Second Thought

                                                                                    Serenity's POV     My life was complicated and unplanned. All I wanted was a normal life with a family to love me, but I got the opposite of that. Ever since I was five years old, my life was turned around for the worst. I was adopted by Livia and Cameron and they share a daughter together named Nova. When I was first adopted, they seemed like nice people until I really got to know them. I don't remember much before the adoption other than that. They brought me home and their demeanor's changed quickly. Watching how they changed it made me desperate to know my real parents. I knew one day that I would find out why they put me up for adoption if I ever made it out of the hell that I was living in now. My adoptive parents and Nova hated me so much and I didn’t really understand why. I was alive for one reason, that reason was to be married off to a young suitor when I became of age. You see, where I live, we had certain customs. That once your daughter became the age of eighteen year of age, you would sell her off to a man to become his wife. I never cared for the custom but why would I be being in my position? I thought it was disgusting and repulsive to sell your daughter off for money. So, when Livia and Cameron had the opportunity to get rid of me, they took it. They hated me so bad that they placed me in the dungeon under their home, unwilling to let me sleep in the same home as them. It was a small cell and completely filthy. I had no way to care for myself, so I myself also became filthy. My hair was matted, I had deep dark circles under my eyes, and I was skinny due to the lack of food. They didn't even have a bed for me, I had to sleep next to the rats. I was only allowed a bath once a month which I had to use cold water to bathe. I have spent every moment here since I was five. Today was my eighteenth birthday and while most celebrated their birthday, I was dreading mine. I imagine most women would be excited for their eighteenth birthday but not I because I knew today was the day that I would be potentially sold off to a man to be married.     "Well hello Serenity." I heard Nova speak. She was the only one that would ever come down here. She was responsible for keeping me alive, but I think she may have hated me more than Livia and Cameron did. She would even hit me. I have gotten used to it and it doesn't hurt the way it used to. I have come to expect it from her now and can anticipate when it will happen. Most of the time.     "I'm glad to finally be rid of you today," she says while stepping into my cell. She was holding a pale pink dress in her arms along with some black flats. "Put these on and someone will be down in a few minutes to get you." I thought she was just going to walk away but my silence pissed her off. "Stand up and come over to me." I do as I am told and walk over to where she was standing. She grabs my face and places a kiss upon my lips. I was confused for a moment because she had never done that before and I didn't know why she had. She hated me and I knew that but then I see a smile form across her lips, and she reaches her hand back. Her hand connects to my face and I let out a small whimper. I hear her footsteps depart while she is laughing, not bothering to lock the cell this time. A few moments pass and I hear heavier footsteps walking down the steps to my cell. I was scared and nervous for the first time in a long time. I didn't want to know who it was, so I immediately looked down. I was standing in the middle of my cell, now wearing the clothing that Nova had brought to me. The next thing I heard was a man's voice. It had a softness to it, and it was unexpected for the man I was to potentially be married off to.