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.

park, And it was nice to pretend that everything was normal even though I knew they weren't even as Mama tried her

to stay here longer than the

best for us and she had her reasons, though she

"Anna?"

around to face Mama and notice her blotchy

She was crying.

"I live here, Elsa.

I own this building."

shocked and scared anew as he walked away and disappeared

view once again near the pool and then

lone tree standing in a storm and made my

of the park

felt a hundred times heavy as I walked to

"Mama?"

swallowed my tears and smiled

"Come, angel.

go up to the

been here for a long time

she easily wrapped her arms around my

why are

She asked.

"I am not, angel."

and she turned

mine and said, "You are

she hugged me tight, her

herself a herbal tea

know

daughter's excited chatter as she started to tell her about

behind me and let

was

lived in the same building

owned the

should've known, nothing could be ever

not today, then one day in

In an elevator.

Outside, in the hallway.

he dropped in unannounced just

anger would be something I wouldn't be

for what I

finding out that I hid his daughter,

would've to

was no other

know what happened all those years ago

wiped my tears and decided that I would try again, I'd ask him to

not

couldn't take my daughter

choosing to tell him everything, he had to consider it

in one of the sundresses that filled my closet, I came out into the living room to find my little angel stuffing her face with Oreos and watching another

was smiling and that

Mom near the windows

said, "You know… When you were little, you could always sense when I

out of

because of the way she looks and

smiled to myself, my heart swelling

put her hand on my shoulder

She has your chann.

has

both of you,

"Don't call me that."

I hated that endearment.

and pretends to be the kid we

like you, she isn't getting a chance to enjoy

met the blues

"I never

She nodded.

"I know.

like I never wanted all that

have a

father isn't like

letting something happen

tear

wiped it away and pressed my lips tightly until the sob crawled back down my