Broken Strings

C H A P T E R F I V E

"The water is clear, but your wrists are stained. Your face says happy, but your eyes say pain."

-L.A.

▼▲▼▲▼ ▼▲▼▲▼ ▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼

Anisha's smile faltered as Andrew pulled his hand away from hers and walked away.

He wasn't even going to act like he wanted her tonight. At least, for the many years before, he would still pretend and act like he loved her. They would put on a grand show of how happy and in love they were.

But now it seemed as if she wasn't even worthy of his fake concern and care anymore.

Ryan followed pursuit, as if the thought of being anywhere near his mother for even one evening seemed unbearable.

Still, she smiled and greeted a few business associates and then made her way to a table in the far corner of the room.

She just wanted to be left alone for the evening.

These events weren't fun. Especially not when someone drained and empty like her was supposed to pretend to smile and laugh for an entire evening.

Sure they had been fun when Andrew had danced and talked alongside her but now she was all alone.

Except for her daughter who seemed to want to spend some time with her mother.

"Mommy, look my doll is wearing a blue dress. But it's not as pretty as yours. Mommy is a princess." Mira smiled shyly as she took a seat next to her mother.

Anisha smiled at her daughter and took ahold Mira's hand. How simple and easy the world was for Mira. The carefreeness and laughter that followed Mira around was living strength for Anisha. It was the only reason she was fighting to live.

It was the few moments like this that made the painful ones seem like a small occurrence for her. And for moments like this, Anisha would fight until it was no longer possible.

Mira was just an eight-year old girl, obsessed with Cinderella and jelly beans. The little girl knew nothing of the pain, anger and betrayal that surrounded her parents.

And Anisha wished she could keep Mira this happy and innocent forever. She prayed over and over that her daughter wouldn't have to go through anything close to the pain she had. She hoped Mira would have all the happiness in whole world.

Anisha hoped and hoped that Mira would never have to endure any sort of betrayal or heartbreak, like the ones she was suffering through. But those things, they were inevitable. It was going to happen.

And Anisha, she wouldn't be here to provide a shoulder for her daughter to cry on. Anisha wouldn't be there to make Mira a cup of tea and tell her that it would all be okay. Anisha wouldn't be there to mend her daughter's broken heart, to tell her that it was all going to work out for the best.

Deep down, it hurt. It hurt a lot.

No matter how much Andrew hurt her, she still wanted him and no matter how much the kids seemed to misunderstand her, she still loved them.

And the knowledge that she didn't have enough strength to fight and hold on anymore was tearing her apart.

Anisha turned back to Mira, with a small smile on her face. "Mommy isn't a princess Mira, you are. You, my baby girl, are the most beautiful princess in the whole world."

"That's not true, Mommy. Daddy said you're princess. He thinks you're beautiful." Mira spoke while she continued playing with her Cinderella doll.