When All We Have Is Us: Vivieanne Marie, #1

By Mona Lisa Ann

In "When All We Have is Us," we are introduced to Vivieanne Davenport, a young woman who has long concealed the harrowing truth about her home life. Living under the shadow of her mother's drug addiction, alcoholism, and mental illness, Vivieanne has shouldered the burden of abuse in silence. Despite the turmoil, she finds solace in the bond she shares with her sisters and father, forming a tight-knit unit within their fractured family.

 

However, Vivieanne's world is shattered when she discovers that her family members have been aware of her suffering all along. Betrayal cuts deep as she grapples with the realization that her father and sister were complicit in enabling her mother's destructive behavior. 

 

As Vivieanne navigates through layers of pain and anger, she finds herself thrust into a tumultuous journey of healing and self-discovery. Struggling to trust those who extend a helping hand, her wounded soul lashes out in defiance, fueling a cascade of family secrets that threaten to unravel the very fabric of their existence.

 

In "When All We Have is Us," author Mona Lisa Ann delves into the complexities of familial relationships, exposing the raw emotions of betrayal, guilt, and resilience. Through Vivieanne's gripping narrative, you are invited to witness the transformative power of confronting the past and embracing the possibility of redemption amidst the chaos of shattered trust.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mona Lisa Ann
• Release date: Apr 11, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224991822

Mona Lisa Ann

Mona Lisa Ann Williams is a budding writer with a passion for storytelling. Her debut novella, When All We Have Is Us, Act One, marks the beginning of an exciting journey into the world of writing. Although this is her first published work, she has been honing her craft through the creation of short stories that she has been hoarding. Drawing inspiration from everyday life, Mona Lisa Ann weaves narratives that explore the complexities of human emotions, relationships, and the intricacies of the human experience. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for crafting compelling characters, she invites readers to embark on journeys of self-discovery and introspection. When not immersed in the world of writing, Mona Lisa Ann can be found exploring new adventures, seeking inspiration from life, love, and nature, or indulging in a good book. With a commitment to storytelling and a dedication to her craft, she looks forward to sharing more tales that resonate with you the reader, and leave a lasting impression.  

Book preview

Mona Lisa Ann Williams

When All We Have Is Us

Copyright © 2023 by Mona Lisa Ann Williams

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Mona Lisa Ann Williams asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

First edition

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Dedication

I dedicate this book to the women who taught me to be brave, strong, and daring.

Emma, Ida, Vanessa, and Lucinda, my namesake.

My girls…

Yoncenia, Tahneyia, Resigha, Laniyah, Ma’nyah and Miyanah.

You inspire me constantly.

To Stroke, because we have always had us.

… And finally, the Love of My Life.

Who reminds me daily who I am.

Thank you!

Contents

And So It Begins

Good Morning Heartache

Regretfully

Homeless

No Place Like Home

Wish Me Luck

My Last Breath

I Was My Sister’s Keeper

Reality Is

And So It Begins

I work nights most of the time. Most people who work nights get to sleep in, but not me. I am usually up and out of the house early; otherwise, I am asking for trouble. This morning, Trouble yanked me out of bed and gave me a gut shot, causing the only thing in my stomach, bile, to hit my lips before water or toothpaste. Trouble has accused me, again, of stealing. I’m no thief, but when has that ever mattered? Trouble always gets the last word, and that’s fine. I’m having trouble getting my thoughts together.

I can’t even catch my breath.

Good Morning Heartache

How could she take me back? She had to know what that woman would do to me. I stare out the passenger side window at the raindrops starting to show. Before long I realize my tears are falling as fast as the rain. I lift my hand to wipe them away, but my sister catches it midair. She glanced at me, only for a second.

Oh, she said, her eyes back on the road. I thought you were…

Gonna hit you? I barely whispered. Does she believe I would hurt her? Does she think I don’t love her as much as I do? Our age difference has never been a problem. I have idolized my sister my whole life. I look to her as an example of what a strong woman is. And god, it hurts so unbelievably bad. What’s happened between us? I can’t understand how we have gotten to this point.

She released my hand, and I let it fall sharply into my lap. She had been holding it so tightly that there’s a nail print in my thumb. I turned back to my window and the rain, still softly falling. I am trying to think about anything else, anything other than how close we were to home.

The damp smell from the vents. The overpowering air freshener hanging from the rear-view mirror. It’s doing nothing to mask the muskiness. The shoe print on the dash and the thick layer of dust making it stand out too well. How the streetlights seem to be coming on one by one as we pass them. The little girl in a blue dress, dragging a dog behind her, yelling something in Spanish.

We seemed to be moving both too quickly and not at all. When I can focus on where we are I realize we’re still miles away. But even one mile closer is too close. I don’t remember stopping at a single red light. My mind is racing so fast that it keeps going blank. I closed my eyes to gather my thoughts, only to be slammed with crippling fear when I open my eyes and reality catches up to me again.

The locket around my neck feels like a cinder block; the chain is rubbing and irritating my skin. I used to love this locket. It is a special locket, a very special locket or so I was told. Adrianne had given it to me for Mother’s Day years ago. I’m not sure what age, but I was definitely a child. She had said the words engraved on it, The two of you are all you have - is never to be forgotten. Never? Unfortunately, Aiddie has forgotten. She has forgotten that she is my protector. She always has been, or at least she always was. This car ride is the answer to my question, I guess. I had always suspected it, but now I know for sure. It doesn’t matter how much I love her; she doesn’t love me. She couldn’t, or she would be headed anywhere but home. Because I know she hasn’t forgotten that it’s the last place I should be.

Thoughts of the attic make my gut sink. I can count on one hand the number of times Ada has been locked in the attic. I, on the other hand, have spent countless hours up there, freezing in the winter with no heat and a broken window. One day, I passed out from the heat and woke up vomiting. It was one hundred degrees outside. I had been up there for hours. Ada can’t even describe what it looks like up there. Anna, who is only ten, doesn’t seem to care and never questions it. It’s not right when she gets dragged up there, although I suppose it’s better than being in the basement. It’s heartbreaking how normal it all seems to Anna. It shouldn’t be. Although she’s never up there for more than a minute or two the thought scares the hell out of me. I can only imagine what it does to her.

This ride is slowly killing me. I desperately need to get out of this car. I always feel like I should get a tetanus shot whenever I step inside, it’s filthy. If I didn’t know her, I would swear she lives in this car. I understand she would rather be in