Minutes turned into hours, hours into days, days into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years. Finally, Stephanie’s fifteenth birthday had arrived, casting a glimmer of hope upon her. With a mixture of anticipation and trepidation, she descended the stairs, hoping for a change in the dreary pattern of her previous birthdays.

Entering the sitting room, Stephanie was met with a less-than-welcoming reception from her family. Elena, her older sister, wasted no time in questioning her presence. “What are you doing here?” she asked, her tone laced with annoyance.

“I just came to get a glass of water. I’m really thirsty,” Stephanie responded, her voice betraying a hint of weariness.

Kimberly, her other sister, immediately interjected, her voice filled with hostility. “There’s no way you’re setting foot in that kitchen. Do you understand?” she snapped.

Stephanie’s frustration welled up within her, fueling her response. “But I’m thirsty. How am I supposed to quench my thirst? Should I resort to drinking my own urine?” she retorted, her anger seeping through her words.

Kimberly, unyielding in her stance, continued to assert her dominance. “If that’s what it takes, then be my guest. Entering that kitchen is a risk we’re not willing to take. Who knows what you might do? You might poison the spices or something,” she said coldly.

Stephanie couldn’t contain her disbelief. “Have you lost your mind, Kimberly?” she shouted, but her words were met with a harsh slap across her face.

“Now listen to me,” Kimberly scolded, her voice authoritative. “I am your elder sister, with a four-year age gap. You will not insult me or raise your voice at me. Is that clear?” she demanded.

Confusion and hurt mingled in Stephanie’s eyes as she clutched her throbbing chin. “What have I done to both of you? Even on my own birthday, you choose to make me cry,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Elena, lacking any sympathy, scoffed at Stephanie’s pain. “Oh, our little miss princess thinks we care. We couldn’t care less about your birthday or anything, considering that the one you celebrated five years ago sent my husband Jordan to his grave,” she spat out bitterly.

Stephanie, now boiling with anger, retorted sharply. “You both are just pathetic. Even now, you reason like toddlers,” she fired back, her words fueled by frustration.

“How dare you?” Elena seethed, forcefully shoving Stephanie, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground. While Stephanie lay writhing in pain, Elena callously poured her orange juice over her, drenching her further. As Stephanie rose to her feet, she noticed bruises forming on her left arm, evidence of the cruel treatment she had endured.

“Consider that a lesson. Maybe it’ll help curb your ever-growing attitude problem. Your mouth seems to get more sour with each passing day,” Kimberly taunted, her laughter echoing through the room.

“I have nothing to say to either of you. What’s there to say? Nothing, really. These past five years have been filled with deprivation. When was the last time I enjoyed a decent meal in this house? And let’s not forget that I’ve been denied the basic right to education. On top of that, you constantly hurl insults at me and accuse me daily of killing Dad. And just when I ask for a glass of water, you come up with the ridiculous excuse that I might poison the spices. Yet, I’ve been freely going in and out of the kitchen for five years without harming either of you. Isn’t this absurd? I thought by now you both would have realized my innocence, but no. Apparently, common sense isn’t so common,” Stephanie uttered, a wry smile crossing her lips while her injured arm continued to bleed.

As Kimberly advanced closer to Stephanie, she questioned her intentions, her voice tinged with defiance. “Are you here to hit me or slap me again?”

“If I were you, I’d think twice before taking another step,” Stephanie warned. “You’ve both unjustly punished me, causing me countless nights of tears. That alone is unforgivable. If either of you lays a hand on me again, I swear on my father’s grave that I will take unexpected action. It has been five years, and the truth will eventually come to light. I’m willing to wait for a decade if I have to. You can keep the kitchen, and I promise I won’t set foot in there again. But mark my words, there will come a day when you’ll regret unleashing this anger on me. Unfortunately, it may be too late by then, and it will bring nothing but ruin to you and your beloved daughter, Kimberly,” Stephanie said, a defiant smile gracing her face, as she retreated back to her room and locked the door.

She then made her way to the bathroom, washing off the blood from her injured arm. Returning to her room, she retrieved her first aid box and gently applied ointment to her bruises. Lying down on her bed, she drifted off to sleep, unaware of the events that were about to unfold.

Startled by the noise outside her window, Stephanie abruptly woke up. She opened her eyes, her vision adjusting to the surroundings, and realized it was Mrs. Robert. Quietly, she rose from her bed and walked to the window, unlocking it.

“Good morning, Mrs. Robert,” Stephanie greeted with a smile.

“Actually, it’s 2 pm now, but nonetheless, happy birthday, Stephanie,” Mrs. Robert replied, returning the smile.

“Oh, sorry. When I fell asleep, it was still 11 am. I didn’t realize I had slept this long. Thank you so much,” Stephanie responded.

“No problem. Here’s what I got for you,” Mrs. Robert said, handing over a flask to her.

“I don’t know how to express my gratitude to you in this life. For five years, you’ve been the one feeding me. For five years, you’ve never forgotten my birthday. If it weren’t for you, I might have been forgotten and gone a long time ago,” Stephanie said, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Don’t cry, my child. You look worried. Why did you sleep so early? What happened to your hand? What’s troubling you?” Mrs. Robert asked, genuinely concerned.

“I was thirsty and went to drink a glass of water, but Kimberly came up with the ridiculous idea that I might poison the spices in the kitchen and refused to let me enter,” Stephanie explained.

“That’s absurd. If you really did kill Jordan, why haven’t you poisoned them in all these years?” Mrs. Robert questioned.

“They are simply gullible. It was my mom who pushed me because I called her pathetic, and that’s how I got this injury. But don’t worry, I’ve treated it,” Stephanie replied, offering a reassuring smile.

“How long, Stephanie, will you continue to endure this?” Mrs. Robert asked, concern etched on her face.

“For a decade, two, three—I don’t mind waiting for as long as it takes. But I know that the truth will come out someday, and then I can finally live in peace. Yes, I can sense the truth. It will come soon, and I can’t wait to witness their faces on that day,” Stephanie declared.

“What if you’re harmed due to the excessive mistreatment?”

“I won’t let that happen. The day my father died, and I was accused of killing him, I cried and pleaded for him to keep me alive until the truth is revealed. Father heard my prayers, and nothing is going to happen to me now. Please, don’t worry,” Stephanie reassured, gently wiping the tears from Mrs. Robert’s eyes.

“One more thing, please.”

“What is it?” Mrs. Robert inquired.

“Could you get me some water? I’m really thirsty,” Stephanie pleaded.

“Of course, I’ll be right back,” Mrs. Robert replied, walking out of the window. Shortly after, she returned with a pack of bottled water and assured Stephanie that she would bring more along with her dinner. Stephanie thanked her profusely as Mrs. Robert left. Stephanie closed her window and lay back on her bed.

“Thank you, Mrs. Robert,” Stephanie whispered as she opened the flask and discovered her favorite food, accompanied by a pack of orange juice. She ate the food joyfully, murmuring words of appreciation for Mrs. Robert.

* * *

“Mum, she threatened to kill us if we lay our hands on her again,” Kimberly seethed with anger.

“She’s just exaggerating. She was lucky to escape punishment for what she did to your father, but not us,” Elena replied.

“I wish I had concrete evidence so that I could put an end to her life as well. Even if I can’t do it myself, the authorities will execute her for the crime of murder,” Kimberly declared.

“Don’t worry, Kimberly. I gave birth to Stephanie, and I won’t rest until she explains to me what happened and why she chose to take your father’s life,” Elena assured.

“But how could you give birth to such a monster? Are you sure she wasn’t swapped at the hospital? I can’t fathom how a girl could kill the one who loved and adored her, the one who worshipped the ground she walked on,” Kimberly expressed in disbelief.

“Stephanie is different and peculiar, that’s for sure. Everyone knows that. But nobody ever imagined she would go so far as to kill her own father. I must admit, I feel like I gave birth to a monster,” Elena replied, her brows furrowing.

“She is a monster indeed. Just the other week, I passed by her room and heard her making strange, agonizing sounds, I heard her grunting like an animal writhing in pains. I wish she would die from whatever affliction she’s suffering,” Kimberly cursed.

“She will eventually come back to us. She will confess why she killed my husband and who influenced her to do so. I won’t hesitate to inflict immense pain on her until she reveals the truth,” Elena stated determinedly.

“I hope she meets her end soon. I can’t bear to look at her face any longer,” Kimberly murmured under her breath.