Broken-hearted

“I am the favorite. They know me better, love me more,”  the younger girl said.
Syllea looked at her sister with tears in her eyes, “Papa and Father love me too.” She replied, though her voice was flooded with doubt.
Em laughs at Syl, “Even I know you don’t believe that.”
Syllea chokes back a sob but says nothing. A dark laugh sounds from behind Syllea. She spins around and there is her brother, Ric.  His eyes stare daggers at her, “If it weren’t for you Dem wouldn’t have kicked me out.” He spits at the young girl.
Em chimes in, with an angry voice, “Your cheeriness is just disgusting. Everyone knows you are a scared little child inside, but you hide it from us. You liar!”
Syllea cowers in fear as the two stand over her. She almost expects Ric to come and slap her, but before he would even have the chance, a gentle voice begins to speak, “Children, do not hurt her with your words. She is only a poor lass full of fear and pain. Although she never had to go not knowing who her parents were Miss Em, or having their adopted father stolen from them like you Ric.”
Syllea sobbed as Dem, her adopted father spoke with disgust towards her. “I am sorry,” She whimpered, as the three looked at her with hate.
“Maybe, I wouldn’t hate you so much Syllea, if you hadn’t hurt my lover so much. You yell and throw things when he is hurting.” Dem points off to the distance where Egfor sobs and shakes. He avoids Syllea’s gaze, refusing to even acknowledge her.
“Papa, I didn’t mean to…I am sorry Father.” She calls out. Syl attempts to go to her Father but her Papa’s hand slaps her across the face, sending her back.
“You shall not come near me, my lover, nor my children.” Dem glares at Syl once more, before turning away, taking all she loved with him.
“Papa!” She screams after him, “Please!” Tears run down her face and her voice turns hoarse as she screams.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------“Pa-“ Syllea sits up, as she wakes up screaming. Tears cover her cheeks and pillows. She brings a hand to her cheek, feeling the place where her Papa had hit her in the nightmare.
Suddenly the teen girl's guard burst in, “Miss Syllea are you alr-“ She paused as she saw the girl's state.
Syllea looked away and replied, “I am fine.” Though she was far from fine. Ever since Ric had left and she had burst at Eg, her guilt and pain had eaten her alive. Then meeting her sister, jealously curdled her insides. Em was a nice girl, unlike the first time they met, but she had never been around when she was with Dem and Eg. They were all together as a family, and the jealousy she felt angered her, but above all…it scared her.
Her guard didn’t believe her and wrapped an arm around the girl's shoulders gently. “It’s okay Miss Syllea, it was just a nightmare.”
Syllea nodded her head, but it wasn’t just a nightmare. What they had said… was true. Father had been acting so distant lately, and she knew it was partially her fault. She also hid her fears behind smiles, but she couldn’t help it. If she was anything else…she would fall apart. Dem knew that, so why had he told her to show more of her insides? Why did he want her to change? All these things scared her, but she couldn’t let anyone know.
As Syllea’s guard continued trying to comfort the girl, Syllea’s nerves got the best of her, and she keeled over, throwing up what little food she had inside her stomach. The guard held the teen girl’s hair back, patting her back gently. She worried about how she would tell Dem of all that had happened. “Miss Syllea, why don’t you tell me what your dream was?”
Syllea wiped her mouth with her undershirt and began to cry again. “It was awful.” She wailed before telling the nightmare to the woman. The woman tried to remember as much as possible so she could report back to Dem, in hopes he could help the worried girl.
Once Syl had finished reciting the nightmare her eyes glazed over as if she was in a different place. “Syl?” her guard asked.
Syllea didn’t respond, her eyes still glazed over. Sighing, the woman began to undress the teen girl and change her into something cleaner. Syllea didn’t fight back or do anything except sit there in a daze. Finally, the guard lay the girl back into bed, whispering, “Time to sleep, my dear.”
Ever so quietly she whispered, “Yes Mama.” Before turning over and falling into a dreamless sleep; leaving the guard to stare with broken-hearted tears for the poor girl.