"Goodbye!" my mother whispered a she nodded at me, but that was to woman-like of her. I immediately threw my arms around her like a child as she began to walk away. This was only one of the many business trips that she has taken, but I always had a sad, dark feeling over me when she was departing.

A few months ago, my mother married again since my father had passed away when I was quite young. The man she married was quite nice, but I have always sensed a tinge of jealousy, hatred, and pure cruelty on the tip of his tongue when he spoke. His single daughter is just like her father but she showed the ugly that was underneath her skin. Always pestering me with rude comments that were not relevant to anything. So Andre and Chloe Bourgeois will always be my new and "improved" family as my mother like to put it.

"You be a good girl, like always. Take care of your family, and I will be back soon." She said to me in a cheerful tone. "But soon is not soon enough!" I explained, trying to get her to stay with me. "I love you, too!" she whispered as she kissed my forehead. She turned around and, as graceful as she could, climbed into the horse-drawn carriage.

The coachman whipped the horses with a loud crack and they were off. As the carriage raced down the road, I chased after it waving goodbye to my mother as she waved back. And that was the last that I ever saw of my mother.

Two Months Later:

The maid left this morning and the bank came and took half of our belongings. Ever since my mother passed away we haven't been able to finance the house, servants, and bills. My stepfather fails to look down and always finds a solution to a problem, but I don't know what he will do with what happened today.

We sat in silence eating our lunch. All you could hear was the constant clanging of a fork against a plate. "What are we going to do daddy? There is nobody to do the dishes, wash our clothes, or do any type of housekeeping." Chloe asked not even trying to be kind to even her own father. I, at this point, knew were in deep debt and could get all the help we could get to try and stay afloat. So I decided that I could volunteer to help out around the house.

"I could do some chores. The maids taught me a few tricks!" I said trying to enlighten the situation. "That would be so kind of you Marinette!" my stepfather exclaimed. I heard Chloe mumble something under her breathe but I wasn't going to let it get down my hopes of making this family work out. She was just going to have to accept it sooner or later.

A week or so later I was doing half of the chores of the house. My stepfather and sister said they were always busy, so I took most of the chores. After a few days, I was doing all the chores by myself. I barely found time to get anything on my own done. My days were long and hard trying to finish the day's work before dark. It was a little frustrating but it kept my family happy.

"Marinette! Get in here!" Chloe screamed from upstairs. Duty calls! I thought to myself as I began gliding up the stairs. "Where is my laundry that I told you to get done yesterday?" She said with a nightgown draped over her thin, petite body. "I am finishing them now. Would you like them?" I asked in my most kind voice. "What do you think? I have to go meet with friends in 30 minutes and look at me! I am in my nightgown. You are such and inconsiderate fool!" She yelled with hatred. I get this tone a lot from both family members. I just accept it and move on. Just because they are cruel and hateful, doesn't mean I need to.

After Chloe left for the afternoon, I immediately went upstairs and flopped onto the bed. My step father moved me to the attic because he said it would allow more room for a guest bedroom. I knew what he was doing. He was trying to put me in the attic because of the self- indulged person he was, but I didn't fight back, he was the head of the house, and I couldn't fight with that. Once I got into the attic, all I saw was opportunity. The attic was much bigger than any other room in the home. I was okay with a few old things laying here and there, but it was still nice and cozy and we had everything needed up there to be a bedroom.

As I lay on the old mattress with the torn, wrinkled blanket, I thought to myself I can't keep living like this, always being kind to people who are not. I stopped myself right there. I thought back to what my mother once told me. "We rise by pushing people up." I have always followed those words, and I will keep following them. Marinette, just keep pushing, you'll make it through! I then again thought to myself. I will make it through.