Day 1

It’s not really day one. My life began sixteen years ago.

My aunt bought me this diary because apparently, every girl needs one. I kind of like it. It’s pretty with white lilies carved at the bottom the hard covers, front and back. I can’ feel it with my hands but I can imagine how soft it must be when one’s fingers run over is. It is pretty inside and outside with a single lily of different type and color, drawn on each page.

I’ll try to keep it short and simple.

My name is Nola and I’m not your average teenage girl. Gosh, I hope no one reads this…

Day 2

I hate this whole diary thing. I hate my aunt. I hate my life.

Day 3

Okay, I ripped off the stupid diary in half yesterday and glued it back together. I still hate it but whoever will read this is my only friend and I need one right now. Is that weird? Yes, it is.

Day 4

I lied. My aunt didn’t give the diary, I stole it from my cousin. Technically, she ripped it in half and threw it in the garbage can in her room. I glued it back together and started to write. One thing is true, I’m not your average teenager.

Day 5

I lied again. Today is not day five. It’s just day two but let’s pretend it’s day five. Wanna know what my room looks like? I don’t have one because I live in the basement with the smelly sewers.

Day 6

Still day two but who cares? I hear noises upstairs. Shoes stepping on the wooden floor, doors opening and closing, frying, and boiling. My aunt is back and she’s with my cousins and uncle. I hear plates, spoons, and forks scraping against each other. They are having dinner. I’m not invited. I’m never invited.

Day 7

My cousins are off to school. I think I used to go before the accident but I’m not sure. I don’t really remember anything. I didn’t know there was an accident before my aunt mentioned it a few days ago. My cousin said it too… before she ripped off the diary.

Day 8

The house is empty. I want to go upstairs but I can’t. Ever since I stole the diary from my cousin’s room, I’ve been chained in the basement… Maybe they know I took it and are punishing me. But why? They didn’t even want it.

Day 9

My cousins are back from school and I hear them talking from the living room.

“I miss Nola.” I hear Sofia sobs.

“I miss her too. To think Aunt Paris and Uncle Davis…” Carla’s broke into tears.

What a bunch of hypocrites! I bang my head against the pipe I’m chained to. I think they hear me. They are coming…

Day 10

Part of me is happy to see my cousins again. They are taller and prettier. Sofia is finally wearing makeup and a dress and Carla grew into her ears. They used to be my favorite twins. But why do they look so scared while looking at me? They… run… away?

Day 11

My aunt and uncle come back from work and they are having an argument upstairs. I think it’s about me.

Day 12

“I think someone is in the basement.” Sofia’s voice whispers.

“I think so too.” Carla says.

“You were scared and alone. There’s no one down there.” My aunt argues.

“I saw my diary… the one you gave me.” Sofia says.

“You probably misplaced it.” My aunt replied.

How can she deny my existence like this? How can she just pretend that I don’t exist? She is my mother’s only sister!

Day 13

I’m here! I scream and bang my head against the pipe.

“Did you hear that?” Sofia says. “I told you, mom. Someone is in the basement.”

Now they are all coming.

Day 14

My aunt slowly picks up the diary from the floor while Carla and Sofia hide behind the door. She glances frantically behind me and then stares at me. For the first time, I feel conscious about my body. I curl into a ball and try not to make eye contact. She looks at me and shouts.

“There’s no one here, girls.” She shouts, still staring at me.

“Are you sure?” Sofia shouts back.

“I’m sure.” My aunt slowly nods while looking at me still. She leaves with the diary.

Day 15

I can feel it. The diary. Even if my aunt stole it, I sense the words I'm thinking being forged in ink on the blank pages. It is a weird feeling. 

My body aches. I look at my hand and they are dark as if I spent hours bathing in coals. My body is dark. My brown hair is damped with blood and sweat. I close my eyes trying not to scream. I have to get out of here. I pull myself away from the pipe as hard as possible. I pull- I pull- and finally, I am free! Somehow my chains are gone. I can move around freely, I can finally escape. I stare at the door, ready for whatever is waiting for me on the other side.

Day 16

I’m upstairs. I am standing in the hallway between the kitchen and the bedrooms on the first floor. I let my feet sink in the white and soft carpet while I take a deep breath. I hear a noise. I footstep coming fast. I enter one of the rooms and hide inside the closet.

“Girls?” My aunt yells.

I am dead. She knows I’m here and she is going to find me. I close my eyes so hard that they hurt. I want to disappear.

Day 17

When I open my eyes, it’s dark. I hear someone sobbing next door.

“Calmate Betty.” I hear my uncle saying to my aunt. “I’m sure there’s a logical explanation for this.”

“Like what, Roberto?” Aunt Betty replies. “How do you explain these weird footsteps on my carpet? The girls were not here. You and I weren’t here.” She sobs.

“I know but saying that it’s your…” Roberto hesitates.

“Yes it is. It’s my sister’s. She wants to take revenge for Nola.”

“But all you’ve been doing is taking care of her. We spend so much money on…”

“Roberto please.” Aunt Betty says on a firm tone. “All we do is keeping her prisoner.” She breaks down in tears. “I wish I could take better care of her.”

“There’s nothing else we can do.” Roberto says slowly. “Betty look at me. There’s nothing more we can do for your niece.”

Liar! Liar! LIAR! THEY ARE ALL LIARS!