Blackmailed For Love

Hi, my name is Anna.

Because my Mama thought it would be cool to name me that because her name was Elsa.

But unlike Mama, I did not have golden, sun-like hair, nor her blue eyes.

My eyes were grey, Mama said that they reflect light and change from bright to dark- I didn't know the difference though, and my hair was as black as a dark night.

Mama said that they were beautiful but sometimes I wish I had her hair.

1 Because I got my hair and eyes from my father.

And it was a subject that my mother rarely talked about or when she did, only when I would insist on it, she would get sad.

You must be wondering, how did I know so much when I was just a five year old, right? Well… I was soon to be six years old, if that helps.

But let me tell you a secret, I was really smart even when I was five.

I knew my multiplication tables up to thirty.

I could add and subtract without using the pencil and eraser.

I knew pneumonia starts with p.

And I knew my grandfather wasn't a nice man.

I knew Mama was worried about me and Gammy.

I knew Gammy was sick and it wasn't just cold.

Also my father's name was Kristian.

3 I knew it because Mama sometimes dreamed about him.

I knew it because I heard Gammy talk to Mama.

Gammy told Mama to ask for my father's help but Mama didn't want to.

I didn't know why Mama never talks about my father.

Sometimes, I felt angry that she wouldn't tell me anything about him.

Sometimes, I felt sad that she had to be the only one to take care of us.

Sometimes I wanted to ask her that she tell me everything about my father and take me to him.

Sometimes, I was afraid that if I met my father, he would take me away from Mama, just like Mama did me from him.

4 Sometimes, I just didn't want to be this smart.

Mama didn't know, because I took my time writing down my sums even though I already knew the answers.

Sometimes, I just pretended to not be interested in reading and studying.

But they were the only things that made sense, not like how Mama pretended to be happy when she was actually sad.

Right now, Mama was standing behind a tree and a tall man was standing in front of her.

I couldn't see him as he was hidden behind a tree so I walked to the edge of the park and called, "Mama!"

But she didn't hear me.

The tall man suddenly turned around and walked away.

I wondered if he was the one she wanted to be friends with.

Was he the one she went on a dinner with last night? Mama had never gone to dinner with a friend before, and it made me feel really sad for her.

I got excited yesterday when I heard that she was going to dinner and it was the reason I gave her my lucky charm.

I hope it worked.

Mama could really use a friend.

Just like I made new ones today.

I looked back to where the two girls were still playing with the flying disk.

Phoebe and Hanna were nice.

It felt nice to be out here and play with other girls of the same age.

I really enjoyed myself.

It felt normal.

was nice to pretend that everything

than the other places but I

the best for us and she had her reasons, though

"Anna?"

and notice her blotchy cheeks and

She was crying.

"I live here, Elsa.

I own this building."

he walked away

again near the pool and then walked up the stairs

tree standing in

standing at the edge of the park behind the

a hundred times heavy

"Mama?"

my tears

"Come, angel.

up

been here for a

she easily wrapped her

are you

She asked.

"I am not, angel."

and she turned my

pressed her cheek against mine and said, "You are

anything else as she hugged me tight, her face pressed against my

herself a herbal tea that she had always liked but now it was available anytime she

you know what

my daughter's excited chatter as she started to tell her about everything she did downstairs, and made

the door behind me and

I was going

in the same

owned

nothing could be ever this

today, then one day in the near

In an elevator.

Outside, in the hallway.

he dropped in unannounced just to torment

would be something I

me for what

his daughter, all this time, he

I would've

no other

what happened all those years ago and wish that

ask him

not believe

my daughter

I was choosing

filled my closet, I came out into the living room to find my little angel stuffing her face with

and that was

Mom near the windows and came

at ten, she said, "You know… When you were little, you could always sense when I felt upset and

looked out of the

daughter because of the way

smiled to myself, my heart swelling with

on my shoulder and said,

She has your chann.

she has

of you,

"Don't call me that."

I hated that endearment.

and pretends to be the kid we want

a chance to

turned my eyes to her and met the blues that

said, "I never

She nodded.

"I know.

wanted all that happened

have a

father isn't like

die before letting something happen to his

tear

and pressed my lips tightly until the sob crawled back down my