eyes sparkle or twinkle, very average if I must say, but it was sure as hell comfortable.

“Aahhhh!!!” Sophie’s scream echoed through the whole house interrupting me from my thoughts. I quickly ran down the stairs seeing Sophie in dad’s room.

“Sophie? What's-...?” I gasped as my eyes widened to see dad lying unconscious on the ground with his puke all over the floor.

You have to be kidding me!

***

“Due to too much intake of cocaine and metyrapone, your father suffered from an overdose which led to him collapsing.” The doctor explained as I glared at my dad who was sleeping so comfortably on the hospital bed.

“Will he be okay, doctor?” Sophie asked with tears still in her eyes. 

“As long as the right treatments and therapies are given to him and he avoids these hard drugs, then yes, he will,” she assured us.

“How much will it cost?” I asked, anxiety building up in me as I awaited her response.

She hesitated before speaking up, “ About 20,000$.”

My heart escalated knowing I didn't have that kind of cash. Money for Sophie’s school fees wasn't fully paid and now dad’s sick. What should I do? I was just a 26-year-old girl, not a mother.

“He will also be charged for indulging in illegal activities.” I gulped and nodded before the doctor dismissed herself leaving us in the hospital ward.

I gripped my hairs, threatening to pull them out it's roots as tears formed in my eyes. I really didn't know what to do. I yearned to clutch my hands all over my Father's neck and strangle him to death.

“Don't worry, I'll… I'll drop out of school.” Sophie whimpered.

“No! Don't! Don't ever say that! You'll graduate high school like your other mates are planning to, you hear me?!” Tears finally spilled from my eyes as I tried to encourage her but she only seemed to cry even more.

“You shouldn't suffer for what dad did, you're innocent and he doesn't deserve any of this. I wish he would just die, we're better without him anyways.” She quivered, more tears spilling.

When dad wakes up, I'm gonna have a word with him. You can't be depressed for just a woman that doesn't give a shit about you.

She reached to hug me, immediately wrapped her in my arms, and whispered sweet nothings in her ear.

“I-I’ll find a way, don't worry.” I patted her head as her cries subsided into sniffles.

“It's gonna be okay.”

I promise.