SHORT STORIES: A Diamond in the Rough

Alondra, pretty, clever, witty, shy, grew up in a children’s village to become a lawyer to help kids in abusive households but, before that, she was trapped in a destructive home. She always sat by the window, watching the birds fly, tweet, that makes her sleep as if she can hear the sounds of a lullaby. She always heard her parents fighting, it was beyond breaking point yet, she still had the courage to steel herself, remaining composed by the calm sounds of the radio. That invariably heals her wounds, that one song, so motivating, compelling, that it sends elevating vibrations up her spine, something that keeps her going every day.

Her dad Sergio, a drug addict and alcoholic, screams at them both, “It’s a man’s world.” This man, always leaning and high, gets off from the abuse he hurls at his daughter yet, loves her to pieces and finds ways to bring home whatever she desires. No one knows where he gets it from but, as long as she’s happy, I guess that’s all that matters. At times he had threatened to take her away, and whenever he turned his back, her mum Clarissa use to weep and whisper in her ear, “stay, please stay.” So on her 12th birthday, she sits on the edge of her bed and her dad enters, full of guilt, hesitating to sit close by, still, he eventually does with a comforting arm around her. Alondra asks, “When are you and mum going to fix things?” It takes a while for him to answer with, “Fix what honey?”

She takes a deep breath. “Well, she hasn’t been too happy lately and I think it’s because of you.”

Her dad needs some time to process that… “What can I say?” He replied.

Alondra looks up at him. “Maybe I can answer that for you,” she responds heartily.

“Go ahead.” He answers stroking her head.

“Sometimes a relationship takes a turn for the worse, and so we begin to distant ourselves from the problems and as a result, we neglect the other person and think about ourselves. I think that’s the problem you have, and if you can’t fix it, then maybe you should go away and think about it.” She says.

He stops stroking her head, gets up to leave and, before he exits, he turns, smiles, and say’s,

“I’ll be right back.”

Apparently, he went out to get her, her favourite book, “law for dummies,” one she really desired, but didn’t return. Isn’t that spiteful? Mum was happy that she could now take Control. On the other hand, Alondra wasn’t happy, but Clarissa said, “You can’t have the best of both worlds when one isn’t good for your wellbeing.” Alondra didn’t understand, perhaps her Psychological state of mind was embedded with mixed emotions between what’s right and wrong.

Alondra’s health deteriorated, feeling like she wished on her dad’s absence, her mum turned to drugs, and social services took Alondra away to a village. That very village she grew up in where her education was provided for by the public, and she was very grateful that people who had never seen her before could help her reach her goals. She had loads of fun in the village, a new mother name Maria, family and friends, where participating in fresh activities that she had never even thought of doing was once a dream far-fetched. At most, she was learning how to read and write. On her 13th Birthday, she had told Maria that she wants to be a lawyer when she grows up. That’s when Maria bought Alondra a book, that same book that her father ought to get her, and when Maria handed it to her she said, “GOD’S got a plan for you.” A profound smile from Alondra gives Maria a warm feeling of affirmation.

As time went on, Alondra’s life got better, she went on to college and university obtaining the highest grades of her class. She was amazed at how great her intellect had become, which coupled her motivation and enthusiasm to become a tremendous woman and so, when it was time for her to set out into the big world. She became the first woman from her village to become a lawyer, which all started from that very one book.

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