**The Light in the Darkness**
**Chapter 1: The Break**
“Get out, you ungrateful girl!” her mother screamed, shoving Adelaide toward the door.
Adelaide stumbled, struggling to keep her balance. Her mothers glare burned deeper than any words.
“Dont come back! I never want to see you again! You liar!” The door slammed shut.
Adelaide stood frozen on the doorstep, her heart splintering into shards.
“Mum, pleaseI swear, I didnt… he…” she whispered, but no one was left to listen.
Her drunken stepfather had tried to hurt her, and when Adelaide confessed, her mother refused to believe her. To her, Adelaide was just trying to sabotage her new marriage. So she threw her out without a second thought.
**Chapter 2: Wandering the Streets**
Alone, Adelaide wandered the cobbled lanes of the small mining town, begging for scraps. The icy wind bit her skin, hunger gnawing at her bones. Men leered at her with dirty grins, the drunk ones worst of all. She felt invisible, forgotten by the world.
As All Souls Day neared, she thought of her father. She remembered how their home used to glow with marigolds and candles. This year, her mother wouldnt bothershe knew that much.
**Chapter 3: The Shrine**
With the little shed taken when cast outher fathers photograph among themshe built her own shrine. She gathered roadside flowers and begged stale bread and bruised fruit, arranging them beneath an ancient oak. Kneeling before her fathers picture, she shattered into sobs.
“Dad, if you love me, come take me away,” she pleaded. “I dont want to be here anymore.”
The wind tousled her hair like ghostly fingers. Exhausted, she fell asleep by the shrine.
**Chapter 4: The Revelation**
At dawn, she woke. Hunger hadnt vanished, so she ate the meagre offerings, tasteless as they were. As she trudged back into town, she spotted her mother sprinting toward her, tears streaming. Before Adelaide could react, she was crushed in a desperate embrace.
“Forgive me, love, please forgive me,” her mother wept. “I didnt believe you… but last night, I saw him.”
Adelaide stiffened, wary. Her mothers voice cracked.
“I left him drinking, like always… then I heard screams. He wasfloating, slamming into walls like a ragdoll! He screamed, I confess! I wanted Adelaide! Then… he dropped. Dead. And a voicenot humansaid, Leave this house and find your daughter, or next year, I drag you to hell.”
A chill seized Adelaide, but her anger melted at her mothers brokenness. They clung to each other. She decided, then, to forgive.
**Chapter 5: Homecoming**
Before stepping inside, Adelaide gazed at the stormy sky, a tear slipping free.
“Thank you, Dad,” she whispered. “I knew youd come.”
The house felt heavy, the stepfathers shadow lurking in corners. Adelaide shivered but pushed it down. Her mother swore hed never return.
“Ill deal with him,” her mother said, steel in her voice. “He wont touch you again.”
Adelaide nodded, though fear prickled. Her mother had been weak beforebut now, she seemed changed.
**Chapter 6: The Confrontation**
That night, her mother faced him. Adelaide watched, heart pounding. The argument hissed through walls, but the venom in her mothers voice was clear.
“Never lay a hand on my girl again. If you come near us, Ill call the police.”
Relief and dread twisted in Adelaide. Would it be enough?
Her mother returned, shaken but resolute. “Hes gone, love. For good.”
**Chapter 7: Healing**
Days passed. The wound ached, but they rebuilt. Together, they prepared the All Souls shrine, filling it with marigolds and memories.
Adelaide realised love still flickered between them. Her mother had failed herbut shed also fought for her.
“Well do this every year,” her mother said, arranging flowers. “So your dads always with us.”
Adelaide smiled. For the first time in ages, hope glimmered.
**Chapter 8: New Traditions**
All Souls Day arrived, the town alive with flickering candles. Adelaide and her mother joined, sharing stories of their father, laughing through tears.
Adelaide felt stronger. Her dad was with them, guiding them forward.
**Chapter 9: A Brighter Future**
Time passed. Adelaide re-enrolled in school, determined to finish. Her mother, wrestling her own demons, stood by her.
They learned to trust, to talk. Laughter crept back into the house.
**Chapter 10: A New Dawn**
A year later, Adelaide admired their shrine. Marigolds glowed in the sunlight, peace settling over her.
“Thank you, Dad,” she murmured. “For watching over us.”
Her mother hugged her. “Well always be together. Always strong.”
Adelaide smiled. Shed found her place. Life had been cruelbut shed learned to rise.
Heart full, she faced the future, ready for whatever came next.
