Never Underestimate Me

~4~

"She is in danger!?" Someone hisses from out the back door where my dad was previously alone in the vegetable patch. "Don't you understand that?" The voice continues. I approach the door and put my hand on the doorknob. I stop my action of turning when I hear my dad's strained voice.

"She doesn't need help from you! She has me not you! It'll be more dangerous for her while you're around, so please just leave us alone." His voice cracked near the end and I feel my breath hitch when I realize who's talking. It's my mum. I want to open the door but at the same time my curiosity doesn't allow me until the conversation is over.

"How is it more dangerous? I can help her, I-"

"You have no place in this family anymore! Do you see where you've left us? In this bloody place with nothing but-"

"I understand what I did! But our daughter is dangerous, you must understand that!"

"I do, I promise I'm not as dumb and clueless as you think. She's strong and knows how to take care of herself! She takes care of me better than I take care of her, she doesn't need you to do anything for her."

"But if you just let me-"

"Leave Angelina! You had your chance to help her when she was little and you threw it away. It's too late." My father whispers the last part and I hear footsteps walking away. This is my last chance to see my mom, I have to open the door. 

I turn the doorknob and run out, but nothing is there. All that I see is black surrounding me until I sit up abruptly. My heart is heaving and my neck is covered in sweat. I get out of bed and head to the bathroom to splash my face with some cold water and to get some water. I lean my head down and drink straight from the faucet. I step back into my room and lay into bed, barely able to fall back asleep.

---

"My gosh, wake up you bloody girl!" My dad says frustratedly as he shakes me. My eyes pop open and I take in a deep breath. My dad looks relieved and sits on the bed, running his shaking fingers through his hair.

"Dad wha-"

"Why didn't you wake up!?" He shouts with an anger that makes me jump.

"I didn't-" I look at the time and see that it's 10 am. "Well, I know I normally don't sleep in this late, but what's the problem?"

"'What's the problem?' What's the problem!? You were screaming in your sleep acting like you were dying and I couldn't get you to wake up!" He curses loudly and I try to remember what made me scream. "You kept yelling saying things like 'don't hurt them,' and 'take me,' and yelled the loudest after you yelled 'please!' Do you understand how terrifying that is for me?"

"I didn't know I was yelling, I'm sorry I scared you..." I whisper.

"Do you remember your dream last night?" He sighs, still speaking in his same volume but a lot less angrily.

"Well... I don't remember why I was screaming but there was this one dream and mum was-"

"Your mother was in your dream last night?" He asks quickly as he snaps his eyes in my direction, finally looking at me.

"Yeah, it's not the first time this week. I never saw her but I definitely heard her and-"

"This isn't the first time!?" He jumps off of my bed and glares at me with a stern face.

"I'm sorry I didn't know I was obligated to tell you about every dream I have!" I shout with sudden anger that came out of nowhere. I stand up and end up on the other side of my bed, facing my dad.