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Prologue

BLYTHE

"Go to bed, Blythe And don’t forget to say your prayers," Mrs Williahts I turned around from the as perched next to and looked at the wouardian I didn’t refer to her as "Mother" because I had made that mistake once and she had hit me with a belt

"Yes, ma’am," I replied, and climbed down fro that I felt was truly mine I had asked for aseat like this when I saw one in a movie once Mrs Williams had calleda request such as that one

But her husband, Pastor Willia It orth the secret punish her husband sin by giving ift

Mrs Williams continued as I stood by that seat "Remember to thank God that you’re alive and not dead like your mother," she snapped The tone in her voice was especially nasty tonight She was angry about sooing to punish h I was not the cause of her anger

"Yes, ed when she spoke of the mother I had never really known, and of her death I hated hearing the sordid details of how my mother suffered because of her sins It made eance, I didn’t understand But then over the years I realized that the kind heart I saw in Pastor Williams hat God must really be like

"And," Mrs Williams went on, "thank him for the roof over your head that you do not deserve," she spit

She often reoodness extended to me by her and Pastor Willias to parents I had ever known allbirth to me She was sick with pneumonia, and it was a miracle I had lived I had been born six weeks early

"Yes,slowly over to ot too close to her She liked to strike me, but I didn’t like to be hit

She stood with her shoulders straight and her nose tilted up so that she had to look down at ht bun The black-rilasses she wore made her squinty brown eyes seeood Lord for your health Even though you are exceptionally ugly and have no hope for any beauty, you should be thankful that you are alive That you are healthy Because you do not deserve it--"

"That’s enough, Margaret" Pastor Williams voice interrupted her It wasn’t the first tily I was How the sin ofin looks How no one would ever love me because I was too hard to even look at I had accepted o I didn’t look in athat face stare back at me The one that made Mrs Williams hate me, and Pastor Williams pity ry and taking it out on Blythe Leave her alone I’ you another time This has to stop," he whispered to his wife, but I could still hear his deep voice

Whenever he caught her tellingme of the sin that would forever haunt my life he, would correct her and send her away I let the relief co her She wouldn’t come near me She would pout and stay tucked away in her roonore me and turn and walk away like he always did He didn’t like looking at me either The few times in my life he actually looked at lier I had to be

One day I would be old enough to leave this place I wouldn’t have to go to church and listen about the loving God these people served The one who ly The one who took my mother away I wanted to escape all this and hide away in a small tohere no one knew me A place where I could just be alone and write In my stories I could be beautiful The prince would loveI loved ht now they were all in my head

"Go to bed, Blythe," Pastor Williams said as he turned to follow his wife down the hallway

"Yes, sir Goodnight, sir," I replied

He stopped, and I waited to see if he would say more If he would turn around and smile at me Or if he would just look atto control my life forever But he never did He just stood there with his back to ed as he walked away

One dayI would be free

Chapter One