Trigger warning- Violence❌, trauma ❌

                     SARAI'S POV:

"Caroline, what's wrong with you?", I pretended to be asleep as I heard my mother scolding Caroline. My mother, Teresa Harold, has always been a cold lady, sometimes more than my father. She and my sisters are very common in this manner and I am always the odd one out.
Unlike my sisters, I liked wearing frocks while they loved dresses that were long, more mature looking.

"I'm sorry madam.", I heard Caroline whisper. Her words broke and trembled as if she will cry any second now.

"You have one work to make our daughter eat her meals and you can't even do that.", Mother whispered shouted and I turned in bed to show that I was waking up.

"Oh Caroline, you should rest. You are always worried about Sarai.", Her tone changed 180 degrees. Same manipulative and lying mother.

I got up from bed with my sheets attached to my chest and patted on the left side to find my dress already there.

"Let me help you Sarai.", Caroline whispered softly knowing very well how flinchy I'm in the mornings.

She helped me wear the frock-like dress without touching me much and only instructed me where to put my arms and such.

"You haven't eaten anything after yesterday's lunch baby.", My mother said standing a few feet away from me.

I don't spread blindness mother, I wanted to say but bit my tongue.

Throwing the sheet away, I got up on wobbly legs. The weakness in my body was prominent as I felt dizzier than ever.

"Child.. Sarai, let me help you.", Caroline cried trying to hold my arm and as soon as she touched me, I pushed her away shaking my head. I shook my head as tears cascaded down my face and emptiness filled my brain.

I felt myself floating away and falling with my face down. I don't remember hitting the ground nor do I remember anything else other than the clutches holding me tightly to my bed.

Dying would have been a better option rather than living a nightmare daily. It always starts with me tied to a bed, hands hovering over me and then....

*She wakes up after two days.*

"She is not fine! How many times do I have to tell you, Charles? Your daughter is not fine.", The kind voice of my uncle Tommy held anger for the first time. I haven't heard him for two months when my last episode happened.

"Do not talk to me in that way! YOU ARE STILL A WORKER, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?", My father shouted. Oh, how I wanted to cry for waking up again. End my agony god, I beg you. I prayed again to God to let me be at peace for one time at least.

"NO, I DON'T UNDERSTAND! Tell me why won't you take her to a hospital!? What are you hiding Charles? She wasn't like this six years ago! WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO HER?", Uncle's words were filled with pain as he asked my father again. I wish I could speak about my shameful uncle. I wish I could share my pain again and trust someone.

"YOU-"

"Sarai..hey, child..", uncle Tom murmured as he moved the wires attached to me.

"I'm not going to touch you, I promise. You need to stop moving.", He said as I moved away from his closing touch.

"James, call Caroline.", He said as he took my temperature.

"You are fine kiddo..you know you can tell uncle anything, right? I'm just a call away.", He said and I felt a tear dropping on my hand.

"Shh..I'll wait until you decide to tell me, everything kid. I want to know what changed six years ago Sarai. What made you so scared, so timid and lifeless?", It was as if he was asking himself. I know he is beating himself up because he can't solve my problems.

But I don't want anyone to solve my problem. I just want a life where this continuous pain doesn't follow me, where I don't have to fear everyone. And I know there is no such life, only death.

Everyone will be happy without me. They will not have a disabled person's responsibility. I've tried to kill myself twice in the first year after that night. But it was as if someone was already looking after me because not even a cut later, someone will come and snatch my hope of freedom again and again.

Now my room is without anything sharp, anything harmful that can be consumed, and all the things that might help me get my freedom.

"You need a lot of rest Sarai. I'm gonna inject you now, okay? It will just be a little pinch and nothing more.", Uncle cooed as if I was again a child who used to cry at the name of needles.

He injected me and then I heard all of their footsteps going out. My eyes turned heavy and my already dark life again filled with the same numbness.

I woke up after hearing Caroline pray over my head. This time I could move my arms freely and nothing was attached to me.

"Sarai", she sighed and said a thank you prayer.

"Can I touch your head? Please?", She almost begged to make me nod nervously.

As soon as her hand touched my head, I felt my breathing accelerating. I could feel my nerves going crazy as my mind told me that letting her touch me was dangerous. My nails were embedded deep inside my palm and any second I was going to have a panic attack.

"Shh..relax sweetheart..I have taken your temperature as the doctor said. I'm not going to hurt you.", She took her hand away and started calming me down. I gasped for every breath as my lungs stopped working not taking any oxygen in. This is what happens when you have asthma with panic attacks.

"Sarai...your inhaler..breath...", She directly put the inhaler over my mouth and finally my lungs could breathe. My chest rose and fell as shameful tears ran down my eyes.

What am I supposed to do with my miserable life! I wanted to shout, to take all my anger out on something or someone and hurt the people who have hurt me this badly. But a dirty part of my mind pointed a finger at me again telling me that I was the one behind all my misery. If I weren't dressed like a filthy whore, slut, attention seeking bitch and whatnot, nothing would've happened.

My hands turned into fists as I punched my face as hard as I could with whatever power I could muster. All my mistakes. I did this to me. I could hear Caroline shout as she tried to stop me from hurting myself but got bit herself.

One's mind could be this fragile, so easily broken that they stop feeling the right things. So many shouts, cries and begs later, I felt a pinch in my neck and the dark cycle of my life continued but this time unconsciously.

           THIRD PERSON'S POV:

"She will die like this.", Tommy told Charles who was looking at a wall.

"Uncle do--", James started but was stopped by his twin Atlas.

"I don't understand that girl! Why can't she forget whatever happened? Why is she so focused on putting our names down?", Charles thundered and James and Atlas glared at the back of his head.

"It is all your mistake! YOU'RE THE REASON BEHIND HER MISERY!", James' voice reached every ear as he shouted in anger.

"JAMES!", He heard his mother's voice but he didn't back down.

"You made our sister like this. Why? Why do you hate her so much? Has she not suffered enough?", It was Atlas. His eyes turned glossy as he glared at his pathetic excuse of a father.

"What do you want me to do, hm? WHAT SHOULD I DO? THAT FILT-", before he could complete his sentence, James landed a harsh punch on his nose.

Charles groaned falling back while Teresa and Tommy (Sarai's mother) ran to help him up.

"I should have...ahh..killed that girl but I treated her well for you! She took away my HAPPINESS! DO YOU UNDERSTAND!", Charles glared at his sons who turned to go back to Sarai's room.

Tommy bandaged up his nose after making him sit on a chair. He was silent as he watched Teresa crying over her husband's broken nose. All he could feel at that moment was disgust. This woman birthed that girl. What kind of mother was she? How can she see her daughter suffering and dying alone in that room?

He prayed to God for his innocent Sarai that someone saves her from this hell. A pure angel like her shouldn't have been born here. He excused himself quietly not wanting to stay in their presence any longer.

In Sarai's room, everyone looked solemn. The whole room was filled with dead silence as they looked at the badly bruised girl. James and Atlas stood like bodyguards at her door with their eyes teary while Caroline rested her tired eyes.

"The devils will be here tomorrow morning.", Atlas finally dropped the bomb and it was as if the room turned colder.

"He should have given them the land. It's time we send Sarai to somewhere safe.", Atlas added and Caroline looked at them wide eyed. She nodded to Atlas to which they both looked at James.

"You're right but you know we can't protect her without father.", James gritted out.

"Then we will die protecting her here. Maybe she will forgive us then.", Atlas  said making James nod.

"Caroline.", James started.

"I know sir. I will protect her like my daughter.", She promised making them both thank her.

"Where are those three?", Atlas asked as they both descended the stairs. Those 'three' meant their one other brother and two sisters. Their brother, Rowan, was not allowed to go out due to him being defective. When their father got to know that he was into men, he was beaten brutally. And their two sisters, Poppy and Lily, were the biggest bullies and known for their beauty.

"God knows where.", James grumbled annoyed. The five siblings adored their sister Sarai but after that day everyone avoided her like plague except James and Atlas.

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I think I'm crying.😭😭😭

What do you think Charles is saying and why?💢

Do you think James and Atlas putting everything on Charles is right?💀

And the devils are coming tomorrow!🦋🦋

Do vote and comment!👀

Thank you!

Take care!

Love
Himanshi ❣️