Chapter Zero: Dawn’s Flashback

I called Ray and Geline for breakfast. Glancing at both of them, I realized, though Ray looked like us, he still looked as if we weren’t there. Compared to Geline, who is always happy, you wouldn’t think they’re related at all.

Geline stood up and fixed her uniform, saying “we’re going mom!”
Ray bowed and said his good bye.

I sighed. I am their mother, Dawn. I always dreamed to have this kind of life. This life I had might be boring at times, but I prefer it than being stuck in a sorrowful slavery under the owners of this island.

To tell you the truth, I was once a slave myself. I lived with my parents, the caretakers of The Sanjeev Mansion. Unlike my parents who lived in a cottage behind the mansion, I had to sleep with the rest of the maids at the attic. With too much work to do, I could barely meet my parents. The mansion indeed was humongous. It had a hundred rooms. Goodness knows which of the 60 keys would be for each room. It was torture. I decided to leave that place as soon as possible. But, the owners of the mansion would not permit such to happen. Until one stormy night, all maids and servants had lumps in their throats. The couple, which we considered the ruler of their whole private island, died in the seas with their yacht sinking with them. It was horrible. The couples weren’t really mean. They were actually down to earth fellows. Only we felt selfish for not seeing our family. We had anger in our hearts when they died. None of their remains was recovered. It was a dreadful night.

The days passed by… the maids soon forgot what tragedy had happened. They were free. It was the freedom they have ever wanted. One by one, the maids left the mansion. One by one each lived a separate life. Soon, I was alone.

I remember the days when my parents would say “let’s keep the house in shape”
I would just nod with my heart full of guilt.

One night, after cleaning the master’s bedroom, I heard a cry. A chill went down my spine. I hope they weren’t there for revenge. Gulping, I followed the cry. I came to a door that was unlocked. I saw a crib. A baby went crying. It was the child of the couple. I thought the baby would die. My parents told me, the baby had it’s own maid. They said that the maid just left yesterday. I thought I was alone. I never knew we had company.

I got tired with the mansion… it’s dreadful memories always flashed through my mind. I never would want to remember any of those. I decided to leave for good.

I had finished the cleaning in the house. The rest of the time was now. My husband and I had been arguing for the past few days so I had been alone with the kids. The past was past. It is meant to be forgotten. I went to my room to watch some show…and soon fell asleep.