Angela

                            
Tears pricked down her eyes as she bid farewell to her family. Her husband stood still at the door, disheartened. Her teary eyes were eager to catch a glimpse of their two month old daughter, Angela. Anxiety housed her mind when she did not see her around. Growing anxiousness subsided soon when her eyes fell on a swinging cradle. She hurried to the cradle and found her baby girl sleeping soundly. Upon seeing her she became more sad and subdued. She could not adore and pamper her baby for a long time. Her heart sank more deeply with the thought that what would happen to her baby and her husband if she never returned. She then turned to her husband and embraced him warmly for the last time. After her warm embrace she could say no more to her husband. Her eyes submerged in tears expressed even her unspoken words and concealed pain. Athena then walked away from her dear ones and proceeded to fight for the nation and its people.
After Athena left, her husband was heartbroken. Everyday he waited with a hope that someday the war would end and his beloved would return to him. He even shouldered the entire responsibilities of their daughter, Angela. He loved and showered her with affection of both father and mother. He left no stone unturned for better upbringing of Angela.
Years passed but Athena's husband's wait for his beloved wife was not yet over. All his tears shed in her remembrance seemed to have dried by then. The wait seemed more like an unending one but his faith in his love was also invincible. He strongly believed that Athena was alive somewhere and would return to him very soon. In the meantime, even Angela had become five years old. In these five years she never felt the lack of a mother as her father was always there for her. Her father pampered her a lot for she was the only dear one he was left with. He neither denied nor yelled at Angela for anything. The love he bestowed on Angela, in return he recieved the same. Angela loved her father immensely and unconditionally. Her love for her father knew no bounds. Her father meant the whole world to her. She never felt the necessity of another parent in her life because in her world there were places for only her and her father. She could never dream of her life without her darling father.   
With each passing day, Angela's love for her father grew more and more intense. This love of a girl for her father grew to such an extent that it once transcended all the bounds and became her obsession. She could not endure even the shadow of any woman near her father. Upon hearing several stories concerning love and marriage, Angela took an impulsive decision that she would die but would never let any woman come in her father's life.
After few days there was a great bustle in the house for Athena sent her very first letter after six long years. In the letter she mentioned that she was safe and would return home very soon. The world war finally ended after six long years of brutal killings, thousands of sacrifices and political unrest across the world.
Angela's father was ecstatically happy when he read the words of the letter. He felt short of words to describe his happiness. He embraced his young daughter at once. Angela, on the contrary, became depressed on hearing about her mother's arrival. She was more petrified thinking that if her mother came into their lives then she would separate Angela from her beloved father.
Athena finally arrived after five more days of long, unbearable segregation. Her husband was exhilarated seeing his beloved wife after six long years. His eyes gained back their lost sparkle and a wide smile enhanced his face much more. Athena was elated too on seeing her husband and her kid after a long time. She embraced her husband and Angela wholeheartedly. "The days that I spent without you were the dark days of my life. I lived through a thousand deaths everyday in your memory. Now that you are here, our golden days will be back again," said Athena's husband. Angela on the other hand, was distorted with rage on seeing them together. She was filled with much envy and hatred. Her unceasing hatred was for her mother, she as well envied her as her father seemed more happy with her. In a fury, she even decided to never accept the woman as her mother.     
After Athena arrived, Angela not even for once addressed her as her mother. Her father tried a lot to convince her but all his efforts went in vain. An unpleasant expression hung on her face, she looked as if she held strong grudges against someone. Seeing Angela so much disturbed after her return, disappointed Athena.
It was the very night. After supper when Angela made her way to father's bed, she was stopped by her father and was asked to sleep somewhere else. When she questioned him for such a change, she was said that things would not go the same way as it used to and that some changes were to be must after the arrival of Athena. Angela flushed with extreme rage. The hatred she had for Athena was growing more and more intense. Malice thoughts were clouding up her mind. She could no longer bear their intimacy. So, she tiptoed to her father's bed at midnight and chose herself the middle place to sleep. After gaining some peace in mind, Angela went for a sound sleep.
At the crack of dawn, Angela's sweet slumber was interrupted by her father's stern rebukes. Angela's father felt a surge of anger when he found Angela sleeping between her parents even after the forbiddance. Angela was startled at her father's such harsh behaviour. It was for the very first time her father yelled at her. She held Athena responsibe for such changes in her father. With a sullen face Angela left from there and headed for her own room.
It was then morning. The dawn took the beauty of a bright, sunny morning. Meanwhile, it was the breakfast time. Everyone had their breakfasts except Angela. She was still annoyed with her father. When Athena approached her and asked her the reason for refusing breakfast, she recieved a very hostile look from her. After a long pause she replied in an insolent tone," You don't have anything to do with my affairs. No matter what you do,  you can never snatch away my father from me. Just go away from our lives! " Athena at once burst into tears. She rushed to her room and cried her heart out. On knowing about the incident Angela's father got very depressed. He tried to console Athena saying," Angela needs some time to accept you as her mother as she didn't have you around for quite a long time. Things will certainly change for better but only when you will hold a little patience."  Athena then grew a little optimistic about improving her relation with her daughter.
Unfortunately things never changed for better instead they became more worse. As days passed by Angela felt much more ignorant and her aversion for her mother knew no bounds. To express her suppressed anger she began to live her life in solitute. She seldom talked to anyone and behaved more like a stranger in her very own house. She spent most of her time sitting alone in a dark room. Gradually her grades also began to fall in studies and that alarmed her parents. Angela's father once went to her and asked the reason for her such deteriorating condition. At first he recieved no reply but when he embraced her and asked her gently, Angela spoke up. She said that she didn't like Athena and didn't want her to stay with them. She added,"If you want to see me happy and cheerful again then she has to go away from our lives and as long as she lives this won't ever be possible. So, she has to die and I would be more content if you be the one to kill her." Her father was greatly astounded at her words . He could not believe in his eyes that Angela was asking him to kill her own mother, Athena. He condemned it at once and reprimanded her for nurturing such wicked thoughts in mind. Angela even yelled at him this time and said,"If you want me to be happy then you will have to take the life of your beloved wife." Angela's father immediately left from there as he could absorb no more of his daughter's insanity.
Angela's father's peace of mind was barely left. He was in a very big dilemma, he had to choose between his wife and his daughter. Neither he could take his beloved wife's life nor he could see Angela suffer. When Athena got to know about Angela's such condition, she was completely heartbroken. She blamed her ownself for not being a good mother and suggested her husband to agree to what Angela said. Her husband certainly defied it, he could not have killed his beloved for whom he longed for years. Athena, on the other hand, was not being able to forgive herself. She was overwhelmed with guilt and so she decided to take her own life. Her sense of judgement was veiled by her blind motherly affection. The next morning she woke up before everybody else. Bearing the burden of being an unsuccessful mother, she consumed strychnine (a poison) and then lied beside her darling husband. While breathing her last, she whispered her last words near her husband's ear," Dear, I may not be there to grow old with you but I will always dwell in your heart. Our love is eternal, even death can't segregate us. Death can cease my existance but can't defy my heart from loving you. Remember me in smiles and happiness, not in tears and sadness." Saying the very words Athena embraced death with open arms.
Few hours later dark shadows of dejection fell across the whole house. Athena, the lady of the house was no more, she had closed her eyes forever. Her husband was disheartened again. The love of his life abandoned him forever. His eyes were in endless tears. Angela, on the contrary, was very delighted at her mother's death. Although she was happy, she had to shed false tears. Her evil smile was veiled by her false tears. Her false tears even succeeded in convincing her father. He thought that Angela terribly regretted her past actions and truly mourned her mother's death.
Years passed but Athena's husband was not yet able to get over her death. His tears were still shed in the remembrance of his darling wife. Angela, on the other hand, was very happy with her beloved father. However, she still envied her mother as even after her demise Angela could not acquire her place in her father's heart. Meanwhile, it was Angela's tenth birthday. Like every year, Angela approached her father and asked for her birthday present. On her former birthdays she always asked for dolls and candies but on her tenth birthday she asked for something that left her father dumbfounded. She asked him to marry her and make her his bride. She told him that she was unconditionally in love with him and and wanted to take Athena's place in his heart.  Angela's father was completely astonished at her words. Even poison seemed less bitter than her words. Without uttering any word, he left from the house.
Few hours later he returned. His eyes were swollen with crying. Angela, dressed as a bride, was anxiously awaiting a positive reply. She asked her father as to what his decision was. Her father spoke up in a trembling voice," Daughter, I and your mother had to make a lot of sacrifices for the sake of your happiness but alas, you were never worth it. Your mother even embraced an untimely death for the sake of you. As a father I have already lost for I could not instill good values in you but as your mother's husband I can't support you in fulfilling your immoral wish. I would find even death more peaceful rather than being married to you. Daughter, I beg for death from your hands." Angela was greatly surprised this time. She was not able to believe that her beloved father asked her to end his life. Her eyes were in endless tears. She denied it at first but later she became compelled to give in before her father's insistence. Her father told her to bring him the same poison consuming which Athena had committed suicide. Though unwillingly  but she did exactly as she was told. Angela's father was then poisoned by his own daughter and before dying his last words were," Daughter, I have always loved you and will continue to do so even after my death. I just want you to go through the same plight which I went after your mother left me. I want you to realize your mistakes and that's why I am leaving you alone in this world."
Angela's eyes were drowned in tears as she held her father's cold body in her warm arms. Before dying, her father sentenced her a lifetime punishment, she was to live her life carrying the burden of patricide. Life seemed more like a curse to her but still she had to live it for the sake of her father. With each passing day Angela grew very lonely and distressed. She felt like everything around her blamed and cursed her for her parents' cruel deaths. She even experienced frequent hallucinations. Scared, she was in her very own house. At a time fear housed her mind to such an extent that she began to fear her own presence. She felt like she was unknown to herself. Whenever Angela confronted a mirror, it seemed to her that an unknown figure was staring at her and threatened to fill her life with infinite darkness.
Angela's condition deteriorated with every passing day. She seldom slept and most often thought of her days with her father. After a certain time she realized that she could no longer live with the burden of patricide. So, she decided to bring her father back. She decided to be her own father. She wore her father's clothes and imitated all his activities. She even spoke for her own father. Simultaneously she played the roles of both father and daughter. She lived a dual life all her life long.
Angela gave away more than half of her life to speak for her father. Such is the extra-ordinary story of an ordinary girl, Angela, who first suffered from Electra Complex and then became a victim of Dissociative Identity Disorder.