Flashback
Cassandra Michaels had cried herself to sleep for the umpteenth time in her short life that night. All she had asked for was one night. Did she not deserve one night of her mother’s undivided attention? The sound of screaming had woken her from sleep. Now here she laid, quiet as could be. It would be the last night her mother and grandmother would fight.
It took several minutes for Cassandra’s eyes to adjust after the light was suddenly flicked on. There stood her mother with a large suitcase in tow. Yet Cassandra knew better than to utter a word. She looked on quietly as her mother pulled out one drawer at a time and emptied their contents into the suitcase.
When she finally turned her way, Cassandra lowered her eyes. “You have five minutes to add whatever else you want in here. “Her mothers’ hands moved over the suitcase. “We are leaving and never coming back.”
Her little heart squeezed at the thought of never seeing her grandmother again. Why had the fight been different this time? Her mother was always getting yelled at by her grandmother. Yet one or the other would cave and all would be normal again. Well, at least until the next fight.
Cassandra flittered around the room looking for all her prized treasures. She collected the first prize ribbon she and her best friend Lucy had won in the science fair. The second thing was under the mattress. After pulling the mattress back, the book was exposed. The cover held only one word, “Diary.”
Just as Cassandra was packing her treasures away, a picture fell out of one of the books. A smile spread on her face. There they were. The same two women smiling back at her. It was the only picture she had of her mother smiling. There stood Avery Michaels next to her best friend. Both women looked happy and carefree. “Are you ready?” The scream startled her into moving again.
After tucking the picture back into the book, Cassandra made her way downstairs. “Why are you doing this?” Her grandmother asked in anguish. “You will live to regret what you’re about to do. Please think about what you’re doing to this poor child.” Her mother said nothing as she ran upstairs to grab the suitcase.
“My little Cassandra, I’m so sorry. Just know that I love you. Please take care of her for me.” Cassandra tried not to cry as she was engulfed in her grandmother’s arms. The embrace didn’t last long for she was harshly snatched from her grandmother’s embrace.
Cassandras little heart beat frantically as she entered the car. She was unsure what was happening, but the movement of the car finally lulled her into a restless sleep. Hours later, she was startled awake when a bag of chips hit her chest. Luckily, quick reflexes caught the can of soda that followed. “Where are we going?” Cassandra finally asked.
“We’re heading to our new life in Texas.” Avery Michaels answered with a glare as if daring her to start something. Cassandra knew better and just opened the bag of chips as tears silently rolled down her cheeks. What would Lucy think? What will happen to her grandmother? So many questions for an eleven year old to deal with.
Seventeen hours later, they finally arrived at their destination. Cassandra looked on as the car drove by a sign that read, Welcome to Longview. A frown marred her features as she looked around and realized there really wasn’t much to see. A sigh escaped when her mother pulled up to what looked like an apartment complex.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As if her life hadn’t been turned around already. The next day brought with it the one person who would be the catalyst to the problem she was facing now. At the time, she had no idea what horror the man would bring.
Cassandra remembered the day the man came to her house for the first time. He was tall and looked very big to a girl her size. The intense look in his eyes when he spotted her, had frightened Cassandra. The look on his face
Cassandra Michaels had cried herself to sleep for the umpteenth time in her short life that night. All she had asked for was one night. Did she not deserve one night of her mother’s undivided attention? The sound of screaming had woken her from sleep. Now here she laid, quiet as could be. It would be the last night her mother and grandmother would fight.
It took several minutes for Cassandra’s eyes to adjust after the light was suddenly flicked on. There stood her mother with a large suitcase in tow. Yet Cassandra knew better than to utter a word. She looked on quietly as her mother pulled out one drawer at a time and emptied their contents into the suitcase.
When she finally turned her way, Cassandra lowered her eyes. “You have five minutes to add whatever else you want in here. “Her mothers’ hands moved over the suitcase. “We are leaving and never coming back.”
Her little heart squeezed at the thought of never seeing her grandmother again. Why had the fight been different this time? Her mother was always getting yelled at by her grandmother. Yet one or the other would cave and all would be normal again. Well, at least until the next fight.
Cassandra flittered around the room looking for all her prized treasures. She collected the first prize ribbon she and her best friend Lucy had won in the science fair. The second thing was under the mattress. After pulling the mattress back, the book was exposed. The cover held only one word, “Diary.”
Just as Cassandra was packing her treasures away, a picture fell out of one of the books. A smile spread on her face. There they were. The same two women smiling back at her. It was the only picture she had of her mother smiling. There stood Avery Michaels next to her best friend. Both women looked happy and carefree. “Are you ready?” The scream startled her into moving again.
After tucking the picture back into the book, Cassandra made her way downstairs. “Why are you doing this?” Her grandmother asked in anguish. “You will live to regret what you’re about to do. Please think about what you’re doing to this poor child.” Her mother said nothing as she ran upstairs to grab the suitcase.
“My little Cassandra, I’m so sorry. Just know that I love you. Please take care of her for me.” Cassandra tried not to cry as she was engulfed in her grandmother’s arms. The embrace didn’t last long for she was harshly snatched from her grandmother’s embrace.
Cassandras little heart beat frantically as she entered the car. She was unsure what was happening, but the movement of the car finally lulled her into a restless sleep. Hours later, she was startled awake when a bag of chips hit her chest. Luckily, quick reflexes caught the can of soda that followed. “Where are we going?” Cassandra finally asked.
“We’re heading to our new life in Texas.” Avery Michaels answered with a glare as if daring her to start something. Cassandra knew better and just opened the bag of chips as tears silently rolled down her cheeks. What would Lucy think? What will happen to her grandmother? So many questions for an eleven year old to deal with.
Seventeen hours later, they finally arrived at their destination. Cassandra looked on as the car drove by a sign that read, Welcome to Longview. A frown marred her features as she looked around and realized there really wasn’t much to see. A sigh escaped when her mother pulled up to what looked like an apartment complex.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As if her life hadn’t been turned around already. The next day brought with it the one person who would be the catalyst to the problem she was facing now. At the time, she had no idea what horror the man would bring.
Cassandra remembered the day the man came to her house for the first time. He was tall and looked very big to a girl her size. The intense look in his eyes when he spotted her, had frightened Cassandra. The look on his face
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