Shattered Innocence

By Marilyn Arroyo

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 25, 2008
• ISBN: 9781465324351

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Copyright © 2008 by Marilyn Arroyo.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in

any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission

in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

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It was a cold, blustery, December day snow covered the grounds like a blanket and Sharlene was in the middle of preparing lunch for herself and her daughters Leslie and Veronica. Veronica was a beautiful young woman with long dark locks of hair, an image of her mother. Sharlene was washing the dishes, and Veronica was enjoying her mother’s company as friend when a knock on the door interrupted their code of bonding. Sharlene opened the door, and Veronica instantly heard a familiar voice that made her shake uncontrollably, dropping a dish from her hand and shattering the plate into multiple pieces. Veronica turned her head, and her body coordinated at an instant to witness her stepfather, Jon, fondling, kissing and hugging her mother. Veronica’s mind raced as she wanted to pick up a knife, but her body would not listen due to the shock in her system, angered because she wanted to take swing at Jon. Tears streamed down Veronica’s cheeks as she took a deep breath before she could say anything. Mom, how can you do this to me? How can you let that man kiss you and hug you like that after all he has done to ruin you, me, us?

Sharlene quickly retired from Jon’s arms. Veronica, you have to realize that I need to be loved, and Jon is that person who has done that for me, for us. Jon has said he’s sorry, and I have forgiven him. Jon wants to change his ways, and he wants to do it with us as a family.

Mom, you have to know that you can do better without him in our lives. He has abused you, and who has been there to protect you? Me, Mom, that’s who, but are you there for me? No, you’re not! That man has lied and still lies to you, and you take him over me? How could you!

Veronica, I make the final decisions here. I have thought about this long and hard, and my decision is to have Jon here in my life, in our lives, and like I said, he has apologized for what he has done. So in conclusion to this, please forgive him as I have, and let’s move on as a family so we can get through this together.

Veronica’s tears streamed down her cheeks, ice-cold, as she gazed into her mother’s eyes. Mom, we can be a family—just you, Leslie, and me. We don’t need trash like him, please, Mom!

Veronica, it’s final, and besides everything, you need a father figure and guidance, so please let bygones be bygones, and let’s start fresh as a family like we were once before. Sharlene hugged Veronica and whispered in her ear, I love him, Veronica. Please, let’s make him feel part of the family again. If you can’t do it for me, please, then do it for Leslie.

Veronica loved her mother entirely, but she was confused and angry. She knew she wanted to see her mother and Leslie happy, so at an instant, Veronica changed her attitude against Jon and granted Sharlene’s wishes. Okay, Mom, I’ll do anything to see you and Leslie happy, so I’ll forgive Jon.

Sharlene kissed Veronica on her head and directed Veronica to where Jon stood. Now go apologize to Jon and make him feel welcomed.

Veronica’s stomach turned; her body shook uncontrollably as she walked toward Jon. Jon stood there watching Veronica like he had just won the battle and opened his arms wide to welcome Veronica back into his life. Jon squeezed himself onto Veronica tightly as Veronica felt disgusted. Jon kissed Veronica on the cheek and whispered to her, I’m back, and this time it’s for good.

Veronica knew what he had meant and pushed Jon off and ran into her room, closing the door behind her, and threw herself into bed, crying, feeling alone with no one to talk to. Sharlene in the kitchen asked Jon to stay put while she’d have a talk with her daughter. Sharlene knocked on Veronica’s door.

Veronica, can I come in? There was no answer, so Sharlene welcomed herself into entering Veronica’s room, finding Veronica in a child’s pose. Sharlene sat by her side on the bed. Veronica, I know what you’re thinking—I must be desperate—but you have to understand that I do love Jon.

Veronica sat up in an instant. Mom, why are you here? You said what you were going to say, so please leave. I know now that I am alone in this family, and you don’t care. Mom, I am twelve years old. I feel my innocence was taken from me, and that’s okay with you. You were supposed to protect me, and you just welcomed it, him.

Veronica, I promise things will change, you’ll see. Sharlene went to stroke Veronica’s hair, and Veronica pushed away.

Mom, I want to be alone.

Okay, Veronica. Sharlene rose from the bed and started to walk out of the room, but stopped and said, Veronica, what happened here is not to leave this house. No one is to know—not family, not friends. Do you hear me?

Veronica felt betrayed but agreed. All right, Mom, anything you say to keep you happy. Veronica watched her mother leave the room and close the door behind her in disgust as Veronica fell into her pillow and cried herself into a broken sleep, waking up terrified from dreams and Jon’s voice in her head. Veronica, I love you. I have loved you since the first day that I laid eyes on you and welcomed you as my daughter, but you have grown into this beautiful young woman that I can’t stand but to think that I want you to be mine. Let’s leave your mother and sister, and I’ll give you anything you want. Veronica would wake up in tears, knowing that this man that was supposed to protect her from harm was in fact the one who hurt her, and Sharlene didn’t care. Jon’s ruthlessness shattered Veronica’s innocence without a care, Veronica now would have to make a choice of whether this would make her strong to be able to fight back or this would destroy her and make her become another statistic.

It was December 15, 1999. Saturday morning and Veronica Dunn woke up extra early this morning to start her chores and also to make breakfast for her mom, her stepdad, and her baby sister, Leslie. Christmas was around the corner, and Veronica wanted to make sure, like any other teenaged girl, that she would receive all the gifts that she had written down on the list that she had given to her parents. Veronica made a special breakfast of pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs, along with coffee and juice. Once breakfast was done, Veronica made a point to inform the family to sit down for breakfast. As everyone came to the table, Veronica put on a CD disc of Christmas music to set the mood of holiday spirit. Veronica, a happy young lady with manners and an honor student was well liked and admired by friends, peers, and family. Everyone at the table, excluding Veronica, was still trying to wake up. Good morning, Mom and Dad, Veronica said as she served the pancakes, bacon, and eggs.

Sharlene smiled at Veronica and asked, What’s all this?

Well, since Christmas is only ten days away, I wanted to start early in being extra good so I get all the presents that I have put on my list! Veronica passed the list to Sharlene; Sharlene then passed it on to Jon.

Jon winked at Veronica. Well, you obviously started right by trying to butter us up. You keep doing what you’re doing, and I promise that you get what’s coming to you.

Thanks, Dad!

Leslie spoke in her early squeaky voice, I have my list too, Daddy.

Both Sharlene and Jon smiled and spoke, So where is your list, Leslie?

It’s in my room, I’ll go get it. Leslie ran into her room and before long had a long piece of construction paper in crayon writing—the list of toys that she had requested to Santa. Daddy, do you think Santa will bring me everything that I asked for?

Don’t know for sure, honey. You do have a big list. But I’ll talk to him tonight and see if it’s okay to get all these presents. Remember, he has to see a lot of children Christmas Eve night.

I know, Daddy. Leslie whispered into Jon’s ear, Tell him that I will be extra good, and I’ll have cookies and milk waiting for him.

Okay, princess, I will tell him.

The four of them ate breakfast as a family out of a magazine. Once breakfast was over, Sharlene started to clean up the kitchen, and Jon went to go take a shower. Leslie went to play in her room, and Veronica went off to do her Saturday-morning chores to help around the house. While dusting and polishing the wood on the center table in the living room, Jon walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, confronting Veronica while she sang White Christmas.

You sing beautifully, Veronica, hold that thought. Let me get my guitar.

Jon was a musician and had his own band that played approximately every weekend at different locations in New Jersey. Jon was very well known because of his talent as a musician/singer and was also wanted by many women because of his good looks and impressive dress style. Many woman hated Sharlene because of Jon. Jon was an entertainer, and women swarmed over him.

Jon entered the living room with his guitar. Come, Veronica, sit with me. Let’s sing ‘White Christmas’ together.

Okay, Dad. Jon played the strings of the guitar like an angel, and they both sang eloquent notes. Sharlene nor Leslie came out to join them since this wasn’t the first time that Jon and Veronica sang together. Once they sang their song, Jon asked Veronica to sit on his lap.

Veronica, gullible as a young lady, never had an idea that Jon had wrongful intentions. Veronica sat on his lap as Jon stroked her long thick locks of hair. Do you love me, Veronica?

Yeah, Dad, I do love you. Why do you ask?

Jon smiled at Veronica. Just know that you can trust me, okay?

Okay, Dad. Veronica hugged Jon. Jon patted and rubbed Veronica’s butt as she got off, but since it was done in the past, Veronica didn’t think anything bad of it. Veronica continued with her chores while Jon continued to practice his songs that he was going to perform that evening at one of the nightclubs, and as Jon continued to sing, he also continued to watch Veronica until she left the room, leaving him to continue to practice on his own.

Sharlene had finished cleaning the kitchen and dressed to go do errands and asked Veronica to watch over Leslie until she returned. Sharlene left for the stores, and while shopping for the gifts for the girls and Jon for Christmas, she encountered this midthirty-ish club rat by the name of Maria. Maria couldn’t stand Sharlene because of Jon. Maria wanted Jon for herself, but Sharlene always intervened. Sharlene avoided Maria since she didn’t want any problems, but Maria couldn’t contain herself and avoid the situation.

Well, well, well, look who I found! How is that fine-looking man Jon? Sharlene wouldn’t answer. Oh, I see the cat’s got your tongue, but that’s all right. Just give this message to Jon from me. Tell him I will not be wearing anything under my dress tonight at the club, so that way, he can have easy access to every part of my body. I know he has been waiting patiently for me since you can’t perform like I do!

Sharlene’s blood boiled, but she knew not to waste time fighting fire with fire. Maria, Jon wouldn’t desire an infected bitch like you when he has a lady at home just so he can jeopardize his happiness. So go find another infested hood rat like yourself so you can create infested animals such as yourself. Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot, you can’t have animals—your eggs are infected too! Sharlene laughed in Maria’s face.

Maria, pissed off, stepped to her. YOU BITCH, I oughta!

Sharlene stepped into her, YOU WHORE, you don’t scare me, so bring it!

Maria knew that if need be, Sharlene would take her out, so she stepped back, still staring at Sharlene, and walked away from her. Sharlene continued to shop until she found just about everything that her daughters had