CHAPTER 5

The soft glow of dawn filtered through the dusty cobwed filled windows of the attic, casting a warm, golden hue upon the cramped space that Vera called her room. She stirred from her restless slumber, the sounds of scurrying rats and cockroaches echoing through the dimly lit room. With a heavy sigh, she rose from her makeshift bed, her tired eyes blinking away the remnants of sleep as she prepared to face another day in the Fitzgerald household.

Downstairs, in the lavish surroundings of Victoria's room, the air was filled with the sounds of morning activity. Victoria, adorned in silk pajamas and surrounded by an array of expensive trinkets and baubles, moved with a sense of purpose as she prepared for the day ahead. Her laughter echoed through the halls as she chatted animatedly with her friends, their voices mingling with the clatter of plates and utensils as they indulged in a leisurely breakfast.

But in the attic, where Vera resided in solitude, there was no laughter, no warmth, only the cold, empty silence of her lonely existence. As she made her way to the kitchen to begin her daily chores, her heart heavy with the weight of her burdens, she could hear her mother's voice drifting up from below.

"Vera, get up from your lazy ass! It's 6 am, go start with breakfast. Your sister is preparing for school," Samantha's sharp voice cut through the stillness of the morning, her tone tinged with impatience.

"Yes, Mommy, I'm coming," Vera replied meekly, her voice barely above a whisper as she hurriedly left her room and made her way downstairs.

In the kitchen, Vera set to work preparing breakfast, her movements slow and methodical as she tried to push aside the sadness that threatened to consume her. Despite the dreary conditions of her surroundings, she did her best to put on a brave face, hoping to find some semblance of happiness amidst the chaos of her life.

As she cracked eggs into a sizzling pan, her mind wandered to the daunting task that lay ahead. Victoria's assignment loomed over her like a dark cloud, a constant reminder of her sister's dominance and her own inferiority.

Suddenly, Victoria appeared in the kitchen, her presence commanding and imposing as she towered over her sister. "I hope you finished my assignment, because it's not going to be good for you if you didn't," she warned, her voice laced with malice.

With a worn-out and defeated look, Vera nodded silently. "Yes, I did," she replied, her voice barely audible above the crackling of the flames.

"Why are you standing there looking like me? Now go get it," Victoria ordered, her tone dripping with contempt.

"Please, the eggs are still on fire," Vera pleaded, her voice trembling with fear.

But before she could finish her sentence, Victoria's hand came crashing down on her cheek, the force of the blow sending shockwaves of pain coursing through her body. Tears welled up in Vera's eyes as she recoiled from the impact, her cheek stinging with the sting of her sister's betrayal.

"That sounds like a you problem, and this is the last time you talk back to me. I let it go yesterday with my friends, but it seems like you hell bent on defying me," Victoria spat, her eyes flashing with anger as she turned to leave the kitchen.

Just then, Samantha entered the room, Samantha's eyes narrowed with anger as she watched her youngest daughter sobbing in the corner of the kitchen, her heart heavy with disappointment at the sight of Vera's tears. "Oh my god, you are such a baby," she spat, her voice dripping with scorn as she glared at Vera.

Vera's shoulders trembled with each sob, her cheeks stained with tears as she tried to compose herself in the face of her mother's harsh words. But try as she might, she couldn't shake the overwhelming sense of shame and inadequacy that threatened to consume her.

"And oh, look at the eggs! They're burning! Why can't you do anything right, you foolish child?" Samantha continued, her anger simmering beneath the surface as she pointed to the charred remains of breakfast.

But before Vera could defend herself, Victoria interjected, her voice filled with self-righteous indignation. "I asked her to get my assignment, and she blatantly refused, Mom," she declared, her eyes flashing with malice as she turned to her mother for support.

Samantha's brow furrowed with confusion as she glanced between her two daughters, trying to make sense of the situation. "No, she did not," she retorted, her voice tinged with disbelief. "First, you couldn't even make breakfast, and now you can't even do just a little task for your sister?"

Vera's heart sank at her mother's words, her cheeks burning with shame as she struggled to find the courage to speak up in her own defense. "Mom, I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper as she met her mother's gaze with tear-filled eyes.

But before she could utter another word, Samantha's hand came crashing down on her cheek once more, the force of the blow sending shockwaves of pain coursing through her body. Vera recoiled from the impact, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to hold back her tears.

"Did I say you could talk?" Samantha spat, her voice laced with venom as she glared at her daughter with undisguised contempt. "You know what? For this, you're not going to eat before school, and no allowance money for today. Now get out of here."

Vera's heart sank as she tried to process her mother's words, her chest tightening with a sense of despair as she realized the extent of her punishment. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she turned to leave the kitchen, her spirit broken and her sense of worth shattered.

But just as she reached the door, Samantha's voice called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. "Eh heh, the assignment. Go bring it for your sister," she ordered, her tone cold and unforgiving as she watched Vera's retreating figure with a sense of satisfaction.

Vera's heart sank even further at her mother's words, her steps heavy with the weight of her burden as she trudged back to her room to retrieve the assignment. As she handed it to her sister, her eyes downcast and her spirit broken.

As Victoria's car pulled out of the driveway, Vera heard Victoria go into her car and her friends talking outside the house as she finally had time to prepare for school, "what up bitch" Jordan shouts, "you're the bitch hoe" Victoria joked back, "come on we gonna be late" Francesca says, Vera couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy gnawing at her heart. She longed to be a part of that world, to have friends who cared for her and a family who loved her unconditionally. But as she watched Victoria and her friends drive off to school, she knew that her place was on the sidelines, forever relegated to the role of an outsider in her own life.

With a heavy sigh, Vera turned away from the window and made her way to the bathroom to start her morning routine. She washed her face and brushed her teeth, trying to push aside the nagging sense of sadness that threatened to overwhelm her. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness that clung to her like a shadow.

Finally ready for school, Vera hurriedly gathered her things and rushed out of the house. She glanced at the clock and realized she was running late for the school bus. With a sinking feeling in her chest, she broke into a run, hoping against hope that she could catch the bus before it left without her.

But as she rounded the corner, her heart sank as she saw the familiar yellow bus pulling away from the curb. She had missed it by mere seconds. Tears welled up in her eyes as she watched the bus disappear down the street, leaving her alone on the sidewalk.

With a heavy heart, Vera resigned herself to walking to school. She trudged along the familiar path, her footsteps echoing in the empty streets as she made her way to the school grounds. As she walked, her thoughts drifted to her life and the unfairness of it all.

If she wasn't an identical twin to her sister, she would have sworn that she didn't belong to this family at all. Her parents' cruelty and her sister's indifference had left her feeling like an outsider in her own home, a mere shadow of the person she longed to be.

But despite the pain and the loneliness, Vera refused to give up hope. Deep down, she knew that she was worthy of love and acceptance, that she deserved better than the life she had been given. And as she walked, her determination grew stronger with each step, her resolve to carve out a better future for herself burning bright within her heart.