Broken Artemis

The Scars She Hid From The World

REGINA MCBRIDE

The heavy iron gates of the Wilderness Correction Camp groaned as they released me after three years of state-sponsored hell. I stood on the dirt road, clutching a plastic bag that held my entire life, waiting for the family that claimed they sent me there for "rehab." My brother, Brady, picked me up in a luxury SUV only to throw me out onto a deserted highway in the middle of a brewing storm. He told me I was a "public relations nightmare" and that the rain might finally wash the "stink" of the camp off me. He drove away, leaving me to limp miles through the mud on a snapped ankle. When I finally dragged myself to our family estate, my mother didn't offer a hug; she gasped in horror because my muddy clothes were ruining her Italian marble. They didn't give me my old room back. Instead, they banished me to a moldy gardener’s shack and hired a "babysitter" to make sure I didn't embarrass them further. My sister, Kaleigh, stood there in white cashmere, pretending to cry while clinging to her fiancé, Ambrose—the man who had once been mine. They all treated me like a volatile junkie, refusing to acknowledge that Kaleigh was the one who planted the drugs in my bag three years ago. They wanted to believe I was broken so they wouldn't have to feel guilty about the "wellness retreat" that was actually a torture chamber. I sat in the dark of that shed, feeling the cooling gel on the cigarette burns that covered my arms, and realized they had made a fatal mistake. They thought they had erased me, but I had returned with a roadmap of scars and a hidden satellite phone. At dinner, I didn't beg for their love. I simply rolled up my sleeves and showed them the price of their silence. As the wine spilled and the lies crumbled, I sent a single text to the only person I trusted: "I'm in. Let them simmer." The hunt was finally on.

Modern Revenge Scheming Kickass Heroine Comeback Revenge

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I placed my hands gently on the railings, the weather was really cool today, The sunlit cloud drifted across a clear blue sky and you could see kids playing everywhere. It was a perfect weather for them to play around the neighbourhood.

I was lost in my thoughts as memories came flooding my head. I thought they said time healed pain but in my case I guess the more time passed I became even more miserable and everything seemed like it just happened yesterday.

Especially the little witch he had left me with. Some hate me so much for treating her badly. Some others say I don't even deserve to be a mother. But no body knows what I had gone through or what I had faced since she came into my life. but mother always says I am overreacting but I think I have a share of the blame because I allowed myself fall in love. " love", that word scares the hell out of me now more than ever.

"zee!! You have been standing there for hours now, what are you doing there"mama queried coming towards me where I was standing as she stood beside me.

I know how much she hated to see me like this and I was already feeling guilty for making the poor woman feel that way because she had really helped me alot.

"mother, I am fine the weather is so good today"i replied as I forced a smile back to my lips.

"Layla what's wrong"mother said as she faced the 6 year old that ce towards us.

"grandma, I can't find my shoes"a terrified looking Layla said.

"you stupid girl, you ungrateful little thing"i said angrily as I moved towards her twisting her ears with my hands. I didn't know why I did that or where the anger even came from but I just didn't even like seeing her around. You might hate me or call me wicked but listen to my story first.

"stop that zee, it's okay"mother said, as she tried to free Layla from my hands"

She immediately ran to hug my mother as tears streamed down her face.

"she lost her shoe and it's okay mother. You know how much I work to get her the things she needs and all she does is to be an ungrateful little thing"i screamed

"Zeenat!!!"mama exclaimed

I watched as layla let go of mama running towards me and hugging me tightly but I didn't hug her back.

"mother I am sorry"she apologized

"get away from me you, I wish you never came into my life"i said as I pushed her away and left to my room all I heard was Layla's voice.

"mother!!" "mother!!" "mother I am sorry!!" but I just kept on walking to my room without turning back.

I layed on my bed as I held the pillow closely to me.

"I hate you so much Layla and it's all because of your dad"i said to myself as tears streamed down my face as again the memories started coming back to me.

***flash back***

"zee why not take this red bangles it will look perfect on you"he said as he wore them on me.

"I don't need you buying all this gifts for me everytime. you know I love you just the way you are"i said as I smiled hugging him tightly.

"I love you zee always and you deserve the world in which I am ready to give to you"

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