In a old warn down Victorian house – the last of its kind- on the wall, above the grand hearth, in the main sitting room, a painting once hung. It was the portrait of the small, once happy family that lived in the house, when it was grand.
The man of the house stood proudly beside his wife with his chest held forward and a content smile on his face. He was a tall man, with short black hair and a mustache equally as dark. Any one who looked at the painting could see that he was a proud man. He wore his finery, with the knowledge that it showed the others how important he was.
Opposite this man in every way, was his lovely wife. Where he was tall and dark, she was small and fair. Her hair was such a light blonde that it was almost white. She sat beside her husband with the prim posture of an aristocratic lady. If her demeanor hadn't reflected the families, higher social status, then her luxurious wardrobe would. The clip that held her hair back into a respectable bun was studded with diamonds, and her pale blue dress was both elegant and extravagant. Her eyes were a stunning blue that twinkled merrily. They were like twin oceans, which took away the breath of all who looked into them.
The real pride and joy of this picture, and this family, was the darling little girl who sat on her mother's lap with an innocent smile that only the young could give. She was between one and two years of age and had received the best attributes from both parents. She had her father's dark black hair, and although it could be seen in this painting, his pride. From her mother she had gotten the stunning blue oceans and her small doll like features. Anyone looking at this painting could tell she would grow up to be a beautiful young woman.
The De Rocha family couldn't look happier if they tried, and anyone looking at this painting would think that they would live happily ever after in the comfy life of luxury. Anyone would be wrong; not more than three years after the family was forever imprinted in the paint – the little girl scarcely five – tragedy struck the happy little family. They're lives were shattered, and no one, not one of them, would ever be the same. That happy little family would be taken down off the wall and replaced, with misery and painful memories.