Always You Will Have My Hand To Hold (Watty Awards 2012)

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

November 3rd 2010

He is at it again, the same thing every night.

He storms through the door, using all his might.

Maybe it will be different tonight.

Maybe he’ll choose to fight.

Here she comes again, with a face so sweet

She runs into my arms and begins to weep.

The noise all around is faint to my ears

As I once again have to face my fears.

Crashing from room to room, searching for an escape

I become the hero without a cape.

Tonight was no different than the night before, or the one before that. It will not be any different than tomorrow unless he chooses to fight. Lia ran to the room next door with Attie perched on her side, holding on for dear life.  Lia was tired of living this way, and she knew that sooner or later, she was going to have to do something about it. However much longer did she have, Lia hoped it was enough to form some sort of plan.

When her mother was sent to prison almost 2 years ago, no one had bothered to tell Lia the reason she was sent away. Maybe it was because of her young age at the time, or maybe it was because she didn’t care, but Lia she never inquired about it either. Now at seventeen, all she knew was that her mother would most likely never get out. Lia had been forced to care for her little sister Attie who at the time was only one. She didn’t like it at first, but soon, Lia realized that no one was going to step up and take responsibility. Her father was dead; her step father was a drunk who Lia believed had schizophrenia. His favorite things to do were get drunk, call her names, and try to harm them in no specific order.

Lia heard the door handle rattle, maybe he was going to get in this time, and maybe he was finally going to kill them. As if Attie knew what Lia was thinking, she clutched her arms even tighter around Lia’s neck making it harder for her to breathe. Lia had run into the many times before, somehow it always provided them shelter. 

Lia took one look at the scared little girl she was holding, her heart broke once again. Lia pulled her back so Attie could see her face. Lia plastered a brave smile on her face before she said “Attie I need you to listen to me. This is just a game, I've got you. I've never let anything hurt you before, right?" 

Attie shook her head no, and Lia continued "This is nothing new. I will always protect you, I promise”. Attie smiled a smile that said how much she trusted her sister and placed her head back in the crook of Lia’s neck.

The door handle rattled a little harder, Lia tensed as her eyes darted across the room in search of a better hiding place. She was certain that tonight was the night the door would betray her. They will be found.  At last, she found an escape, there was a closet right on the other side of the room and Lia was sure she could make it before her stepfather was successful in opening the door. She slowly made her way toward the closet, and once she was in she felt extra grateful that the door had a lock. It was at times like these that Lia both doubted and believed in God. 

Lia settled into what she would call a comfortable position in the closet before she placed Attie in her lap. They sat there quietly, until the all the noises faded. A moment later, Lia heard Attie’s soft breath that told her that Attie had fallen asleep. Lia was tired and didn’t wait too long to follow Attie to dream land.  

The mornings always came quicker than Lia expected, she never had enough sleep. She woke up feeling more tired than ever, and the position she slept in didn’t really help. Lia picked up a still sleeping Attie and listened for any noise that would indicate that her stepfather was still around. She didn't hear any. Usually he would be somewhere in the house sleeping the alcohol off or he was already out to work. How he could work like that was beyond Lia’s understanding, but that again was something she never questioned. When Lia was satisfied that there was no noise, she move stealthily around the cramped closet and threw the door opened. She quickly surveyed her surrounding before she fully stepped out. Lia crossed the messy room, all the while trying to keep silent. She paused once again before she went to her own room.