The noise was deafening. It resounded in her ears and made her grit her teeth. Each sound of crashing kitchenware and fist colliding with flesh caused her to clench her Hello Kitty bed sheets even tighter.
Why wouldn’t they stop?
They were downstairs, which was two floors below and she’d closed all the doors that led to her room, including hers. Still, she could hear them. Yelling at the top of their lungs and letting their hands do more than yelling. Squeezing her eyes shut as she battled the tears threatening to flow, she put her headsets on and prayed silently that she’d stop hearing them.
She ignored the warning from the headset that the volume was way above safe level. Anything to silence the noise. Anything to distract her from the pain. She let herself fall on the bed exhaustedly when their voices died to a muffle.
She had no concept of what was happening or why her parents were always so angry. She had no clue of what life was all about either. But twelve-year-old Marsai Jonas knew with certainty that this life she and her parents were living was not it. Picking up her worn, leather-bound journal, she began to make little sketches and doodles. Sunshine and rainbows and happy dreams. Everything her life was not.
“Wake up, Bubble-Bee. We’ve got a surprise waiting for you downstairs. Marsai woke up to the sound of her mother’s voice and her overly smiley grin. Kayla was so beautiful or could have been, if her right eye in this moment wasn’t an ugly shade of purple and practically swollen shut.
“What happened to your eye?”
She saw the brief tightening of her Mom’s lips, the flare of her nostrils and the slight twitching of her eye before she burst into a laugh. A handful of gestures she’d come to recognize now.
Her Mom was going to lie.
“You wouldn’t believe how clumsy Mommy can be, Bubble-Bee.”
Marsai waited.
Any moment now, she thought.
“I hit my eye on the refrigerator. I’d been dancing with my eyes closed. So careless, I miscalculated where the freezer was supposed to be and landed square into it. Could you believe that?”
No, she couldn’t. She really couldn’t.
Mom was constantly boasting that if she ever got blind, it wouldn’t matter. That she knew where everything and everywhere was by heart so she would still be quite capable of fixing them meals even in that state. Last week was an accidental fall down the stairs and a week before that, an accidental self-hit with the wooden spatula. She was running out of creative lies.
Marsai looked closely at her then and noticed the anxiety in her eyes. She didn’t bother looking down but she knew she’d be wringing her hands in her lap. Hoping that Marsai would believe her. Hoping that she’d buy the lie she was spinning more and more frequently these days. Marsai looked into her mother’s eyes and saw how badly she wanted her to believe that she was telling the truth.
And so she gave her that.
She fixed the brightest smile on her face and touched her Mom’s face, ignoring how she ever so slightly flinched at her touch. “You’re a grown woman, Mom. You really shouldn’t be so clumsy.” She felt it even before she saw the dropping shoulders and the breathe exhalation. Mom was relieved. That was good enough for her.
“So,” Marsai began. “Did you say something about a surprise?”
Kayla jumped from the bed and pulled Marsai out with an excited chuckle. “Wait till you see, you’re going to love it!”
Marsai didn’t say a word in return. She just smiled as she walked downstairs with her Mom. These days that was all she needed to do to reassure them that everything was okay. Just smile.
Her Dad was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, arms outstretched like he’d been there a while but didn't mind.
“If it isn't my favourite women in the world.” He grinned in that charming way that had had Mom chuckling and commenting about what a rake he would have been if he were in the Victorian era. Then he'd say something in reply that would prove Mom's point and they’d laugh hard afterwards. A good lifetime ago.
As Marsai reached him at the foot of the stairs, again ignoring how her Mom walked towards the edge of the wall, careful not to let her and Derek-her father’s bodies touch, she took a better look at her Dad. He had three purplish streaks on each of his cheeks like someone or something had wanted desperately to claw his eyes out.
Mom was beginning to fight back. That was a good thing, she guessed.
Over dinner, her parents made light-hearted banter over mundane things like work and the weather. They were so pretentious, Marsai wanted to scream or give them both a slap on the face for their stupid act . But she did neither and just stood up instead.
“I’m going back upstairs.”
The overly bright faces around the table stilled like a hastily-shut tap. Kayla spoke first. “But you haven’t gotten our surprise yet.”
Marsai couldn’t care less. “Alright, I’m waiting.”
Slowly, Derek brought a thick book from under the table. “Your grandma came back from her retreat. She specifically asked that we give you this.”
Marsai took it from their hands and flipped the book absentmindedly. Blank pages. No lines. Not a writing journal but a drawing journal. It was beautiful.
“Tell her I said thank you. I love it.” Without waiting for a response, she dashed upstairs and shut her door.
She wasn’t sure why but she was eager to begin drawing on its blank pages. And so she took her pen and drew a rose flower. She heard a whoosh sound and when she looked back at the journal, there sat a rose.
Marsai clutched her mouth with her hands to stop her from screaming. She picked up the single rose flower slowly. She was not dreaming. It was real. Quickly keeping it aside, she drew a medium-sized teddy. She heard the whoosh again and immediately saw a cream-coloured teddy beside her on the bed.
She kept drawing little items but soon enough she heard a crash from downstairs followed by yelling. They were at it again.
She gazed at her journal again, a new light shining in her eyes. Had her grandmother known this?
Was this her key to freedom?
Another ear-splitting crash later, Marsai picked up her pen and began to draw. Large and elaborate designs of a place she’d only seen in books. She drew delicately and intricately, knowing that the moment she dropped her pen, it would all be over. Finally, she would put an end to her misery.
Jhymi🖤
Images created with NightCafe Studio
Posted Using InLeo Alpha
Marsai's key to freedom; burying yourself to drown out the unpleasantness. What makes parents think that 12-year old children don't hear or see? A swollen, black eye doesn't dissolve overnight. And what makes the parents think that children won't go outside the home and accidentally share this with someone else. The right someone else could eventually end this turmoil before it becomes deadly.
Oh what a mess the wrong type parents can make of a child's life growing up. Sometimes staying together is not the cure. But sadly, many mothers stay for the sake of the children. And that sometimes is not the solution.
Thanks so much for this thoughtful and thought-provoking story that is all too true in everyday life. Unfortunately for many, the end is tragic for both parent (mostly the mom) and child. Excellent portrayal of an unhealthy family dynamic.
Take care.
Yeah, that's the excuse they mostly give for staying. That it's for the children. But I'm yet to see a person that benefitted or didn't end up jaded and scarred from being in that kind of environment.
I'm glad you resonated with this story because it did take something from me writing it. I felt deeply with the characters and it's beautiful that you kind of share in the feeling I was trying to portray. Have a wonderful week ahead, friend.🌺
Growing up, I had living living in households where strife was prevalent. Hearing about it in school just broke my heart. Back then, the resources weren't in place to help children as there are today. Still, the problem persists.
Thank you for sharing. Stories like this exist whether we tell them or not. It's difficult to hear, but so close to the everyday truth of our society.
Take care.
Damn, that's such an unhealthy environment for anyone to live. I feel sad for poor Marsai. Hopefully the doodles provide enough escape till she can finally leave such an a setting.
Yeah, it's a terrible thing for anyone to go through. I'm glad you enjoyed the story.🥰
I never said I enjoyed the story 😗
But I did sha 😅
You're not serious.😂
🤪
I'm just glad there will be in change in the atmosphere, specially for Marsai. The thought of her being used to her mother's lies is shocking.
Now, I believe I'm meant to give the story my own ending and I will 😜. I envision a once more happy family; no lies, pretense, scars, fights and yelling.
If truly there is a book like that..........................
#Dreemerforlife.
Hah, Sweet Nkem that loves a happy ending. I honestly wish the world was like that. So much sunshine and happiness. I hope Marsai gets that for herself. Though I doubt it.
Thank you for stopping by, Sweet Nkem.🥰
From the beginning, I felt very sorry for Marsai. That is a toxic environment but you know what they say, "half of the people that come from darkness brim with ligh". I wonder what that safe place is...
Dreemport
They do brim with light. If they're bold enough to step out of that darkness. Means a lot that you read and appreciate the story, Dee.🌹
❤️
Oh wow. That ending did it for me. I loved every bit of this. Grandma knew exactly what Marsai needed. A getaway.
Well done.
A real-life getaway. Glad you enjoyed it @kei2. A true pleasure having you here.🥰
Thank you.💚
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Well done, keep it up!
#dreemerforlife
Thank you.
What a great relief!
Good story sis ❤
#dreemerforlife
Thank you dear.🌺