My Backpack

The Start

"WHY DON'T YOU BE A BETTER MOTHER, YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A WORTHLESS BITCH!"

I hear my father's muffled yells as I have my pillow over my head. Along with my little sister crying and my silent tears.

"WHY DON'T YOU FEED HER AND STOP BEING WORTHLESS!" I wipe my face with my blanket and get up from my bed. I've been hearing yells for an hour now. I walk towards the door and slowly opened it.

I walked out and looked to the right, my parent's bedroom. The door is closed but I can still hear my father. I turn my head to the left to see my sisters room. She's crying her head off in her crib, but my father's yells are louder.

I walk towards her and when she sees me her cries die down. I put my arms in her crib and she reaches out.

"FINALLY SHE'S STOPPED CRYING. I WAS ABOUT TO GO IN THERE AND QUITE HER MYSELF."

I sighed as she sniffled in my ear and put her head on my shoulder. I walked out of her room and went down the stairs. I put on shoes and give my sister hers. I pick her back up and walked out the door.

This happens every weekend, so we just walk around the city. Any kid my age would be scared to walk around a sketchy city alone, but I'm not. Anywhere is safer then my house. I hate that I can't do anything to help my mom, but if I do anything my dad will go out on me and Talia.

He hasn't done anything really bad on her but he has on me. I've gone to school with black eyes and had to make up lies for whoever asked. Lies like I got beat up on the way home from school or someone kicked a ball at my face at the park.

Nobody knows the truth. Nobody except my best friend, and only friend, Aidan. We've been friends since we were 5 and he has always been there for me. He's an only child and he lives with a nanny. His parents are business people so they aren't home often.

It's late summer so its not that hot or cold. So I walk towards the park with Talia in my arms.

"D-Dom.." She says in her little 2 year old voice.
"Yes?"
"Park?"
"Yes, we're going to the park."

I hated leaving my mom alone but I also hated hearing the crying and yelling. I just thought it was too much for Talia.

But for my 13 year old mind, I'll be fine.

I put Talia into one of the baby swings, and pushed her. She started to laugh but then black rain clouds came out in front of the sun. And it started to rain.

"D-Dom.." Talia mumbled. I picked her up and tightly held onto her. I put the sweater I was wearing around her and I started to walk down the street.

I walked down the city streets with Talia in my arms. Cars just passed by not caring, about all the other people and kids on the street. After all, it was pretty normal in this old city.

A car stopped by us on the road. As horrible as it is, I hoped it was a cop. A cop that could take us away from this life.

The back window opened and it was...
"Dom, get in." Aidan said.

I sat Talia in-between us and sat next to the window.
"Aidan, how did you find us?" I asked while drying off Talia.

"Bring us home." Aidan said to the guy driving the car.
"I called your house and you didn't answer. It started to rain so I came looking for you." He said giving a cheeky smile.

Talia just talked in her own language while we arrived at Aidan's house.

Sometimes I felt jealous of Aidan because his parents were rich and he got everything he wanted. But I also felt sorry for him because he never got to see his parents.

They are always out in a different state or country. So he gets to live with a nanny all the time, but she hates her job and gives no attention to him.

Once we went inside Aidan's house he gave Talia and I some dry clothes. He just gave Talia his shirt that was too small for him.

"You ok?" Aidan asked as we ate chips and watched T.V.
"Sure..." I responded, stuffing chips in my mouth. He just looked down at his feet and said we should go to bed. We did have school tomorrow and he was always the responsible one.

Aidan had a king sized bed so we all just slept in the bed. I felt uncomfortable leaving Talia alone even though Aidan's house was safe.

"Goodnight." Aidan said.
"Night." I said giving Talia a kiss on the forehead.