"The first time I was injured with a knife was when I was 6 years old. At that time..."

-

Little Aoi was having fun playing in the backyard of their home with her beloved mother, Mrs Ayame. Her long black hair was softly blown by the wind. When her husband went to work, it was a peaceful moment for her and her daughter, and it did calm her down a lot.

"Mom, look! I can climb a tree," shouted the small Aoi, standing on one of the large, tall tree branches. She flapped her hands down trying to catch the attention of her mother who is sitting on the grass. Later, she started leapt and hanging onto another tree branch.

"Aoi! Be careful. I don't want you to get hurt"

The little girl laughed. "You're too worried, I'll be fine! Wait a minute.. I'll go down," she said with a cheeky smile adorn her chubby face. Her grip on the twigs loses as she fell down before making a double spin and landed on the ground perfectly and safely.

Mrs Ayame clapped in surprise at her daughter's ability. She never thought Aoi had such a hidden talent. Maybe... If she knew the world better, had friends for her to spend some time with, and also had a normal life, there would be a higher chance for her to pull off such hidden talent. Thinking about the fate of her daughter, her heart began to cry.

How much longer would she have to see her Aoi grow up in such a state?

"Kyaaa!" A squeal was heard from inside the house. Mrs Ayame turned her head back and stood up, with Aoi behind her. Her small hand grasping tightly on her mother's long skirt.

"Mom, is dad home?" She asked looking up at her.

Her round blue eyes shone with hope. 'Although Sunada treated her harshly, she still considered that piece of trash as her father. She's too good to be called his daughter!'

Slowly, she nodded as she held Aoi's hand and told her not to make any noise and to just stay hidden behind her. She knew well her husband attitude who liked to bring other women into the house. And every time he does, Ayame must hide Aoi from being seen by any woman he brings. Easy to say, those women don't really care much about Ayame being his wife but if they knew he had a child, surely they would have left him.

'Huh, how disgraceful!' thought Ayame, feeling sick just by thinking that there is another woman inside her house. 'How many times has it been like this? Just how many women does he have out there?!'

"This is enough! I won't hide Aoi anymore. Let all the women know that he has a child. Therefore, no woman will ever set their foot in my house again," muttered Ayame.

She looked at Aoi with a sweet smile before bringing her into the house. She's determined by the choices she makes. Although she knew there would be risks involving with her choice, she dared to try. Anything for the sake of her daughter's happiness, she is willing to do anything. She was pretty convinced that after that, her husband would never go out with another woman.

Or that is what she thought.

Her decision led to a new beginning in hurting Aoi, not by his hand but with a knife. A sharp kitchen knife. Each time Aoi made a small mistake in obeying her husband's orders, her small body would be filled with new wounds and sometimes, the newly healed wounds would be bloodied again.

One by one, the scars adorned her body like a white canvas draped in dark bloody red paint.

"It's all my fault. I'm sorry, Aoi! If it weren't for my choice, you wouldn't have to experience all these injuries," Ayame said with regrets lacing in her voice, her tears didn't stop flowing down her cheeks.

The little Aoi looked at her mother with a sad look. Her mother repeatedly uttered the word of apology as if it were a daily reference in her life dictionary. " Mother..."
Her heart could no longer see her mother suffering, shedding tears that she shouldn't have done.

"I promise you that I will make sure that father receive a fair reward for all the things he has done for us both"

_______________

[If you liked this chapter, would you consider to give a vote on this chapter? And Oh! Oh! Recommend to your friends too]

Author: Sorry if this chapter is kinda like a crap (シ_ _)シ