"Stepmother, I was just wondering…. What happened to my dad?" The question that I had longed to ask for years suddenly blurted out of my mouth. I held my breath. The silence was agony.
"What did you say darling?" she asked. I could hear the menace in her voice, daring me to repeat my question.
"Well, my dad, I was just thinking…" then I stopped. It was too late. I stepped over the line.
"You annoying imbecile," she shouted at me, slapping her hand against my face. I was too slow to dodge. Her hand came into contact with my cheek. I could feel the burn of her wrath, my vision becoming a watery blur. Then I collapsed…
I woke up to find myself in a hospital.
"Are you okay sweetie?" a nurse said to me, concern etched on her face. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know what happened. "It's okay now honey. That wretched stepmum of yours got sent to prison for child abuse. In fact you're being adopted." She smiled kindly upon me.
The statement was so unbelievable that at first I just blinked and frowned upon such impossibility. Then the meaning of it finally hit me. I was free. I ran outside, ignoring the protests of the nurse. My feet brushed the soft, green grass. I breathed in the fresh air. The birds' singing filled my ears with melody. I laughed. The wind whipped past me. At last, I was free to roam the skies.