Before Sunrise Touches Earth We Forgive What Hurt Us by Vik Rowan Tate 1 Summary
In “Before Sunrise Touches Earth We Forgive What Hurt Us” by Vik Rowan Tate, the protagonist, Rosette, grapples with her complex emotions, particularly in relation to her mother. From a young age, Rosette has felt disconnected from the vivid emotions that others seem to experience so easily. Instead, she is familiar with darker feelings like hate, rage, and fear, which have shaped her interactions with her family. The story opens with a moment of intense anger when Rosette learns that her mother is planning to marry again just a month after her husband’s death. This revelation stirs a deep rage within her, reflecting the turmoil of her childhood filled with her parents’ constant fighting and her own feelings of neglect.
Rosette’s confrontation with her mother is charged with emotion and resentment. She feels betrayed not just by her mother’s quick remarriage but also by the lack of mourning and pretenses. The mother’s dismissive attitude and her insistence on moving forward without regard for the past only amplify Rosette’s anger. She is determined to resist her mother’s control, vowing to endure the situation until she can escape to college. This internal struggle highlights her desire for freedom and autonomy, contrasting sharply with her mother’s expectations of conformity and obedience.
When Rosette arrives at her mother’s new home, a lavish mansion, she feels the weight of her circumstances. The opulence of her mother’s new life stands in stark contrast to the emotional chaos she has endured. Upon her entry, she is met by the butler, Gabriel, who signifies a new chapter in her mother’s life, one that Rosette finds absurd and alienating. The tension escalates when her mother demands that Rosette act like the perfect daughter, leading to a confrontation that culminates in a physical altercation. Rosette’s defiance in the face of her mother’s threats marks a pivotal moment in her struggle for independence.
The chapter concludes with an unresolved tension as an outsider’s voice interrupts the conflict, suggesting that the emotional battle between mother and daughter is far from over. Rosette’s journey is one of self-discovery and rebellion against the toxic dynamics of her upbringing, setting the stage for further exploration of her identity and the complexities of familial relationships. The story encapsulates the themes of anger, defiance, and the quest for emotional connection in a world that has often left Rosette feeling isolated and misunderstood.
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**Before Sunrise Touches Earth We Forgive What Hurt Us by Vik Rowan Tate**
I had always found it perplexing, the way people expressed emotions—how they could burst into laughter, their eyes glistening with tears of joy, or how sorrow could wash over them, leaving their eyes puffy and red. It was a mystery to me, something I could never quite grasp.
Even as a child, I felt like an outsider looking in on a world painted with vibrant colors of feelings that I could never touch. It was as if there was a part of me, a crucial piece of my being, that was simply absent. Perhaps I was born with some emotional circuitry missing, or maybe it had burned out long before I had the chance to experience it.
The emotions I was familiar with, the ones that felt like old companions, were hate, rage, fear, and an insatiable lust that had blossomed during puberty. The other three—hate, rage, and fear—had been with me for as long as I could remember. And in this moment, what coursed through me was pure, unadulterated rage, so fierce it made my hands tremble.
“What?” I demanded, my voice rising with disbelief as I confronted my mother. My fists were clenched so tightly that my nails dug into my palms, drawing blood. “You’re getting married?”
“Uh-huh,” she replied, her grin widening as she admired the diamond ring that sparkled on her finger—her engagement ring. The sunlight caught the stone, casting a radiant glow that seemed to mock my fury. “Oh! Look at that!”
“It’s barely been a month,” I reminded her, my voice quaking with a mix of anger and disbelief. “His body has just been buried, and you’re already planning to marry someone else?”
My parents’ relationship had never resembled the fairy tale romances I had seen play out in movies. There was no sweetness, no tenderness—just constant bickering and shouting that often dragged me into their chaos. It always ended with me nursing bruises, both physical and emotional.
I despised them both. At one point, I had been afraid of them, but one day I woke up and resolved that I would not live in fear. I would only harbor hate, and I would forever be engulfed in a simmering rage directed at them.
So, the fact that she was preparing to marry again, so soon after her husband’s death, didn’t faze me as much as it should have. What truly bothered me was the lack of pretense—she could at least pretend to mourn him for a little while longer. People were watching, and they would talk.
My mother merely shrugged, turning her back to the window, her gaze dismissive as she regarded me, as if I were nothing more than an annoying insect. “I thought you’d grow out of your foolishness now that you’re taller and curvier,” she sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. “But I was mistaken. When life offers you a chance, Rosette, you seize it without a second thought. Consequences? To hell with them.” With that, she brushed past me, heading toward the door with a finality that left me seething. “I’m selling the house. We’re moving to his place as soon as the vows are exchanged.”
I didn’t attend the wedding. My phone buzzed incessantly with her calls, but I ignored every single one. Instead, I opted to stay at a friend’s house, commuting to my part-time job from there. Yet, my friend’s kindness had its limits, and I could feel the clock ticking down on my stay.
A week after the wedding, I finally relented and answered one of Mom’s calls.
12:58 Mon, Sep 8 B…
**Chapter 1**
“Stupid girl,” were the first venomous words she spat at me, her voice sharp enough to cut. “Do you have any idea how many lies I had to concoct? We were supposed to present a lovely family front, a united front for my new husband and his family!”
“I’m sure you spun a convincing tale,” I replied, my tone flat and unyielding. “Just send me the address. I’ll come straight over when I finish work.”
“You and that—”
I ended the call, the phone emitting a sharp beep as I tossed it into my bag, returning to the monotony of my job.
I didn’t want to go. The thought of giving my mother the satisfaction of feeling like she had the upper hand, like she still controlled me, was unbearable. But I had no choice; I couldn’t afford an apartment yet, not while I was saving every penny for college.
So, I would go, but I refused to play the role of her obedient daughter. I would endure whatever she threw at me, knowing it was only temporary. Just until the year ended, and then I would be free. College awaited me.
***
The moment I saw the address Mom texted, I knew this was no ordinary businessman she had married. When I arrived at the mansion, my suspicions were confirmed.
It loomed before me, grand and imposing like a castle, its towering walls and massive gates enough to intimidate anyone. As soon as I stepped out of the taxi, a man in a suit approached, ready to take my bags and lead me inside.
“Welcome, Miss Rosette,” he greeted me, adjusting his thick glasses. “I’m Gabriel, the butler. I’ll be at your service should you need anything.”
“Nice to meet you,” I replied, offering a slight nod, my mind racing with thoughts of the absurdity of my situation.
I was escorted through the opulent halls of the mansion until I found myself in a room where my mother awaited me. The moment she spotted me, she sprang to her feet, striding toward me with her hands firmly planted on her hips, her face flushed with anger.
“I will not allow you to ruin this for me, Rose,” she hissed, her voice low and threatening. “You will behave. You will act like the perfect daughter, smile when appropriate, and speak nicely.”
“And if I choose not to?” I challenged, relishing the defiance that bubbled within me. “What will you do, Mom? Hit me? Withhold food for a week? Or maybe resort to your favorite punishment—locking me in that dark cabinet with no food or water?” I watched her face redden further as I spoke, her breath coming in harsh gasps. “You can’t do any of those things anymore. You have no control over me now, and I will act as I please. I’ll smile when I want, speak sweetly when I feel like it, or be as rude as I choose. We both know that pretending to be a happy family is impossible when we harbor such deep-seated hatred for one another. It’s only a matter of time before your new husband sees through the facade. What will you do then? Jump to the next man who pays you any attention?”
Her face was crimson from neck to forehead, her breathing ragged. “You ungrateful—”
I anticipated her hand rising before she even moved, yet I allowed the slap to land. The sound resonated through the vast room, echoing back at me, but I felt nothing—not even the sting.
I pointed to my cheek, where I was certain a bruise was forming. “United, my ass.”
12:58 Mon, Sep 8 B…
**Chapter 1**
Just then, a new voice cut through the tension. “Is everything alright?”
Conclusion
In the aftermath of that confrontation, a strange calm settled over Rosette. The fury that had once consumed her began to dissipate, replaced by a dawning realization that her mother’s power over her was built on a foundation of fear and anger, one that was now crumbling. The slap had been a catalyst, a moment that severed the invisible strings binding her to a past filled with pain. As she stood there, the echoes of their conflict reverberating through the opulent mansion, she felt a flicker of liberation. For the first time, she understood that her emotional landscape could be painted with colors of her own choosing, not merely those dictated by her mother’s whims. The rage that had once been her sole companion now felt like a distant memory, a stepping stone toward something greater.
With each passing moment, Rosette embraced the notion that forgiveness, while difficult, was a path to healing. She realized that the journey ahead would not be easy, but it was hers to navigate. The mansion, with its grandeur and facade of happiness, could not contain her spirit. As she prepared to carve out her own identity, free from the shadows of her mother’s expectations, she felt a sense of hope igniting within her. The past may have shaped her, but it would no longer define her. With every step she took away from that confrontation, she moved closer to a future where she could forgive not only her mother but also herself for the hurt they had inflicted on each other. As the sun dipped below the horizon, Rosette took a deep breath, ready to embrace the dawn of a new chapter in her life.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
In the next chapter, readers can expect the tension between Rosette and her mother to escalate as the stakes get higher. The sudden interruption by an unknown voice hints at the introduction of a new character, one who may either exacerbate the already volatile situation or provide Rosette with an unexpected ally. This new dynamic could shift the power balance, forcing Rosette to confront not just her mother’s tyranny but also the complexities of her new surroundings and the people who inhabit them. With every interaction, the mansion’s oppressive atmosphere will likely unravel more of Rosette’s past, revealing the depths of her emotional turmoil and the reasons behind her fierce defiance.
Moreover, the chapter promises to delve deeper into the world of wealth and privilege that Rosette has been thrust into, contrasting sharply with her tumultuous upbringing. As she navigates through this lavish yet foreign environment, readers will be left wondering how Rosette will adapt—or resist—this new reality. Will she find solace in unexpected friendships, or will her bitterness and rage continue to isolate her? With the looming presence of her mother and the expectations of her new life, Rosette’s journey toward self-discovery and empowerment is bound to take some thrilling twists and turns that will keep readers eagerly turning the pages.
