The Burning

(Clock rings...)

"Evelyn! Where are the hell are you? Where is my coffee!" Jane's sharp voice cut through the uneasy silence, adding another layer to the already strained morning.

Evelyn rushed to the kitchen, avoiding eye contact. "I'm here," she mumbled, preparing Jane's coffee with a forced calmness.

"What took you so long? I don't have all day!" Jane snapped, her impatience palpable.

"I'm sorry," Evelyn whispered, keeping her head down. She handed Jane the coffee, trying to escape the piercing gaze.

"Finally," Jane grumbled, taking the coffee without a word of thanks. The room tightened as Jane's impatience lingered in the air.

"Evelyn! Where are my clothes? Did you put them in my drawer?" Janella's shouts echoed through the air, and Evelyn couldn't do anything but follow their orders.

"Here you go, I put it in your drawer and you can't even see it," she uttered barely above a whisper, and Janella glared at her.

"What did you just say?"

Evelyn looks at her, "I didn't say anything."

"I heard it. Loud and clear," her eyes narrowed with suspicion. Evelyn, feeling the weight of scrutiny, hesitated before muttering, "I didn't mean anything by it."

Janella scoffed, "Just do what we told you to do, Eve. Or else... you'll be kicked out of this house."

The threat hung in the air, and Evelyn, with a heavy heart, nodded in compliance. "Good girl," she continued.

Evelyn cooked their breakfast while Jane and Janella relaxed in the living room. As she watched, jealousy gnawed at her. She wanted to hang out, chitchat, and have fun with them. But she couldn't. They treated her as an outsider.

Tears welled in Evelyn's eyes, feeling the weight of their mistreatment. The kitchen became a refuge for her, a place where she could hide her vulnerability.

As Evelyn cooked, her silent tears mixed with the sizzling sounds in the pan. The kitchen became a sanctuary, shielding her from the harsh reality beyond its walls. Jane and Janella lounged in the living room, unaware of Evelyn's struggle.

"Evelyn! Breakfast is taking forever! What's the hold-up?" Jane's impatient voice cut through the air.

"Coming," Evelyn mumbled, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. She plated the breakfast, trying to hide the evidence of her distress.

Jane and Janella sauntered into the kitchen, eyeing the food with disdain. "Finally, we're starving," Jane complained, taking a seat at the table.

Evelyn served them in silence, her eyes downcast. Janella picked up her food. "What is this?" Janella scoffed, poking at the food with a disdainful expression.

"I-I thought you might like it," Evelyn stammered, her voice barely audible.

Jane chimed in, "It looks terrible. Can't you do anything right?" The criticism stung, but Evelyn nodded, biting her lip to hold back tears.

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence as Jane and Janella ate with visible displeasure.

Evelyn stood by, a silent witness to their dissatisfaction. The clock's ticking seemed to mock her as she endured their judgment.

As they finished eating, Jane pushed her plate away. "Clean this up, Evelyn. And make sure it's done properly this time."

Evelyn nodded, starting to clear the table. The clinking of dishes echoed in the kitchen, a somber soundtrack to her morning routine. Jane and Janella left without a word, leaving Evelyn alone with the aftermath of their breakfast.

As she washed the dishes, Evelyn couldn't escape the weight of their harsh words. The kitchen, once a sanctuary, now felt like a battleground. The sound of running water masked the quiet sobs she couldn't hold back.

The kitchen door creaked open again, and Harold entered, his brow furrowed in concern. "What's going on in here?"

Evelyn quickly wiped her tears, forcing a small smile. "Just cleaning up, Dad."

Harold glanced around, sensing the tension. "Are you okay, Evelyn?"

"I'm fine," she replied, avoiding eye contact. The less her father knew, the better.

"Alright, if you need anything, let me know," he said, leaving the kitchen.

After Harold excused himself from the kitchen, leaving Evelyn alone in the strained atmosphere, Evelyn continued cleaning the kitchen. The dishes clinked together, a melancholy rhythm in the room.

Once the kitchen was spotless, Evelyn was about to go back to her room when Jane and Janella stopped her. They glared at her.

"Clean the living room next. And make it quick," Jane ordered, her impatience evident.

Evelyn headed to the living room, a realm of discomfort. She grabbed a dustpan and began sweeping, doing her best to avoid their judgmental stares.

"Watch it! You're doing it all wrong," Jane criticized, her words cutting through the air.

Evelyn clenched her jaw, resisting the urge to defend herself. She continued sweeping, hoping to finish the task without further confrontation.

As she worked, Jane and Janella lounged on the couch, exchanging glances of disapproval. The tension in the room intensified with every movement Evelyn made.

"Is this the best you can do?" Janella scoffed, her voice a harsh echo.

Evelyn swallowed her frustration, keeping her eyes on the task at hand. She wanted to escape the scrutiny, but there was no reprieve.

"You know, Evelyn, I had enough of you! I'm so tired of you," she looked at her. "You can't even do simple tasks, and how could you be a part of this family?"

Janella chimed in, her words a sharp echo of her mother's cruelty. "You're always the burden, the one ruining everything for us. Can't you do anything right?"

Evelyn, still nursing the wounds inflicted during breakfast, tried to maintain her composure. "I'm doing my best," she mumbled, her eyes fixed on the untouched food before her.

Jane scoffed, her laughter cutting through the air. "Your best is never good enough, Evelyn. Maybe if you weren't such a disappointment, life would be easier for all of us."

"Father pampers you too much. It's time you learn your place in this family." Jane glared at her, cupping her hands on her mouth, “How I wish… you weren’t been born!”

Evelyn, stifling the tears threatening to spill, felt the weight of their cruel words pressing down on her.

She lowered her gaze, her trembling hands clasping the edge of the table. The room seemed to close in around her as Jane's and Janella's vindictive laughter reverberated in her ears.

Jane leaned in closer, her tone now a venomous whisper. "You're a stain on this family, Evelyn. No matter how hard you try to fit in, you'll always be an outsider, just like your mom." Her words were like shards of glass, cutting through Evelyn's fragile defenses.

Summoning strength, Evelyn responded, "I don't understand why you treat me this way. I am part of this family! Why are you doing this to me!"

The room seemed to tighten around Evelyn as she mustered the courage to question the tormentors who sought to break her spirit. Jane's expression twisted into a scornful grin, relishing the opportunity to exert her dominance.

"You’re part of this family, you say?" Jane scoffed, her laughter dripping with mockery. "You're a replacement, Evelyn, nothing more. Your mother's death left a void, and you were the unfortunate result. Don't delude yourself into thinking you belong here."