A Vampire's Gift

Madelyn hears the doorbell and, startled, drops the framed picture in her hand. It drops to the wooden floor but doesn't break. The eyes of a sociopath stare back at her with smug eyes. Madelyn was lost in the picture for what seemed like hours. The fall echoed in her old room in the Attic, revealing her past. Not much has changed in her old home. The posters of her favorite shows and bands still plaster the walls. Her favorite colors drape the windows, mark the bedspread and etch the rugs. Madelyn feels alien in the room and misses that innocent girl who spent so much time there.

Madelyn is sure emptying the several boxes at the edge of the room will make her room feel like home again.

“No more distractions…”, says the forlorn young woman in her strength.

There's a knock on her door. Startled again from the abrupt noise, Madelyn walks to the door. It seems like any noise startles her these days but it's only natural from what she's been through. She walks down the stairs and the knocking comes again. Partly cracking the door, her sister with disdainful eyes stares back at her.

“He sent you a package…”, Silvia says with smug lips. Madelyn swiftly closes the door. An odd feeling comes over her. She feels almost excited but dreadful at the same time. She closes up into a ball while her sister keeps knocking.

*Knock**Knock**Knock*

“Do I have worth again to him?”

“Has he finally given up on the other girls?”

“No, he's just going to use you again!”

*Knock**Knock**Knock*

“Remember all the things he's done to you?”

“But he loves me, he's just confused!”

“He's a sociopath! You cannot change him!”

*Knock**Knock**Knock*

“He can only change himself.”

“He can only change himself.”

“He can only change himself… you cannot change him”, she rocks to herself repetitiously.

*knock**knock**knock*

A gentle voice cuts through the madness. “Ladybug? Can I come in?”, ask the sweet voice. Madelyn relaxed as this voice from her childhood was always there to take away her suffering. She releases the door and opens it to gentle eyes and strong hands seeming to have faded since her childhood. In his hands hold a box wrapped in brown paper. Madelyn's legs feel weak and she sits on the stairs. Her father sits down with her. “There's also a letter attached as well.” Tears start streaming down her face.

“I don't want to go back.”, she sobs in despair. Her father puts his arm around her to embrace her. “Everyone likes him and I know you guys don't believe me…”, she mumbles.

“Ladybug. In the end it’s all about what you believe. No one else's opinion matters.”, dad says kindly, “You're going to be the one who has to live with him the rest of your life. Either you go back to him or you can stay here.” He stands up from the stairs. “Come with me.” He takes his young daughter by the hand and they go downstairs and exit the house to the backyard.

Madelyn reminices how her father led her around by the hand as a child. His touch gave comfort and safety. Going through the backyard she remembers playing with her sister and trying to catch fireflies. In the yard the father sits the daughter down on a seat around the fire pit. He places the box in her lap and begins to start a fire. “Madelyn you've gone through a great deal and I know you're hurting but I see you at a crossroads. You're my child and you can either let your past define you or define yourself from now on. Let go of the past Ladybug. Find new meaning in your life.”

Madelyn sits for a few moments and stares at the fire. She then tosses the gift into it.

“It's time to start anew.”, she says softly.