Most kids who were Selene's age took their home and possessions for granted. They complained about what their parents had them eat, where they lived or what their parents didn't let them do. Selene wished she could at least experience just a taste of that normality, because she was never allowed to complain about anything. Not the state of her house, the food placed on the table, and especially not how her family treated her. She let out a heavy sigh and blew her dark hair out of her face. The poor girl had ran up to her room for an escape, school was once again a nightmare like always. But she never brought it up at home, because her life here was no better.

"I really hope that Dad does not make me cut my hair again," she said to herself not wanting to think about that. Her father had wanted a boy and was disappointed when she turned out to be a girl, so her father tried to always make Selene look like a boy. Someone knocked on her door and the eleven year old jumped.

"Selene!" Her half brother Alex called out. "Mom and Dad said that they want to see you," he continued and she gulped in fear. What did they want now?

"Okay I'm coming," she responded, getting off her bed and walking out the door. As she headed down the stairs she could smell whatever her stepmother had brought home. It smelled awful but that outwayned her fear of going to face her guardians.

"Oh hello darling," Her stepmother said once she took notice of Selene.

"Hello Stepmother," Selene responded a bit afraid to say anything else. Her stepmother told her to come over and the girl obeyed without question. Kara was her name and in Selene's mind she looked like a witch. Her long curly hair was like waves of auburn, her make up looked like blood on her almost pale skin, and her eyes were like burning embers. Even the way she dressed made Selene think of the evil queen from snow white.

"Selene, you know the rules, you will address her as mam," Her father scolded from his spot at the kitchen table.

"Yes sir," Selena answered sighing under her breath.

"Now get started on dinner and try not to burn anything," Kara ordered. Selene only nodded when her stepmother handed her a grocery bag. Inside there were some potatoes, along with meat and sour milk. No doubt it was what Selene had smelled earlier, but she said nothing as she got to work. As she was peeling the potatoes so she could mash them up, her father commented about her appearance.

"Your hair is too long, after dinner I am going to cut it," he said without a second thought.

"But father it's not even past my shoulders," She protested but that only made her stepmother angry.

"Don't talk back to your father now, keep quiet!" Kara yelled. Selene remained silent after that and about an hour later dinner was finally done. Alex came running down immediately when his mother called for him, and Selene scoffed when the woman happily picked him up.

"Mommy I love you," He said with a smile and Kara kissed him on the head.

"Aww baby I love you as well," She responded and Selene hid her face. If that vile woman was capable of loving her son, why doesn't love me? The girl thought to herself. "Jack is it okay if he sits with you?" Kara asked.

"Of course," her husband responded and Alex ran to his father. "Hey buddy how are you?" Selene tuned everyone out as her half brother talked about his day. She was only interested in eating and getting back upstairs, not the words of a six year old. The milk was sour and the meat wasn't perfect, but at least it wasn't undercooked. Selene remained mostly silent while everyone else spoke, that is until her father spoke directly to her. "So how are your grades Selene?" He asked and she paled a bit. If her grades were not good then her father would lock her inside her room.

"I have nothing below an A Dad," she responded being honest. Despite everything she went through, Selene was incredibly bright and able to maintain straight A's throughout her first year of middle school.

"Impressive," Kara commented. "Considering you hide in your room all the time,"

"I only go there to reflect on my day mam," Selene answered. The pre-teen didn't feel like mentioning that's where she cursed both of her guardians, and thought about running away.

"Why not just tell us?" Jake asked but Selene didn't answer him. She pushed her empty plate away and lied about being tired. "Fine do the dishes and wait for me in your room, then you go to bed," her father responded. Selene did what she was told and before she knew it, her father was standing in her bedroom with a pair of scissors.

"Why can't you just let me grow it out a bit?" Selene asked. Despite knowing that her father would berate her for questioning him.

"Selene we have talked about this a hundred times, I can't let anyone know you're a girl," he told her. "As the oldest it is your responsibility to continue the family business," he continued. Selene sighed as she knew what was coming, her father was referring to the tech company he owned. Since she was the first born, it was her job to run it after he retired or died.

"I know and people won't approve of it being run by a woman," she answered before he could finish.

"Exactly now hold still and don't forget to finish your project tomorrow," he responded as he began cutting her brown hair. It took only a few minutes before she looked like a boy with slightly long hair. "Excellent don't you think my boy?" He asked and she just nodded. Because she hated that he did this to her, and how he tried to make her conceal who she was. "Now get some sleep you have to wake up early to.."

"To make you and Kara breakfast I know," she responded and didn't relax until he had left the room. It was then that she allowed herself to let tears fall, after these years of mistreatment. Her hope that one day things would improve had almost completely vanished, her parents didn't love her. So what was the point of waiting for someone else if she couldn't be herself.