Reborn

The bushels of apples on the front steps meant fall was here; Mrs. Padley was adamant on having them on the steps the moment she saw her leaves begin to wither. When the apples themselves began to rot, she would have me replace them with fresh new ones, a waste I had to bear with for months. The children that lived on our street took them once and even managed to throw a few at her window. Needless to say, at the ripe age of 37, Mrs. Padley almost landed in a hospital bed from the blood-curdling anger. Her mood was unlike something you've ever imagined; she had a nasty attitude, one only her husband, Mr. Padley, could understand. The man stood taller than the front door frame, however tall that may be. He was a docile man and spent half his lifetime in the basement working on something we were never allowed to see. He loved his wife- but would only show it once every blue moon, and although he loved her, I cannot imagine it was easy for him to like her. Her unbearable demeanor made it difficult, and as a result, I would often catch home staring at her in awe and confusion by the kind of woman he married. They both lived in their own world, one where their designer clothes and monthly botox injections hide their seemingly dull lives. Their children, who are supposed to be their pride and joy, were only extra accessories to their lives. Judy and baby Matthew exist in another world, quiet with every fantasy a child could imagine. They were both delicate things; Judy was beautiful and looked exactly like her mother before the Botox and botched surgeries. Baby Mathew was far too young for me to notice any resemblance to his parents. When I came into their home, I felt like I was already a part of the family. I was given a room just below theirs and the jurisdiction of the children; they were to be kept amused, fed, and raised with proper manners.
At that moment, I fell in love with the Padley family, and from then on, I worked hard to keep my place in our home. This particular day was a Monday, my most favorite day of the week. My first task is to wake the children and get them ready for school, but before them, I make myself presentable with clean shoes, a clean uniform, and a clean face. Judy is easier to wake up; she skitters around the hall for half a moment and then runs to the bathroom to wash her tiny teeth. As I walk to wake baby Mathew, I hear that dreadful noise again, a hissing noise that seems to come from the walls. I've tried to tell Mr. Padley, but to no avail; instead, he grunts and walks down to his basement. After breakfast, the noise disappears, and living in this house becomes more manageable again.
Everything would have kept going like it has for the past five years, but Mr. Padley's obvious affair and the children's distress have gotten the best of me, and today I will make everything well again. Peace will be restored. After Judy is dropped off at school and Mrs. Padely has gone to work, I am left alone with Mr. Padley and baby Mathew. I chop my veggies and prepare to boil some water for tonight's surprise dinner. When that was done, I walked to the shed in the backyard and grabbed an ax; I admired the tool, thinking what a fantastic job I did sharpening it last week. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of the basement door; I reached to turn the doorknob, but a rush of dizziness rushed to my head, and I almost fell backward, but I caught myself on the countertop before I hit the floor. Suddenly I felt giddy, and I laughed to myself, what a mess I am making of this situation, "if it's to be done, it is to be done right," I say out loud. I open the door and step in; there he is, what a ridiculous man. I made no attempt to hide my tool when I saw his face; I knew I was making the right decision, but for whatever reason, I began to cry, I cry, and I cry, and It made me full of consuming anger that makes the tips of my toes twitch. I launch towards him, and he screams; I stop. "Now, now, Mr. Padely, please do not be difficult. I see what you do when you are alone, unlike your wife, see everything you do, but please don't be scared; there is nothing to be worried about anymore. I will make sure you cause this family no more harm." I launch at him again, and this time it feels easier; this is the right thing to do.
———

Dinner tonight will be beef stew and meatballs, Beth and Judy's favorite meals. Again that annoying humming sound returns, this time louder than before. I would scream to the top of my lungs, but Beth comes home, "oh hello dear, dinner is almost ready? It smells wonderful" I chuckle and look up at her in amusement, "yes, Ms. Padley, I've made yours and Judy's favorite meals for tonight." Her face lights up for a second but then freezes in sudden realization "have you seen my husband dear? He is normal home by the time I get back, why actually, he's always been here before I get back," she scurries to the phone like a frightened squirrel "don't fret Ms. Padley, I'm sure all is well, and he should be back any minute, now dinner is ready and will be at the table shortly" I say quite merrily. After they return from the bathroom, I serve both their meals on a silver platter and place it on the most refined table I've arranged thus far, working at the Padley residence. "Oh, I should phone him, dear. It won't take a minute." What an inept woman, "I said sit down, the both of you!" I scream it to the top of my lungs. This family is not well suited for me after all, I throw both their plates at them, and with a grimacing smile, I yell, "here is your precious husband, Ms. Padley, or should I say Beth" Her harrowing face fills me with pleasure, "you are all too easy" My hands shake as I reach for the ax underneath the table, I wonder how that got under there. Beth cry's and Judy sits bewildered by what is going to happen, clueless. "Please don't cry, Beth, we've done this before!", my hands are now above my head, ready to throw down a lethal blow; she begins to scream, and then the world starts to shake, and the lights flicker red, I close my eyes shut and then snap them open on only to reveal an empty room with myself strapped in a white gown surrounded by walls of softness, "Where am I?!, Ms. Padley! I haven't done anything wrong! Please!" I breathe heavily; what is going on? I look around the room, but it is empty. Only a vent on the side of the wall hissing and humming is present. I hear footsteps. "I'm here, I'm here! Please help me, I'm here!". Two men appear at the window of my door. "Ms. Padley, what is the matter? Please relax." The two men enter my room, and one begins to prepare a needle. "Ms. Padley? What no, you've got me mistaken for Beth, I'm Molly, their maid! Now tell me where I am!" The look on their face is restless like they have been through this before. "Ms. Padley, you are Beth, there is no Molly, you are at a psychiatric facility, you were admitted 2 years ago after you murdered your family." I'm taken back and fall to the floor. This makes no sense, "you LIARS! I am Beth Padley, and Molly, that horrid maid killed my beloved husband" I freeze and push them both back to make a run for it. I have to find the truth. My feet are bare, and my hand is still tied to my back, but I run. I see a door with a bright shiny sign "EXIT" I'm about to open the door when a sudden headache hits me, and I feel a rush of emotions and memories come flooding back to me. I stand still and fall to the floor. I feel a needle being injected into my arm, and I fall asleep. It felt like an eternity in my mind, but suddenly I wake up and gasp for air. I sit up from my bed and look around; everything is familiar. I look out my window and see the shimmering lake just outside and recognize it immediately, I turn and look into the mirror. I am Molly, a maid who works at the Padley residence.