Chapter One

Adanna

They were at it again just like every other night for the past lord knows how many years, drawn to each other like moth to a flame.

Arguing just like they do every single moment over bits and pieces of some petty subject.

"No,No don't say that!" Sometimes I feel like life could be better but then I remember it could also be worse.

"I can say whatever I want"

"Don't push me!" They bickered on smashing objects in a fit of rage.

**sigh** I'm going to have to clean that up later won't I?

I love my family, I really do but even I know that my parents should have never gotten or stayed married

About thirty more minutes before it's time for school. This was a routine for most of us, wake up to the sound of their never ending bicker, dress up and leave for school come back clean up and start all over again.

For a girl with no friends my schedule was pretty packed. Better early than late. Time for school.

________

As I predicted shards of glass everywhere, A painting of what should be a family portrait but instead a woman with three out of four kids tossed against the wall.

The frame shattered a good feet away from the wall. My mum was getting ready for work and my Father? He was performing his usual morning rituals with a half empty bottle of beer in his hand.

Both my Younger siblings Chioma and Simdi were fully dressed and fed by yours truly. David my brother and the oldest of us all was passed out on the couch high on whatever it is he could get his hands on.

This is the third time this week. At this rate he was never going to graduate. I draped a fluffy blanket over him hoping he'd be comfortable at least. I pray for him every day I also pray that things would finally get better.

Aunt Myra would be here soon with today's dosage of Dad's medications that should try and stabilize him for a while. I made sure to kiss my mum goodbye before leaving. She was sad again but this time was a lot worse than before.

If she can make it through a day of work looking and feeling like that then I can deal with school. I needed to be strong things would eventually get better no situation is permanent. No family is perfect, no one has a perfect life. All it needed was time.

_________

"What are you doing here?" I asked making my way further into the house. The house was the same from this morning.

Trashed all the way from the living room to the kitchen. She smiled at me waving the broom and dust pan in the air.

"I'm here to help, it was a hectic morning wasn't it?" Shouldn't she be at work or at the studio? Just someplace that isn't here.

"I can't find David" The dulcet tone of his voice was pleasing to hear. I didn't know he was back and so soon?

He glanced at me giving me a once over before glancing away. The tinge of disappointment was still there but with time you get used to it.

He'd gotten taller and a lot more muscular. I didn't want to stare but he was right in front of me flaunting his upgrade.

"Ada where is David?" Aunt Myra asked placing both objects on the floor.

"I don't know, last time I saw him he was passed out on the sofa"

"Passed out!" He exclaimed rushing out the door.

"Forgive him, you understand his relationship with David, they're like brothers they've always been close" I nodded shrugging off my backpack, Simdi and Chioma had already changed out of their uniforms running round the house.

"Okay let's start" she sighed handing me the broom. I picked it up sweeping the shards into the dustpan. It may take a while, The portraits were salvageable but the frames had to be replaced.

"So how was school?" She asked making small talk. I shrugged,it was just like it always was. Casual, nothing ever happens in school.

"Really? Well I put a down payment on a new place for my studio. Yes, I know it wasn't the smartest thing to do but I just thought that having my own space made it really official you know?"

"That's great!" I smiled at her genuinely happy, it was about time she got her own place. What she didn't have in brains she made up with skills, she was extremely talented more than a few of her works have been featured on the SMA's yearly exhibitions.

She might even be their most featured artist, some home calls have been made for customized portraits of some well off snob.

"Mason thinks it's irrational and impulsive spending so much money on it without an assurance of me getting my money's worth" Uncle Mason was her husband of eighteen years.

Their marriage seemed perfect at first glance, they looked happy but I could tell it wasn't genuine.

"I believe in you" To me she wasn't just my Aunt she was my bestfriend the only one I could truly trust other than my mother. She'd been there for me all my life.

"Thanks" she smiled at me.

The door was slammed open, he barged in panting and out of breath.

"It's David, he OD'd"