Tears of despondency brimmed up in my lifeless eyes, I held on tightly to the last picture of my parents, the very last one my dearest parents left me, waves of emotion hammered against my fragile heart. I saw the painful tears falling as my memories pieced themselves together into a puzzle that stung whenever it was put together.

I was once a really happy and pampered girl. I was plagued by neither woe nor any difficulties in my entire life. My parents were both successful personnel in their office which gave me a life of luxury ever since I was given birth to. My relatives, my parents’ colleagues were all really nice to me, providing me with sweets and gifts every time they met me. I have always heard from them that my parents were really nice people, never chasing for debts that these people owed them and always helping out no matter what the problem was. I was really proud of them and I truly adored them.

I never had to touch housework nor did I ever have to suffer hardships of any sort. I was just the lucky girl who was always lucky and loaded in everyone’s eyes, but fate had to play a cruel joke on me. One day, when I reached home after school, I found people loading the furniture from my house onto a big lorry. I was dumbstruck and ran into the house calling, “MUMMY! DADDY! WHAT HAPPENED?” but was instead greeted by my most hated uncle and aunty, Uncle Jake and Aunty Janice.

Aunty Janice grabbed me by my collar and gave me a cruel smirk. She then smiled sweetly and said in a very sarcastic tone to me, “I’m very sorry to inform you darling, but your parents are killed in a tragic accident a few hours ago. I’m also very sorry to inform you that your parents are plagued by heavy debts and you are officially declared bankrupt, your house will also be immediately be confiscated by the bank. However, I know I’m such a nice person. So, I’m really glad to tell you that the judges had awarded custody of you to me and your uncle Jake. Now, let’s go to your new abode!”

She grabbed me by my neck, not even giving me a chance to have a one last look at my house, the same one that I have lived in my whole life. She didn’t even give me the chance to face my parents’ death properly; they just wanted to manipulate me, to be their puppet, one that they can torture and bully each day. Tears of helplessness and trepidation fell as I imagined what life in the future would be like. I was just petrified and within seconds, I was bawling like a spoiled brat, which I actually was.

Aunty Janice, upon hearing my howls, slapped me hard against my cheek. I was taken aback by the tight slap. No one has ever afflicted pain on me before, I was so shaken that I stopped crying immediately and stared at her rebelliously. This time, she punched me hard in my abdomen. I felt real pain for the first time in my whole life. Silent tears rolled down my cheeks and I was really afraid of what would happen to me in the future.

In the following years, I was abused and tortured by Uncle Jake and Aunty Janice. My freedom was taken away from me and starved and made to work for at least 10 hours a day. Each day, I was faced with the same old procedure and made to do the same old things. I was slapped and whacked, then scolded and whipped. I was eventually used to this pain and agony.

“DDDDARRRRRLINGGG!” that same sarcastic voice reached my ears as I ran down to face my nemesis all over again. I know I won’t ever be able to get out of this mess, but at least I know I will never forget that faithful life-changing day and the happy days before that dreadful one.