Nobody's POV:

"Waaah! Eaaaah!!!"

"You have a healthy girl, Mrs. Smith." The nurse informed.

"Yeah, yeah, give her here." The woman with messy blonde hair and chestnut eyes curtly demanded as the nurse gently lent her baby to the mother while she wails in her arms.

She stared at the baby with a blank expression before she shrugged her shoulders the moment she saw her baby's facial features.

"Welp, at least she ain't mentally disabled." She dryly muttered. The little girl sulked and gripped the hem of her pink skirt when she heard her comment.

Then the mother gently rocks the baby back and forth hopefully to calm her down. While doing so, she turns to the nurse.

"You can go now." She told her bluntly.

"Y-Yes ma'am." She stuttered and scurried out the room. Once she left, the little girl with blonde hair and hazel eyes spun her head to her mother.

"Mommy, where's daddy?" She asked curiously. Her mother rolled her eyes at her daughter's question, yet smiled falsely at her.

"Your daddy's probably out at the bar drinking a couple of drunks. Since he doesn't give a damn about his own family and me." She ranted.

"I'm obviously here now, yet here you are bad mouthing in front of our baby." A gruff voice boomed that made the little girl perked up and swift her head to see her father. Her lips curled into a bright smile.

"Daddy!" She chirped and got off her chair as scurried to her father. He grins tenderly and kneels down to open his arms to her as he embraces his daughter.

"There's my princess." He teases and places a kiss on her forehead eliciting a giggle from the sweet little girl. "Sorry for being late. Does Lil Penelope miss daddy?" He asked with a playful smile. Penelope nods and grins back at him.

"About time you showed your good-for-nothing ass up, Harold." She sarcastically snarked. Her husband sighed and gently put Penelope down.

"I don't always drink with my friends, ya know? I wanna see my baby too." He mouthed back and crossed his arms with an irritated frown.

"Riight. I definitely believe you a hundred percent." She retorted, rolling her eyes. He clicks his tongue silently and ruffled his hair.

"Can we not do this right now? And you're not even calming her right." He pointed out.

"Oh fuck off, I'm rocking her to sleep right now." She retorts while the baby wails in her arms. Penelope hunch her shoulders with brows furrowed and sulks down to the floor, gripping on the hem of her dress.

"Hey, watch it! Penny's right here!" He scolded, not liking how she curses in front of their daughter.

"She'll get over it eventually." She nonchalantly replied while cradling her bawling baby girl. Harold scrunch his brows.

"Jane, she's two. I highly doubt a child like her would "get over it" easy peasy." He informed, narrowing his brows further at his wife.

"Oh so my philandering husband is lecturing me, his own wife, that cursing in front of her own child and her baby is a bad thing? I guess that's the only thing you're good at as a father." She snarked.

"How about we drop the subject and tell me about the name we're giving to our daughter?" He barked, crossing his arms to his chest.

"I did and her name is gonna be Leah." Jane curtly told him. Harold's eyes widened with his shoulders dropped before hunching his shoulders, but this time with brows furrowed. 

"You gave her name without waiting for me to come?!" Harold hissed.

"Just like the time you left the house after I told you I was pregnant with your firstborn baby, leaving me and my parents to take care of my entire pregnancy while waiting hopelessly for you to come back?" She shot back, glaring at him. "Oh wait, that was before you came back a few days later, begging me to take you back cuz you were scared but wanted to start a family together, but things didn't turn out so well now is it?" She snapped, causing her husband to furrow his brows and click his tongue.

"If you weren't so ungrateful, I wouldn't be acting like this!!" He squawked, feeling his blood boiling in his veins at her passive-aggressiveness.

"Oh boy, here we go again." Jane dryly muttered, rolling her eyes. With the two throwing insults and faults in the room, Penelope shuts her eyes and kneels down to the floor as she blocks her ears from their verbal insults; leaving the poor baby wailing in the arms of her combative mother while their arguments diminish and in comes the fainted sound.

~~~~

Leah's Room^

Leah's POV:

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

"You dumb bitch! You went out last night didn't you?!?"

My eyes snapped open and scrunched my brows at the sound of my mom's screeching that had me groaning and flop my face onto my pillow.

Great. What's worse? Another shitty dream or them barking each other in broad daylight?

I thought sarcastically as I lift my head and I rose up from my bed. I rub my eyes for a bit before glancing at my alarm that says 6:50 am. I sighed and ruffle my hair.

"This is way too early for this..." I grumbled. I slip off from my bed so I could reach my glasses from the end table and placed it on my face.

(Leah's Pajamas^)

I stand up and left the room to see the commotion downstairs. As I expected, I saw my big sis Pen and my drunk of a mom shooting daggers as usual in the kitchen.

I let out a irked sigh since I know where this is going to lead. Just in case it happened again, I lean against the wall and crossed my arms with my eyes glued attentively at their typical "Jerry Springer" moment.

"Will you chill?! It was only one glass of gin!!" Pen snapped, clenching her teeth.

"You are too young to drink that kind of shit!!!" My mom rebuked.

"Um, you are a hypocrite because you drank three bottles of whiskey last night!!" She mouthed back, pointing her finger like she's the perpetrator in the situation.

She isn't wrong about that, but I don't think fighting and screaming would end amicably.

I thought while watching at them lashing back and forth at each other.

"Your mother is grown, but that doesn't mean you have to follow my footsteps!" She scolded.

"Yet she got that from you tho..." I muttered, but I froze the moment I dart my eyes to see my mom scowling at me. Taking a sign as a threat, I purse my lips and lower my eyes to the floor. I clench my wrist to refrain myself from exploding at them. A way to avoid trouble like I always do, but I glance back to them while lowering my head down.

As soon as I heard her huffed, my mom turned her gaze back to Pen.

"Anyways, just because I drink, doesn't mean you have to drink too." She sternly lectured.

"Oh and you're not aware?" She sarcastically asked, rolling her eyes. "Don't act like the victim mom. I know you well and so does Leah. We both know how you act when you drank." She snarked as Pen tugs her blonde lock to her ear. My mom clicked her tongue and folds her arms.

"This is a whole new level of ridiculous, Penelope. Ever since your father left, you've become worse than before. I get he left all of us, but this behavior is not normal." She informed.

"Heh! That's a good joke." She sniggered, shaking her head with a small caustic grin. "Cuz if you weren't such a heavy drunk ass bitch, I wouldn't be acting like this and maybe dad would've stayed the family." Pen jeered plastering a mocking smile on her face. My mom scowled even further.

"Watch your language, Penelope Lindsay Smith. I'm not wasting my time arguing with you." She snarled narrowing her eyes at her with her arms crossed. Penelope clicks her tongue.

"Fine. Be stupid for all I care about it." She sneered as she stormed pass my mom and I watch her stomp her way upstairs. I winced when I heard a slam from my sister's room before I spun back to my mom who clicks her tongue and ruffles her hair.

"My god, that girl's a nightmare." She grumbled. I dart my eyes away from her and clench my fists against the fabric of my pj pants. Soon thoughts echoing in my mind as cries from Pen and the screams of our parents resonated in memory lane from childhood.

~~~~~~~

"You lying cheating bastard!!!" My mom snarled with tears in her raging hazel eyes.

"Stop it!" My sister pleaded with tears streaming down to her cheeks. Soon it switched to my mom kneeling and bawling in her palms.

"You can't do this to me...we're family...Promise me you won't do it again." My mom pleaded, with love glimmering in her chestnut eyes.

"I won't..." My dad replied, pulling her into a hug.

~~~~~~~

I winced and balled my fists against the hem of my pj pants at that awful memory; trying to push back the feelings of dread into the dark corner like I always do.

"Leah." I softly gasped and I slowly lift my head until my eyes reached to hers.

"Yes?" I respond while watching my mom ruffling her hair and biting her inner cheek.

"Your mom's gonna lie down for a bit. So after you take a shower, make breakfast for yourself and Pen." She advised as she pinches her forehead. I sighed through my nostrils, but nod nevertheless.

"I got it, but please drink water first. It helps cure hangovers." I informed her.

"Yeah, yeah." She replied dismissively and shoos me off before my mom flops to the couch. I rolled my eyes and I turn around. Just before I leave the living room, I glance at the big portrait of my family. Soon memories from when I was six during our family trip in Washington DC flash before my eyes.

(FYI: I photoshopped the background. I usually took my time to draw backgrounds and all but today I don't feel like drawing it cuz I'm lazy and I wanna published this chapter now. Hope you understand.)

~~~~

"Mom, dad, look!" My sister chirped as she scurried to the bed of violet pansies where she kneels down with a grin, sniffing up the pansies.

"Ah, it's this time of year isn't it? Looks like the sun is being nice for once." My mom dryly remarked that made me avert my eyes from her tone.

My sister lets out a hum, yet she doesn't seem to catch on to her sarcasm and smiles nevertheless before Pen twirls to us.

"Can we take a pic! They go well with my dress!!" She beamed. God her eyes tho...they were so bright that day.

I couldn't help but curve a smile at her while hiding behind my mom's leg, but that mood quickly turned sour when I heard my so-called dad chuckle. I looked up at him until I spotted a lipstick mark on his neck that made me recoil and avert my head from him.

That's the third time he cheats on her...

I thought, not surprised while averting my gaze from my dad.

"Of course! Anything for my sweet lil Princess, let me look for someone to take a pic of us." He said as he dashed off until his figure fades into oblivion. Soon, I felt a hand on my shoulder that made me freeze. I slowly darted my eyes at my mom whose hollow chestnut eyes and melancholic smile wavered into my chest before she placed a finger to her lips to me as a way to stay quiet just like before...

Without any complaints, I heaved a sigh and spun my gaze to the fountain.

I wonder how long does mom have to tolerate dad? Will it be the rest of our lives? Until we grow old?

I pondered, recoiling at the image of what our future would look like.

"Aah~ soo pretty!!" Soon we heard Pen's voice and turned to see her eyes sparkling at the pansies.

"I love these pansies so much, I wanna make a flower crown out of it!" She cheered with glimmering hazel eyes. My mom giggled and closed her eyes.

"If it's not against the law, then you're allowed to take as many flowers as you like." She joked, masking her sadness with a grin.

"Hehe, it would make me happy if there's no rules on picking flowers!" She chittered with a closed eyed smile.

"I'm back!!!" We soon heard my dad yelling as we spun to him, who sprinted back to us with a middle aged man along with a woman tailing along.

"So this is your family? You're so blessed to have a lovely lady as a wife." He praises with a smile underneath his mustache.

"Oh my~, your daughters are so adorable!" She coos with her hands squishing her cheeks while smiling blissfully. As always, we all smiled while swallowing our negativity down to the drainage with my dad bellowing with his fake lighthearted laughter that made me wanna gag.

"You both flattered me! I'm blessed to have a wonderful, beautiful family in my life!" He heartily said.

"I can tell, your wife there sure knows how to properly mark you." He teased as he flashed a wink at the woman.

"Oh you naughty beast!!" She chortled at her husband's joke that it made my brow and smile twitch.

That wasn't my mom, dummies!...

I thought, internally screaming at them for how wrong he and his wife assumed. Soon I heard my mom unleashing a high pitched laugh and pulled both my and Pen close to her, trying to not cringe at his words.

"Oh stop with the jokes you silly goose and let's continue on with the picture! Besides, we must move to the museum next, right Harold?" She seethed while smiling widely as she shot a "get-on-with-it-we-don't-have-all-day" warning look.

"You bet, dearest, so let's make a memory shall we?" He hastily responded, understanding the message with an exaggerated smile.

"Of course, of course." The middle-aged man complied as he placed the camera to the family.

"Smile!" The woman shouted where we all crept into a smile as the sun that blinds the slimy darkness beneath light in our family.

~~~~

I grimace and clench my hands at the portrait of us. Ugh, I look so fake in that pic. My cheeks kinda hurt after smiling a lot. Not wanting to look at my godawful family portrait, I whip my head and stroll my way upstairs.

Things have gone downhill ever since dad's disappearance.

Soon, I stopped my traces and stare down at the white carpet on the stairs.

And this house feels emptier than ever and more bitter...

I grip against the railings and close my eyes; trying to suppress the blood that is boiling in my veins.

I get he and mom had problems, but...

My eyelids stretched tighter before I shook my head to shove my emotions down in my mind like a hidden chest with no key to find. Then I push my glasses to the bridge of my nose as I heaved a sigh through my nostrils.

Whatever. Not that I care. Why should I?

I told myself as I continued plodding through the steps until I reached the top. I pause my footsteps when Pen bursts through the door with clothes in her arms. Soon I caught a whiff and pinched my nose from that annoying mixture of Rose and Oud exuding from her. God, I hate that scent...and I can still smell it from her room.

Speaking of room, I turn my head where it is a hurricane shithole. Clothes are scattered all over the carpet, blankets and pillows are uneven, cigs are laid on the end table next to her alarm, and one stuffed bunny is plop to the floor. Soon I blinked when I caught her figure skating shoes in the trash bin.

"Hey." I spoke tilting my head at the bin.

"What?" She responded, didn't bother looking back as she grabbed the doorknob.

"Why are your skates in the trash?" I asked, twisting my head to her.

"Why do you ask?" Pen retorts, darting her blank gaze at me. My lips straightened down and I furrowed my brows while gripping the hem of my shorts.

"...I was only curious." I grumbled. Pen's brows lessened and hazel eyes softened, feeling bad for raising her tone at me before heaving a sigh and spun her head back to the door.

"Don't worry about it. I don't feel like skating anymore." She languidly answered as Pen turned the knob and entered the bathroom, leaving me alone in the halls.  I turn my head back on to her skates that gives me a sense of nostalgia before shaking my head. I whip my head and saunter to my room next to hers. I grab the knob and turn it as I enter the entrance and shut myself inside.

I heaved a sigh and took my glasses off as I smacked both cheeks with my hands.

It's ok, it's going to be fine. Just get yourself ready, eat breakfast, go to school, don't stand out, close your heart, don't let them see. That's it.

I remind myself as I slowly breathe in and out through my nostrils, emptying all of my emotions from my brain like a chest full of secrets with no key to find...and it's better that way. 

Soon I felt a sense of relief in my heart, feeling nothing but serenity and silence; just how I wanted. Then I opened my eyes, standing there in the cold space.

"Let's get this fucking over with." I muttered as the start of the hellish day of my life: school.

~~~~

Hi everyone, thank you so much for your patience. Things had been hectic for me cuz of a mess combo of writer's block, re-editing, trying to set up my characters in my notes, redoing the title and cover, etc.

It's a pain but it was worth the effort and honestly, I'm excited for writing this standalone book and I can't wait for you guys to join me and Leah's journey.

For now, I'll take my leisure time off from writing this long chapter and I'll let you know when the next chapter is published. Bye bye!