Honey

Acidic: Something, as a remark or piece of writing, that is sharp, sour, or ill natured.

XXX

Honey is pure acid, and she’s been acid ever since her father remarried to that wretched whore of a woman, Leah. (‘Say hi to your new mommy sweetheart.’ ‘How could she possibly be mommy?’)

Sometimes people ask her just why she’s so acidic, so bitter, so nasty, because to look at her, you wouldn’t think she’s acidic. Soft amber eyes in a heart-shaped face and golden-brown hair don’t seem to match the sharp twisted personality beneath the surface.

Honey doesn’t tell them. Not ever.

Honey thinks it’s a little ironic in a way, because until her father remarried, she really was honey, and as sweet as. Darling little Honey, who everyone knew and everyone loved.

But then came stepmother. Then came the rain.

It was raining on the day that they’d walked out of the church, the bells clanging together solemnly to ring out a marriage.

Honey always thought it was ironic that the same bells would toll out for a death.

And they had tolled out for a death.

They had tolled out for the death of an innocent, for the death of a mother, and for the death of a childhood.

Honey’s mother Tabitha had been everyone’s favourite person. A regular ray of sunshine, and the sort of person everyone loves to have around, cuz ‘don’t ya know, Tabby can cheer ya up, sure as eggs is eggs!’

But sometimes a sweet smile and being a ray of sunshine is a cover up. Sometimes it’s a cover up for a marriage going wrong, and a husband who’s having an affair with the woman down the road (father married Leah just weeks after Tabby’s death).
Sometimes it’s a cover up for a life that’s getting worse and worse, until suddenly, a person has to snap.

Honey had wondered a little. Why was it that mummy hadn’t moved, even when Honey touched her skin? Why had mummy been so cold?

Little five-year-old girls don’t understand what it means when mummies are cold and unmoving.

Little five-year-old girls don’t understand why the bottle of mummy’s special sweets is empty.

Little five-year-old girls don’t know what the words ‘overdose’ and ‘suicide’ mean. No one even dares to explain of course.

No one ever explained to Honey.

Honey’s pure acid for a reason.

XXX

Honey’s older now, and they say that when you’re older, you’re wiser. Honey knows what ‘overdose’ and ‘suicide’ mean now, and she knows quite a few other words too. Words like ‘hatred’ and ‘adultery’ and even words like ‘domestic violence’ and ‘child abuse.’ Honey’s very clever. She knows a lot of words that could explain why she’s acid.

But she also knows the consequences of using all those words, and she knows what’ll be waiting for her when she gets home if she uses all the words. She knows about black, and blue, and bright red, and screaming and sobbing in the night.

Honey knows that being wise means being pure acid. She knows a lot of big words, but she knows the value of silence too. Not that it means anything to the other people out there. They only know one thing.

Honey’s pure acid.

---end---

A/N: Probably one of my favourite pieces, even though it was an utter biznatch to write. I started it, got bored, wandered off, then found it three weeks later lurking in the depths of my hard drive. (shrugs) Then I finally finished it. Why am I uploading? Well... I'm bored. And whenever I'm bored I write something or upload something onto FP. And boredom is virtually my default state so that would account for why I'm such a prolific writer... ahem.

I wanna write a full length story. I also wanna put it up on FP. But I have my doubts anyone will read it... -sigh- And asides from that I have nooo idea what it'd be about... I hop from story idea to story idea like a butterfly going from flower to flower... mm, nice metaphor, must use that in summat. Oh yeahhh- and clickety click the nice green words. All day long you'll have good luck. Wait- no, that's picking up a penny...

Werrll, do it anyway... if you love me...

-flutters eyelashes in what she thinks is a seductive way, but probably just looks like she's got something in her eye-

Anyway, enough of my shameless review plugging. Toodles all! -drives away in a little mini-

--- Isilthrar