Harleen's Past
Little Harleen Quinzel skipped up the steps to her mother's room. She just got home from school and was excited to show her mom all the A pluses on her report card. When she arrived at her mother's door, she felt pity for her poor mom. Her dad left years ago and nothing had been the same since. Pushing the thoughts to the back of her head, Harleen pushed open the door. The smell of alcohol and smoke was the first thing to hit Harleen as she stepped inside the room and went beside her mother's bed. "Mommy?" The little girl asked as she looked up at her mother with big blue eyes. "What?!" Her mother hurtfully snapped back at her only child. "Um…I got my report card back today. And I thought you would be h-happy to know that I got all A's…" Harleen smiled. It was nice for Harleen to have something to be proud of but the same could not be said for her mother. Truthfully, Harleen could go die in a hole for all her mother cared. It was her fault that she had a stillborn and her fault that her husband left. Harleen's mother, Karen Quinzel, was a hard worker who had a fabulous husband and a baby on the way. With the new baby on the way, Karen couldn't be happier. Her life seemed perfect, until one day that changed everything. After Harleen was born, Karen spoiled her rotten. She had over the top clothes, a boatload of toys, everything a baby needed and more, and after a while she became pregnant again. Karen took precautions to make sure that this baby turned out just the same as Harleen. And when the day finally came, Karen was joyous. She was rushed to the hospital for hours of pushing and waiting until the doctor finally took on a look of despair. Karen feared the worst, and as quick as a lightning bolt her heart stopped. Her precious baby was held high for all to see… but it was no use. The baby was a stillborn. Karen's heart tore then and there… she couldn't believe this was happening. This was just too much for her to handle…so she broke. She returned home but did nothing but sit around while her husband took care of Harleen. She seemed catatonic, she never moved or eat… she just sat there in silence. Finally, her husband had enough so he demanded for Karen to get up and take control of her life…but his words went in one ear and out the other. Soon after, Harleen's father broke off their marriage and left altogether without another word. Harleen, just a two month old baby, cried and cried but they were unanswered by her mother. Things got worse after that; Harleen was now officially the worst cared for child on the Earth. She constantly sat in unchanged diapers for weeks on end, she reeked for weeks without a bath, she was locked in her crib until she learned to crawl out of it, and she only ate what she could find around the house. It was a sad, sad sight. And now, six year old Harleen Quinzel, is just trying to impress her mother for once and make her proud.. Whatever the cost. Her mother finally looked in her daughter's direction and said, "Harleen, do you want to make me happy?" Harleen grinned and immediately nodded her head. "Then go away! And bring back your brother, you rotten girl!" SLAP went the back of her mother's hand as she slapped her daughter's face. Harleen fled from the room and into the hallway, sobbing. She tried so hard to make her mother notice her for a change…but that was already taken by her stillborn baby brother. After a while, Harleen just laid on the floor in despair, waiting for the day when her mother would finally be proud of her. Poor Harleen had to care for herself from then on, never knowing what it felt like to be loved or appreciated by another human being…until he came along.