Step-dad

Aurora's violent stepfather was one of the darkest nightmares that had followed her for years as she struggled to cope with the complexity of her past. Even though the notion of him made her tremble, she realized that facing him head-on was an essential step in her recovery.

When Aurora heard a knock at the door one afternoon while relaxing at her grandparents' house, her heart leapt with fear. She got up from her chair, shaking her hand, and moved toward the door, bracing herself for what was waiting for her behind it.

Her breath froze in her throat as she opened the door and saw the man who had hurt her so deeply in person. With his presence towering over the room like a black cloud, her stepfather stood in front of her.

Stepfather: "It's been a long time, Aurora. I need to talk with your grandparents.

With caution, Aurora's grandparents, who had reared her with love and attention, looked at each other as they led him inside. Anger and bitterness welled up inside Aurora, but she forced herself to calm down and followed them into the living room.

Grandfather: "What brings you here, son?"

Stepfather: "You must help me. I've lost everything in the market for shares because of some unsafe investments I made. To get back on my feet, I need money."

As Aurora heard her stepfather's words, her heart fell. It was a familiar refrain, one that she had been following for as long as she could remember due to his reckless behavior and financial mismanagement.

Grandmother: "I'm sorry, but we can't keep bailing you out every time you find yourself in trouble. You need to take responsibility for your actions."

Stepfather: "But I have nowhere else to turn. Please, I'm begging you."

Aurora felt a surge of anger rise within her at her stepfather's words. How dare he come here, after all he had put her through, and expect them to help him once again?

Aurora: "You have some nerve showing up here, asking for money after everything you've done."

Stepfather: "Aurora, please. I know I've made mistakes, but I'm trying to make things right."

Aurora's voice trembled with emotion as she spoke, her words tinged with the pain of years of abuse and neglect.

Aurora: "You don't get to play the victim here. You made your choices, and now you have to live with the consequences."