The Price Of Sacrifice
Harmony Creek wasn't much to look at just a scattering of houses nestled in the embrace of the Appalachian Mountains. It was a place where everyone knew everyone, where secrets didn't stay buried for long, and where the weight of the past pressed down on the present.
But for Lisa, the eldest Morgan daughter, Harmony Creek was more than just a collection of houses. The scent of pine and damp earth that clung to her clothes always felt like both a promise and a threat. She could taste the coal dust in the air, even though the mines had been closed for years. It held her close, but it also held her back.
A world away, a few hours' drive from Harmony Creek, lay Asheville a city of art, music, and money, where the wealthy flaunted their fortunes.
But Lisa's reality was far removed from that glitz and glamour. Her life was here, in Harmony Creek, where every day was a struggle.
The lunch rush was in full swing at the diner, and the air was thick with the smell of frying bacon and burnt coffee. Lisa moved quickly between the crowded tables, carrying a tray full of plates. A man waved her over, his face turning red with anger. "This coffee is cold!" he snapped
Lisa took a deep breath, forcing a smile. "I'm so sorry, sir," she replied calmly. "Let me get you a fresh cup right away." As she walked towards the coffee machine, she glanced at the clock. Her shift was almost over, and she still had to pick up Leo from school.
Back at home, Leo was waiting. As soon as he saw her, he ran to her and hugged her. "Lisa, I got a B in my math test!" he exclaimed, his voice full of shame.
Lisa hugged him tightly. "Hey, that's okay," she said, even though she knew how important it was for him to get good grades. "We'll work on it together, okay?"
Later, as she tucked Leo into bed, she remembered a time when she had dreamed of going to college, of becoming a teacher. But those dreams seemed like a lifetime ago. Now, her only goal was to make sure her siblings had a better future.
Automatically, she started clearing the table after dinner, a habit ingrained since childhood. It wasn't a conscious decision; it was simply what she did. She had three siblings: Emma, Leon, and Leo.
Her mother, Anna, is a religious woman, a Christian who prays often and believes that all things are possible. A hard-working woman, she has always supported Lisa in every step she takes. Anna has been weakened by the injuries her husband, John, inflicted on her body, and it has affected her health.
Their home consisted of only two rooms: one for her sister and mother, and the other for her brothers. Lisa crashed on the torn couch in the small sitting room, hardly ever sleeping comfortably. Sometimes she took turns with her sister, but only if Emma was pleased with her. They shared a single toilet, taking turns to bathe. Sometimes, Lisa had to bathe at work in the public restroom. The sitting room barely contained their belongings; it was where Lisa crashed each night.
She worked three jobs: as a delivery girl, washing dishes at a restaurant, and waitressing at a bar at night, the most difficult of the three.
"Believe in yourself, Lisa," Anna would say, her eyes filled with a quiet hope. "Don't compare yourself to others. You know who you are; good things happen to good people. Your Mr. Right is on his way to make this right."
Lisa didn't believe in those words, but she always smiled to make her mother happy. All she believed in was work and making money. She had three siblings to care for, even though they tried to help. She never allowed it; she only wanted them to have a great future and study hard to get good grades.
People mocked her and called her dirty, but she never cared. One day, her neighbor Aunt Kathy called her over to talk.
Aunt Kathy reached out and gently touched her arm, her hand surprisingly firm for a woman her age. "Lisa, I know it has been hard for you ever since your father John left," she said, her eyes filled with pity and her voice calm. She paused, her gaze searching Lisa's face.
"You're trying to do too much, sweetheart. You need to give yourself a break."
Lisa shifted uncomfortably, avoiding Aunt Kathy's eyes. The scent of Aunt Kathy's lavender perfume, usually comforting, now felt cloying.
"I'm fine, Aunt Kathy."
"Fine?" Aunt Kathy raised an eyebrow, her lips pursing slightly. "How old are you now, Lisa?"
She hesitated, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face. "Hum…. Thirty," she mumbled.
"Thirty," Aunt Kathy repeated, shaking her head sadly. "I just want to remind you that you are not getting any younger. Don't you think it's time you started thinking about yourself? All the other girls your age are married, settling down..." She trailed off, her voice heavy with sadness. "But you're working yourself to the bone, juggling three jobs. Do you ever rest?"
Marriage? That's a luxury I can't afford, she thought, a wave of weariness washing over her. The thought of a white dress and a picket fence felt as distant as the stars.
Aloud, she responded, "You know how my family is, Aunt Kathy. I have younger ones to take care of, I have bills to pay, my mother needs me..." Her voice trailed off, the unspoken words hanging in the air: Who else will do it? "You know things weren't like this before," she said, a hint of bitterness creeping into her tone. "I thank you so much for always being there for us. You have been the only person I can and know as a family," she said, appreciating her for everything and also feeling ashamed and embarrassed.
Aunt Kathy sighed, her gaze softening. "Lisa," she said, her voice laced with a hint of frustration, "don't blame yourself for what you knew nothing about. Let the past stay in the past. I am so sorry, Lisa." She reached out and squeezed Lisa's hand, her touch conveying a mixture of sympathy and concern. "But you can't keep sacrificing yourself for everyone else. You deserve a life too, you know. A life beyond Harmony Creek, beyond these mountains."
She looked down at her calloused hands the hands that scrubbed dishes, delivered takeout, and poured drinks. "What else am I supposed to do, Aunt Kathy?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "This is my life."
Just then, her phone rang, the shrill ringtone cutting through the tension. "That's my delivery time," she said, her voice laced with a mixture of relief and regret. "I have to go, Aunt Kathy. Thanks so much." She offered a weak smile, her eyes avoiding Aunt Kathy's.
As she turned to leave, she couldn't shake the feeling that Aunt Kathy's words had struck a nerve that had been aching for a long time.
"Lisa," Aunt Kathy called after her, her voice laced with urgency. "Don't forget what I said. You deserve more than this."
She simply nodded, her heart heavy with a mixture of gratitude and despair. She hurried away, eager to escape the weight of Aunt Kathy's words and the suffocating reality of her life.
As she hurried down the cracked sidewalk, Aunt Kathy's words echoed in her mind: You deserve more than this. The phrase stung, a painful reminder of the dreams she had long abandoned. She remembered a time when she had aspirations beyond Harmony Creek – dreams of college, a career, a life of her own. But those dreams had faded, replaced by the harsh realities of responsibility and sacrifice.
She thought of her father, John, his face a distant memory. His departure had been the catalyst, the moment when her childhood innocence shattered and the weight of the world landed squarely on her shoulders. She couldn't blame him entirely; life in Harmony Creek had been hard on him too. But his absence had left a void that she had been trying to fill ever since.
She paused, gazing at the distant mountains. They were beautiful, majestic, but they also felt like a cage, trapping her in a cycle of poverty and obligation. Was there a way out? Could she ever escape the weight of the Morgans? A flicker of hope ignited within her, quickly extinguished by the fear of the unknown. What else am I supposed to do? This is my life.
She arrived at the restaurant, her heart still heavy with Aunt Kathy's words and the memories they had stirred. She forced a smile as she greeted her coworkers, determined to push aside her doubts and focus on the task at hand.
As she tied on her apron and prepared for the dinner rush, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted within her. Aunt Kathy's words had planted a seed of discontent, a whisper of possibility that refused to be silenced. The weight of the Morgans still pressed down on her, but now, for the first time in a long time, she wondered if there might be a way to lighten the load.
The chapter ends with her thinking, Maybe, just maybe, Aunt Kathy is
To Be Continued..