I couldn't sleep at all last night. I was full of mixed emotions. I was excited, but scared and worried. Was she going to live with Freddie and leave me all alone? Was Freddie going to propose? Does Freddie even know? Does Pol know? What am I going to do without my best friend?

I stared at the ceiling all night. I cried to myself. I laughed to myself.

I saw the light of the sun slowly rise as the ceiling turned from black to white.

I gulped and looked at Ada who was soundlessly asleep.

Sitting up, I place my warm slippers on my feet and walk downstairs. It was silent. No one was working today since tonight was Christmas Eve. The whole Shelby and Murphy family would be joined together tonight and be joyful once again. I was hoping my father wouldn't come. Dean was hoping he would. He never knew what my father did to me. I wasn't going to worry about him coming. There was a very high chance of him actually showing up. He did leave us after all.

I grabbed John's cigarettes from the kitchen table and a match, then walked outside into the cold December air. There were few cars passing and families out in the snow or taking walks.

I lit the cigarette and put it up to my mouth, inhaling the bitter taste of the smoke. I never liked John's cigarettes. They were always to strong and made me gag. But I didn't care. I just needed to be distracted from what was currently happening, even if it meant having to taste something so appalling.

Not caring about what I was wearing or how cold it was. I sat on the snowy pavement and looked up at the bright blue sky. It was beautiful today. The sun was shining brightly, but not really giving off any source of heat.

"Daisy?"

I turn my head quickly to see Pol. She was hugging herself in her robe and blocking the sun with her hand.

"What are you doing out in the cold, darling? You'll catch your death out here."

"I was just thinking Aunt Pol." I whisper and take another drag of the cigarette.

"Oh my. She told you didn't she?"

I nod and look at the ground.

"I reacted the same way my dear. Just as horrible as you are."

I could feel tears daring to spill from my sleepless eyes. I turn around to Aunt Pol.

"What if she leaves? Moves in with Freddie? Who will I have? I won't have a best friend anymore. She'll be too busy with the baby and her husband, she won't have time to think about me. I'm just that other person. The one in the shadows..." I cried.

Aunt Pol kneeled down and wrapped me in her warm embrace.

"Oh my dear girl... she will never forget about you. Your friendship will always be as it is now. Don't you worry. You have to admit, you expected it to happen. Her and Freddie would make love every night. When she told me, I wasn't surprised. You can't always have her in your grip. Let her go."

I softly weep in her robe as she strokes my head as if she were petting a stray puppy.

"Come on in. The family is coming at 4. You have some time to get rest and then I can help you get ready. Maybe some nice big curls and a nice red dress with a lovely green sash, eh?"

I looked up at her and smiled small.

"Let's get you to bed."

7 HOURS LATER

I woke up to someone shaking me.

"Daisy... love. The family will be here in an hour. Let's get you ready. Ada and the boys are downstairs with Lewis and Finn, making food and drinking. Everyone's ready, but you."

I sigh and stand up from the comfortable and warm bed.

"I got you something. Stay here." Aunt Polly rushes out the door leaving me in my knickers and bra, with the door open.

Finn runs by the door, but slowly walks back looking at me with a smirk on his face.

"Finn!!! Get out of here you dirty perverted rat!" I scream.

He runs away and I growl, rubbing my eyes.

"Here."

Aunt Polly walks back in holding the most gorgeous dress I've ever seen. It was a beautiful red satin evening gown with white trimmed lacing and long laced sleeves.

"That's for me?" I murmur not believing my eyes.

"I picked it up when you were sleeping. I thought you might like it." She smiled.

"Oh, Aunt Pol. I love it!" I run to her and hug her.

"Put it on!"

AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER

I was finally ready. I could hear people walking through the doors and greetings being sent out.

Aunt Pol and I walked down the kitchen stairs to see Ada chopping potatoes and carrots. She looked beautiful.

She looked at me and smiled brightly.

I ran up to her and hugged her tightly.

"Please don't ever stop being my best friend, Ada." I whispered in her ear.

"Don't worry. I won't."

I pulled away and smiled grabbing a kitchen knife and helping her cut the potatoes.

"I'm going to go welcome the guests. Take the turkey out at quarter to 5, please."

When Aunt Pol left, Ada and I cooked in comfortable silence, smiles on each of our faces.

We took the turkey out at the time we were asked to. Soon enough most of the family was packed in our lounge and dining room. Most of the wives and daughters were in the kitchen helping to prepare for the big feast that was to happen soon.

I made conversation with my Aunt Trisha about her ideas on suffrage and how she was too scared to go to any of the rallies because of my Uncle Daniel.

Laughs were spread around the house. More and more people came in.

I heard a knock on the door and someone shout, "Dad!!! I didn't think you'd come! It's so great to see you!"

I shrugged it off and continued helping around the kitchen as much as I could.

Just as I was washing all of our plates, I heard my name.

I turned around and met eyes with the monster that made my life a living hell.

Dean was standing next to him smiling, just as he was.

"Daisy! Dad's home!" Dean
laughs and smiles.

I drop the porcelain plate causing everyone in the kitchen to stop what they were doing.

"Daisy, what's wr-" Ada saw him. Her face went from joyful to angry in a second of time.

My father stood in front of me, smirking ear to ear, holding a cigarette in his hand, and looking at me up and down.

"It's lovely to see you again, sweetheart." He said.

I couldn't breathe. I felt like I was drowning. My lungs felt like they were burning. My eyes stung from the tears starting to rise. I was biting on my bottom lip, hard enough I drew blood.

I ran past my father and the crowd of people, panicked and causing a scene.

"Daisy, where are you going? Daisy?!" Aunt Pol shouted after me.

Making it to the front door, I ran out the house as fast as my heels could take me. I could hear Ada's screams towards my father become imprecise as I traveled, quickly down the cold pavement.

I ran and wouldn't stop. I made a sharp turn towards town square, tripping over a large tree branch and falling to the ground.

I felt dripping on the side of my leg. I turned on my other side and saw a big wound that was bleeding with black and blue edges.

As much pain I was in, I stood up and kept running.

I could feel myself getting dizzy. It became hard to breathe. As if something was blocking my air passage. My legs became unstable, I slowed down.

Feeling my arm being snatched into a dark alleyway, I could feel my body closing in.

Everything soon went black.