4

 

 

Arabella Rivera 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Goodmorning Arabella.” Gertrude greeted me as I entered the kitchen. 

 

 

 

 

I wanted to point out that there was nothing good about the morning, especially the day ahead. But of course, I swallowed it down and murmur a soft greeting in return. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“You’re here so early?” I asked, throwing my bag on the island. I fixed myself onto the stool and let my eyes stray to Gertrude. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My eyes drop to stare at the broken wine glass she was quickly sweeping in the dustpan before disposing it into the bin. My stomach drops already knowing without having to ask. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

” Yeah, your mom needed me to come early to clean up.” She answers, pushes a cloth under the running pipe and wrings it before wiping down the spilled red wine on the floor. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“They had a rough night huh?” I asked. It was no secret that my parents never saw eye to eye. 

 

 

 

 

Funny that they complain about the Cross’s while they were no saints themselves. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. At least the Cross’s didn’t hide behind the facade of a perfect family. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gertrude doesn’t answer confirming my suspicion. I should not be surprised, in fact, I wasn’t. This was normal, it was normal. But that didn’t help the lurking anger I felt knowing that my parents never cleaned after themselves. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They treated Gertrude like a slave who should always do their bidding. Yes, she was practically our maid but no one should be worked to the point of exhaustion. ” Maybe one day you should have them clean up their own mess.” I couldn’t stop the hint of anger that slipped when I spoke. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

” Who needs to clean up their own mess?” A hoarse voice speaks. 

 

 

 

 

I looked over at mother who entered the kitchen, fingers pressed to her temples like she had a massive headache. When her eyes fall on me, I took note of how red and swollen they looked. It appeared like she had been crying for hours. At this point, I wouldn’t doubt it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She was also dressed in her normal formal attire, white blouse, pencil skirt with deathly high red stilettos and a black Prada bag clutched in her hands. She looked like the epitome of a hot wicked boss whose personal life is falling apart day by day. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In her case it was true. I could vouch for that since I was living in her world. The one where I am supposed to be perfect just like her. Or as perfect as she portrays to be. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

temples. ” I have a massive migraine. Can you

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gertrude replied and throws the soaked up wine cloth in the sink then walks over

 

 

 

 

 

 

anniversary dinner last night?” I asked purposely. I observe

 

 

 

 

question she orders Gertrude. ” Pour a

 

 

 

 

 

 

an orange juice kind of person on mornings.” I said flatly, mildly irritated that she forgot I was allergic to citrus. Then again I should not be surprised, my parents forgot a lot about me or they simply didn’t care to

 

 

 

 

 

 

or at least eat before you head to school Arabella.” She sighs grasping the

 

 

 

 

like pills from her bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

said, planning to buy my favorite

 

 

 

 

 

 

to the clock on the wall and she turns to me. “Is Gwen picking you up or do you need a ride? I have a meeting

 

 

 

 

 

 

around with the many different materials before I got scolded by her for disarranging

 

 

 

 

 

 

my parents. So I’d do it over and over again until

 

 

 

 

 

 

now so no need to drop me off.” It was not like I hated my parents, they were my parents so of course I

 

 

 

 

 

 

only thing connecting us was the blood running through our veins. Besides, a car ride with mother always resulted in an argument about

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like the first day I dropped you off in kindergarten. My perfect little

 

 

 

 

 

 

that it was not actually her who had dropped me off in kindergarten but Gertrude but I bit my tongue. Surely she’d

 

 

 

 

I nodded. “Right.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

work earlier than

 

 

 

 

 

 

so now she wants

 

 

 

 

 

 

act like the best parents when they’re, not. Sometimes I felt that my parents saw talking to me as a chore which was rather draining on both our ends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

” I should be going now. Arabella don’t stay out late and if anything comes up at school, I’m one phone

 

 

 

 

 

 

where mother was a few seconds ago and reaches for

 

 

 

 

Don’t look at me like that Arabella. You know your mother loves

 

 

 

 

 

 

at me and read my mind. Note my

 

 

 

 

pretend to not care and scroll through my phone as I waited for Gwen to text me.

 

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