BREAKING FREE: From Sheltered to Shattered: A Tale of Transformation

By Kristina Curcija

In a world of privilege and prejudice, Ariel Monroe's life is shattered on her fourteenth birthday when she witnesses the ugly truth beneath the opulence. Born into a high-class Caucasian family, Ariel's world is a realm of privilege and extravagance, where wealth and social standing are everything. But when she sees the cruelty her neighbors in

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inkwell Publishing
• Release date: Oct 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9781738238613

Book preview

Prologue

Hi. My name is Ariel Monroe, and I want to tell you a story. Now, I do have to warn you, my story might make a lot of people feel offended, or even uncomfortable, and if it does, please stop reading. I want to share my story with those who want to listen, not those who thrive off other people’s suffering or like to point fingers wherever they can.

To start, I want to let you know, I grew up in a high-class Caucasian family, living amongst the finest things in life people would dream of. Where am I now? I can’t really say; there is no home for me, but I can honestly tell you, what I went through, I wouldn't change a darn thing.

I know what you’re thinking, yeah, yeah, princess, life can’t be that bad, go back to your plush pillow and cry about it, but that’s where you’re wrong. Through my journey to be where I am now, I've endured violence and ultimately had my life turn to ruins. Yeah, it could always be worse, but one thing everyone tends to forget is how to read between the lines and understand the true story behind it.

One

The Birthday Gift

It all started seven years ago, on my fourteenth birthday, in 1955. Back at that age, I had everything. I would open my eyes every morning to breakfast in bed, a brand new outfit for the day, and a schedule of what specialty clubs I was in; I had everything. I won't lie to you, it was pretty amazing having all that, but it was on that day that I noticed something that changed my life for the better.

When I rose from my bed and opened the curtains, I saw our beautiful maid Arden being tormented by my obnoxious neighbors, Lennox and Tyson. Both Lennox and Tyson were close to my age, just a little older than me by a few years. Lennox was 18, and his brother Tyson, 16. I heard both of them taunting Arden, calling her terrible things. They were insulting her because of her skin, her beautiful, flawless, chestnut-colored skin. I didn't understand at the time why they tried to belittle her for something she could never change, especially something so beautiful. At the time, I thought it was just a boy thing to show affection through teasing, and honestly, because they were just jerks. Countless times Lennox and Tyson would just insert themselves anywhere, particularly in places where they weren't wanted. They would provoke situations, create arguments; they would just encourage the worst things to happen whenever possible. These two boys that I unfortunately called my neighbors had such bad characters. I somehow was always able to ignore them and the idiocy that followed, but on my birthday, when I actually heard them verbally attacking Arden like that, something inside me snapped.

I remember every tear that fell down Arden's face, how she wouldn't say anything back to them, wouldn't defend herself from their cruel, hurtful words. Arden, my Arden, the woman who continuously smiled, laid out my clothes, wished everybody nothing but to have a wonderful day while she worked away on scrubbing the floor clean, was being spat at and insulted. Seeing this woman, whom I love and see as family, being called unspeakable names is not acceptable. My heart ached to see her in this pain, I felt broken to see her like this. I cannot merely stand and watch through the window as she stands out there crying; could I? Could I really just turn the other cheek and pretend like I didn't notice how their words crippled her? After everything that this woman has done for me, is it just for me to abandon her in her time of need? No, I can't watch this; I can't pretend that it's not happening. I could not bear seeing it anymore; I needed to try to help somehow. Little did I know at the time that this small act of courage would then change the course of my life…

I sprinted as fast as I could into the yard, still wearing my nightgown. I grabbed my father's golf club on the way and screamed at the top of my lungs. 

Lennox and Tyson, get off my property before I whack you a good one! They both started laughing at me, seeing me as no threat to them at all. They continued throwing their insults.

Yeah Ariel? I think you'll need to hit puberty first to whack anything good, Tyson shot back at me with a perverted look on his face as he eyed me in my gown.

Hahaha, yeah Ariel, get back to us when you get a training bra first and maybe we'll reconsider the offer, Lennox threw in his own two cents. 

Ugh. How could they be such jerks?!

As I grunted loudly by how angry I was, they both started to laugh so hard that Tyson fell off his horse, hit the ground, and kept laughing with his annoying wheezing laugh. I can't stand these two idiots; they are just scum. I can't just stand here and tolerate this; this is not okay, far from it. And just like that, I clubbed Tyson in the back of the head with the golf club and knocked him unconscious before he was able to get to his feet.

WHAT THE HECK DID YOU DO, ARIEL?! Lennox yelled as he started charging towards me, and as I panicked, all I could think about was oh no, oh no, oh no, what did I just do…

Lennox pounced, knocking me over once his body slammed into my legs. Arden started screaming for help as my face made contact with the ground. Lennox was already back on his feet, shifting his weight from one leg to the other. I am so dazed and winded; I have no idea what I'm supposed to do, and I've never actually been in a real fight before.

Before I could gather my thoughts and analyze my options, Lennox made one swift movement, kicking me so hard in my diaphragm that I couldn't breathe. I started gasping for air, just as another blow hit me in my stomach. As I was still gasping, I got another kick to the nose.