Prologue – Behind Closed Doors I watched the raindrops fall gently from the dark sky; each drop slides down the window like a tear on the peach face of a newborn crying for its mother. It was a dark day in Belleville; but then again, it always has been. I can't remember the last time I saw the sun filter through the pearly gray clouds to shed some light on this morbid city. We always seemed to live in darkness; even at midday it looked like the early morning sun was still trying to break out over the horizon. I felt like time was darkening; so did my mood. I ran my bony fingers along the window glass; chasing a raindrop with great precision. I loved nature; but I never dared venture out unless necessary. Even then it was the nerve-wracking trip to school that I wish I could have avoided. Just the torment of constantly having to look over your shoulder for fear of someone running after you with a knife or a gun was enough to make you want to never leave the safety of your home again. Belleville isn't all that horrible; it is simply overrun with young delinquents. Most were from my school. If you meet someone over thirty, the fear will melt away from you as they pass by with a smile. My generation's parents were so strict, probably why most kids became naughty by sixth grade. They simply rebelled against their parents' wishes. I never rebelled against my parents. Well, that's a lie. I did this as a child; but not anymore. I'm not one of the Belleville girls you'll find strutting down the school halls in the latest fashion. I'm just a quiet and simple girl who would like to be able to fade into the background and not be noticed....... middle of paper....... At that moment the inevitable happened, I heard my father raise his voice like my mother did. They argued for what seemed like a lifetime; the topic of the conversation remained unknown to me. A few seconds later a door slammed and someone rushed up the stairs. I held my breath and clutched the duvet around me tightly in fear. There was a soft knock on my door and the distant sound of my mother's trembling voice. “Goodnight Viola. Sleep well, my fallen angel. My heart stopped as she walked away, it was obvious she had tried hard not to cry and now I was doing the same. I relaxed a little more and popped my head out from under the duvet, luckily tonight my arguments hadn't reached the point of physical violence. I waited until both my parents had gone to bed and finally let myself fall into a broken, tormented sleep. A little freedom until tomorrow.