Authors POV

Cheryl was fighting her inner demons, she wanted Julie to be tough and strong; instead she got a daughter who was the complete opposite of her in all aspects. The only quality that Julie had from her Mam was her cheekiness and sensitivity. Cheryl was more sensitive than she led herself to believe.

She wouldn't show her weaknesses, especially not in front of Julie - she wanted to be a good role model for her, she wanted her to say 'I want to be as tough and strong as Mam' that's all she ever wanted. She wasn't going to change her stern attitude towards her daughter, she was going to teach her how to toughen up.

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Cheryl's POV

I just stood there staring at her; she was sound asleep cuddled up into Libby. I know I shouldn't have spoken to her like that, but what else was I supposed to do - she has to learn. I tiptoed over to her kneeling down to the edge of the sofa where her head lay. Me fingers tracing her imperfections - how could someone touch me baby like this?

"I'm sorry" I whispered, I knew I constantly shouted at Julie for apologizing - I was apologizing for a reason. I placed a light kiss against her bruised eye before going back up to speak to me wife. I wasn't surprised to find the bedroom door locked

"Kimba?" I said in a hushed tone, tapping the door lightly

"Fck off!" She shouted, she had every right to speak to us like that - I took it too far this time

"Don't even think about knocking again! Go fck yourself!" She added, I sighed walking meself to a guest bedroom - I deserved it.

**
Julie's POV

My eyes were still clasped shut - I could see the morning light through the thin layer of my eyelids. The feeling of someone's arms wrapped around me made it difficult to move a muscle. I knew it was Libby, the familiar scent brought calmness to my heart

"Morning" She yawned, snuggling further into my neck - her nose running against my skin; inhaling my natural fragrance

"Mm" I groaned, my eyes opened with difficulty - I knew that the bruising had inflamed; my eyes were heavy and my cheeks were sore

"Did you sleep okay? I'm sorry.. I'm practically laying on you" She giggled shyly - we were tangled up, limbs and arms wrapped around each other. Almost in a safety shell - protecting ourselves in someway

"No you're fine" I tried to smile, but even smiling hurt

"I'm smiling" I said, her musical laughs fill me up with happiness - I forced my cheeks to take the wincing pain of my dimpled grin. That's if my dimples were even showing with the scratching and bruising

"Does it hurt?" Her eyes are sad, she's hovering over me - her orbs working frantically around my face.

"Yeah" I whispered truthfully, she lowered herself - kissing me tenderly. Her lips lingering on each blemish - it's almost as if she was kissing the pain away

"It'll be gone before you know it" She smiled, her eyes were glossy and I knew she was probably blaming herself for this

"I should have don-"

"Don't.. It's no ones fault but mine. I act like I'm tough when really I'm weak.. My past is a perfect example" I spoke past the lump that unexpectedly formed in my throat - my voice was thick. I didn't want to cry anymore, but I couldn't control it

"It's made me into the person I am today" I whispered through my tears - they were leaking from the ends of my eyes; trailing down to my neck

"I just take it and hope for the best" She closed her eyes, she couldn't look at me when I was upset; it would always break her heart when I cried. I seemed to be doing that a lot - crying.

"You're stronger than you think" Her dark chocolate eyes were conveying so much emotion - she made it hard to look away

"No.. That's what you think Lib.. I'm weak, I'm pathetic.. I'm noth-" I was cut off by a strong and stern tone; Mam

"Enough with the crying! Come and have breakfast!" She didn't greet me with a good morning kiss today; no cuddle - nothing.

"Come on-" Libby sighed, climbing off me and holding her hand out

"Let's go get some food in you" She tried to lighten up the mood, taking my hand and walking us both into the kitchen. There was no breakfast platted, there wasn't a single crumb left behind on the granite top. Mam was sat on the kitchen table having her cup of tea and tapping away on her phone

"Did you not make anything?" I asked, she didn't bother looking at me as she continued to fuss away on her phone

"No" She bluntly said

"I'll make you something" Libby whispered in my ear, placing a kiss against my cheek

"She can make her own food" She slammed her phone onto the kitchen table - finally meeting my eyes

"Go make your own food!"

-

I was always trying to be perfect, never wanting to say the wrong thing. I didn't understand why all my foster parents would hit me; abuse me verbally and physically. I was always so obedient.

I was hungry, and I hadn't eaten in a few days - if scraps of food was called a full nutritious meal than that's what I was having. I'd secretly eat crumbs off plates as I washed the dishes - it was sickening. I had finally finished cleaning the whole house; building up an appetite. I needed to eat today - I needed a full meal in my body. Something - anything.

"Breakfast!" Rebecca called, her kids quickly getting off their seats and running to the kitchen. I wiped down the last spec of dust in the house and cautiously walked into the kitchen. Choosing my words carefully.

"C-Can I eat?" I asked nervously, never meeting her eyes. That's what I was taught, I was told to never look them in the eyes. 'Don't look at me with those eyes' they'd say, so I never did. I always looked at the floor, gazing and keeping my hold.

"Make your own food" She spat, platting food for her kids - there was enough food to feed a whole town. They weren't going to finish what had been set out for them. I fidgeted my way to the fridge opening it to find absolutely nothing - not even a single piece of toast.

"T-There's no food" I stammered

"Come sit here" She surprised me, I internally sighed with relief - I was finally going to get a meal. I took my seat, ready to quench my hunger

"No" She slapped my hand as I reached out

"You sit there and watch us" So I did, I sat there with hunger in my stomach; watching them eat their meals. I never did eat that day - or the days that followed.

-

Julie's POV

I was brought back to reality with Mam's harsh words, I didn't feel the tears running down my cheeks - her words hit a nerve.

"What? What are you crying about now! Will you ever stop with those damn tears! Toughen up kid!" She shouted, I didn't reply to her - running out of the kitchen and straight to the room that held someone who made everything better

"Mum" I cried, weakly knocking against the wooden door - she opened the door within the second knock. Taking me straight into her arms, she didn't ask why I was crying, she didn't tell me to stop my tears. She allowed me to breakdown in her arms, taking me over to the sofa and pulling me onto her lap - she let me be a child.

"I-I hate h-her" I sobbed against her chest - my fingers clutching her nightgown. My hot tears running down her chest - staining her silk dress with my sadness

"S-She's just l-like them!" My tears were now turning into loud screams; all the memories of my foster parents were attacking me all at once. I needed to be loved.

"Look at me" She whispered, she was speaking with so much gentleness that it instantly made my tears diminish

"I know you're upset" Her forehead was pressed against mine, eyes closed as she spoke to me with so much love. Both of her hands pressed against my cheeks in hopes to bring me in closer to her

"Don't let her win, don't let her see you cry Angel.. I know you're not my d-daughter" She began to cry, suddenly the roles reversed and I was holding her as she cried into the crook of my neck

"I j-just want to be a good Mum to you.. I know you're not mine and I have no right to tell you w-what to do" I didn't know what to do or say, I've never witnessed Mum in this state before; she was always so calm and collected. She was breaking right in front of my eyes.

"You are my Mum" I said, I was confused where all of this suddenly came from

"Really?" She asked doubtfully, her eyes painted a dark shade of red. I nodded letting the remaining tears cascade down my cheeks - we were a mess. Her face suddenly grew with horror, eyes widening - arms clasping against the forearms

"Julie" She breathed deeply

"Mum!? What is it!?" I jumped off of her in a panic

"My waters just broke"