"Look who's skipping Alpha Jaxon's birthday like she's some queen," Cory said with a smirk as he walked into the living room.
Then came my father's voice. It felt like poison.
"Do you want people to say we raised a shameful, useless girl?"
"You're an embarrassment," my stepmother added coldly. "Here's your suit, Cory."
Cory collected his suit from mother, wearing it, then turned to glare at me.
"Real women have purpose. They don't sit around like trash, wasting space. You should be on your knees, begging life to give your pathetic self some meaning."
I said nothing.
I didn't move. I just stared at the TV, but I wasn't watching it. My eyes were open, but my mind was far away.
"Careful, Cory," my mother said with a fake sweet tone. "She might cry. Hahahaha."
Nobody laughed.
They didn't need to.
The silence hurt more.
My father stayed quiet, but that silence was louder than shouting. It meant he agreed with everything they said.
I didn't cry, but I wanted to. I wanted to scream. I wanted to smash the glass table. I wanted to disappear.
Before leaving, my mother gave me one last cruel line.
"Don't just sit there looking useless. There are chores waiting. Try not to ruin the house more than you already have with your presence."
They left and slammed the door.
I bit my lip until it bled. I wanted to cry, but I held it in. I remembered what Rosa told me last night.
"It'll end soon. Just hang on."
Then came a loud knock on the door.
I jumped. My heart started racing. Were they back already?
I rushed to the peephole. But it wasn't them.
It was Rosa. And beside her, a woman holding a big bag.
I opened the door, confused. "Rosa?"
She didn't say anything. She just walked right in like she owned the place. The other woman followed.
I closed the door and hurried after them.
"What's going on? Why are you here?"
"Sit," Rosa said firmly. "Alpha Jaxon's birthday starts in an hour. We leave in twenty-five minutes."
My chest sank.
"Rosa, I can't go. You know what will happen if I show up. Why are you doing this?"
"You are going," she snapped. Her eyes were cold. "Just this once. Just try. You are not useless like they say."
"Why do you even want me to go to that stupid party?"
"You don't see what I see, Aria. Don't be stubborn."
She nodded at the other woman, who started unpacking tools.
"She's your makeup artist. Let her work. I brought two dresses. You'll pick one later."
I turned back to her.
"Tell me the truth, Rosa. Why are you doing all this?"
She sighed and sat next to me.
"You're angry. Good. Use it. Crying never saved you. Action might."
Her words felt like fire in my chest.
Maybe she was right.
I let the makeup woman start working on my face. I still felt unsure. The time passed. Then Rosa held up a mirror.
I looked at the girl in the mirror and gasped. I didn't recognize her.
She looked beautiful. Strong. Nothing like the broken girl I felt like.
Two dresses were laid out.
One black.
One red.
"The theme is black. Why is there a red one?" I asked.
"Choose one," Rosa said with a strange smile.
My hand touched the black dress, but I pulled back.
"I'll wear the red one," I said quietly.
Rosa helped me put it on.
It hugged my body in a way I didn't know was possible. I looked beautiful.
But it scared me.
I didn't believe it. Deep down, I still felt like the girl who cried at night, who got slapped and scrubbed floors, who was told she was worthless.
Rosa handed me earrings and heels. I took them and put them on.
"You're ready," she said, smiling at my reflection.
I gave a small smile back.
Her phone buzzed. She looked at it.
"Your cab man is here."
My heart jumped.
"You got me a cab? Wow" I screamed in happiness.
"Aw, it's nothing dear".
"So, are you coming too?"
She smiled.
"Yes, let me just change. I also brought my dress. I'll meet you outside."
She turned to the other woman.
"Thanks, Mia. We'll see later."
Mia nodded and left.
Rosa looked at me one last time. Her eyes looked like she might cry.
"Keep your head up, your shoulders back and eyes forward. You are not a servant tonight, and you are not useless. You are a queen. And queens don't beg.They make the world bleed."