Behind Closed Doors

Prologue – Behind Closed Doors
I watched as the drops of rain fell delicately from the dark sky; each drop sliding down the window like tear drops on the peachy face of an infant, crying for its mother. It was a dark day in Belleville; but then again, it always was. I can’t remember the last time I saw the sun straining through the pearly grey clouds to shed some light on this morbid town. We always seemed to be living in darkness; even at noon it still seemed like the early morning sun was still trying to peak over the horizon. I felt as though that as the weather darkened; so did my mood. I ran my bony fingers along the window pane; chasing a raindrop with great precision. I loved nature; but I never dared to venture outside unless I had to. Even then it was the nerve wracking journey to school I wish I could avoid. Just the torment of constantly having to look over your shoulder in fear that someone would be running up behind you yielding a knife, or a gun was enough to make you never want to leave the safety of your home again. Belleville isn’t such an awful place really; it’s just over run with juvenile delinquents. Most of which were from my school. If you come across anyone over thirty, the fear would just melt away from you as they walked past with a smile. The parents of my generation were so strict, probably why most youths became ne’er-do-wells by 9th grade. They just rebelled against their parents’ wishes. I didn’t ever rebel against my parents. Well, that’s a lie. I did as a child; but not anymore. I’m not one of the local Belleville girls you’ll find strutting around the school corridors in the apposed latest fashion. I’m just a quiet, simple girl who wishes she could just fade into the background and not be noticed....

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.... At that moment the inevitable happened, I heard my father raise his voice as did my mother. They argued for what seemed like a lifetime; the topic of the conversation remaining unknown to me. Seconds later a door slammed and someone came storming up the staircase. I held my breath and gripped the duvet tightly around me in fear. There was a gentle knock on my door and the distant sound of my mother’s shaky voice. “Goodnight Viola. Sleep well my fallen angel.” My heart dropped as she walked away, it was obvious she had been trying hard not to cry and now I was doing the same. I relaxed a little more and brought my head from under the duvet, luckily tonight my parents fighting hadn’t gotten to the point of physical violence. I waited until both my parents had gone to bed and finally let myself drop into a broken and tormented sleep. A little freedom until tomorrow.