Chapter 2

My mother is the lawful wife of an ordinary man. He didn't go to university because of poverty. He may not be that smart but he is a very kind and hardworking person that worked day and night just to give us a life where mother and I won't get hungry.

Mother is from a known background but she was criticized for loving my father. She was driven out by my very own grandfather because she brought shame to the family. My Mother is a very strong woman. She moved forward and didn't look back. She always says to me she never regrets her choices because those choices led to having a daughter like me.

It was not a very comfortable life because we struggle financially sometimes but our life was a happy one. 

Everything was just alright, simple and happy. But everything changes just like a flicker of a finger. I was seven when my beloved father suddenly collapses while at work. The doctor gave us the most dreadful news. He said that my father is sick and needed an urgent operation. Most of the people's problem in this kind of situation is money.

We are nothing but simple citizens. We are poor and we do not have that much money. I saw my mother worked every day until midnight just to earn additional pennies. She would do all of this but what we need is miles away from what we have.

When my father was in a critical situation, she went back to her old home, rending all the dignity she had left and begged for help. I remember my mother holding my hand like I was the source of her strength. I saw how she hid all the tears and tried to be strong.

We arrived in front of a huge gate, waited outside for hours and I was there, behind her. When the gate opened, I was looking at those rich ladies who came out with their glamorous dresses and big pieces of jewellery. I'm sure just one of those would resolve all our problems.

Mother went near them, begging and almost kneeling on the ground but they pushed mother away. like some kind of beggar in the street, I still remember the insults and how they treated us.

We went home with nothing but shattered dignity and on the next day, My beloved father died. Soon, my mother followed my father. They are like lovebirds, when one is gone, the other will slowly fade.

Before she died, I saw her sadness, not because she is in pain or because of what happened. She is sad because she has to leave me in this cruel world. She is sad that she isn't strong enough to keep going further.

Before she passed, she only told me one thing. And that is to always keep my head up no matter what.

Yes, I listened to her.

No matter what I kept my head high even though I destroyed something precious called family.

No matter what even I had sex with a married man

No matter what even I made someone cry every night

No matter what even I was thrown away by my adopted parents

No matter what even everyone looked at me in a disgusting way

Even I was fired

Even I was hurting

Even when I was broken

I kept my facade and held my head up high.

'Elisia!'