x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x
When she was young - very young, she could remember being happy. It was a strange feeling, so different from what she usually felt. For the longest time, she avoided the memory, circling it like a poisonous snake. She would remember and then jerk back - burned.
She did not know how to deal with it - it was so unfamiliar, so wrong - happiness.
x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x
It had been a warm day and the sun had been shining.
How she loved the sun, the way it burned her fair skin, turning it pink. How she loved lying down in the grass, smelling the earth - it filled her head and left nothing else.
That day was extra special; the sun had been extra warm. All she wanted to do was curl up and watch the butterflies flitter on the flowers. The colours had been vibrant that they almost hurt her eyes. She especially loved the roses; their scent filled her senses as soon as she stepped into the garden. They could drown all the other flowers nearby but she didn't mind that. She liked their aggressive scent; she flattered herself in believing that they were her kind of flower.
But her favourite thing in the whole world was the cat that prowled in the bushes. She had never seen a more beautiful creature, completely black with the most penetrating green eyes. Yes, it was the most stunning creature the young girl had ever seen. But oh so dangerous - deadly with those sharp claws and teeth.
The first time she had seen the cat she had wanted to hold the creature in her arms so naturally she had jumped after it. But the cat would have none of it; it had scratched and clawed at the girl until she had been forced to let go.
Her arms bleed slightly from the numerous scratches and her eyes had watered. But it was no use in crying; no one would be there to wipe them.
But the girl was nothing if not persistent, she kept going back to that bush and waited for the cat - calmly, patiently, like a feline stalking its prey. It had taken days but at least the cat did not run at the girl approach. If she remained motionless, it would stay there watching her. Green eyes staring into green - both purring as if recognising each other as kindred spirits.
x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x
It had been a warm day and the sun had been shining.
She was sitting in her spot waiting for the cat to emerge. It took a while longer but the black feline finally made her appearance. She smiled - everything was right again.
"Oh my god, what is your daughter doing? She sounds exactly like that cat!!!" A loud voice cut across the still air, cutting through the two creatures purring.
"Nothing, she a bit weird. Forget about it."
"A bit weird - that's a laugh. She is a freak; look at the way her eyes glow. FREAK!! Both of you, I can't believe I shared a bed with you. You're as filthy as that thing is."
"Darling, please don't say that. I am nothing like her."
"You gave birth to her didn't you? That makes you a freak as well." With that, the big man stalked away leaving the tall blond woman behind.
She spun to look down at her young daughter.
"He's absolutely right, you are a freak. Not human, you are no worse than an animal." She advanced threateningly towards the girl.
The girl cringed back, "Momma?"
The woman slapped the girl, making the child's head snap back. "Never call me that. I am not your mother - I am your keeper. You are not worthy of being my daughter. You are a filthy animal."
The woman took hold of the girl's hair and dragged her home. The girl's eyes watered, but she did not cry.
That was the last day the girl remembered being happy.
x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x
When she was young - very young, she could remember being happy. It was a strange feeling, so different from what she usually felt. For the longest time, she avoided the memory, circling it like a poisonous snake. She would remember and then jerk back - burned.
She did not know how to deal with it - it was so unfamiliar, so wrong - happiness.
x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x
It had been a warm day and the sun had been shining.
How she loved the sun, the way it burned her fair skin, turning it pink. How she loved lying down in the grass, smelling the earth - it filled her head and left nothing else.
That day was extra special; the sun had been extra warm. All she wanted to do was curl up and watch the butterflies flitter on the flowers. The colours had been vibrant that they almost hurt her eyes. She especially loved the roses; their scent filled her senses as soon as she stepped into the garden. They could drown all the other flowers nearby but she didn't mind that. She liked their aggressive scent; she flattered herself in believing that they were her kind of flower.
But her favourite thing in the whole world was the cat that prowled in the bushes. She had never seen a more beautiful creature, completely black with the most penetrating green eyes. Yes, it was the most stunning creature the young girl had ever seen. But oh so dangerous - deadly with those sharp claws and teeth.
The first time she had seen the cat she had wanted to hold the creature in her arms so naturally she had jumped after it. But the cat would have none of it; it had scratched and clawed at the girl until she had been forced to let go.
Her arms bleed slightly from the numerous scratches and her eyes had watered. But it was no use in crying; no one would be there to wipe them.
But the girl was nothing if not persistent, she kept going back to that bush and waited for the cat - calmly, patiently, like a feline stalking its prey. It had taken days but at least the cat did not run at the girl approach. If she remained motionless, it would stay there watching her. Green eyes staring into green - both purring as if recognising each other as kindred spirits.
x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x
It had been a warm day and the sun had been shining.
She was sitting in her spot waiting for the cat to emerge. It took a while longer but the black feline finally made her appearance. She smiled - everything was right again.
"Oh my god, what is your daughter doing? She sounds exactly like that cat!!!" A loud voice cut across the still air, cutting through the two creatures purring.
"Nothing, she a bit weird. Forget about it."
"A bit weird - that's a laugh. She is a freak; look at the way her eyes glow. FREAK!! Both of you, I can't believe I shared a bed with you. You're as filthy as that thing is."
"Darling, please don't say that. I am nothing like her."
"You gave birth to her didn't you? That makes you a freak as well." With that, the big man stalked away leaving the tall blond woman behind.
She spun to look down at her young daughter.
"He's absolutely right, you are a freak. Not human, you are no worse than an animal." She advanced threateningly towards the girl.
The girl cringed back, "Momma?"
The woman slapped the girl, making the child's head snap back. "Never call me that. I am not your mother - I am your keeper. You are not worthy of being my daughter. You are a filthy animal."
The woman took hold of the girl's hair and dragged her home. The girl's eyes watered, but she did not cry.
That was the last day the girl remembered being happy.
x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x