Surabhi/Introduction

"Sure, times is tough, but the heaviest rains make for the prettiest flowers."

I grew up as the second-oldest child--oldest daughter--of a farm family. It was a simple life, but a rewarding one: every crown you earned was from an honest day's work, and food tastes sweeter when it was grown, picked, and cooked by your own hand. Javid--my older brother--grew tired of it and struck out for Cliffside seeking his fortune, and we haven't heard from him since.

After the last child, mom began acting...strange. Irritable, starting arguments, walking the halls at night, . At first we thought she was just being ornery, but after a while, . . It hurt to