After She Left

Chapter One: Drifted Away

(Cierra's Point Of View)

I wake up from my nap after a long day to my little sister, Selena, vigorously shaking me by the shoulders. My eyes are glued shut, trying to block the sun from shining onto my eyes.

"Cierra! Mom and Dad are fighting downstairs and Dad wants to take Jeremy away with him!"

"Wait... You are joking right?" I open my eyes wide, raising my left brow. Why is Dad going to take him along? Is he insane right now? I wrestle myself out of the blankets and I grab Selena's hand and I drag her along down the stairs into the enormous dining area..

"What the hell is wrong with you? Jer can't deal with all this! They can't!" No one noticed their presence.

"Shut up! You are the worst thing to happen in my life! I don't care if he can deal with it or not! He is fourteen, Sandra, fourteen! I mean, he is a man already!" Not caring about what he just said, he looks at her with a drunk look on his face and grips on Jeremy's upper arm.

"What did I ever do to you?" She wipes the tears that continuously fall. Her lips quiver.

"Dad, let go of me." Jeremy gives him a glare and speaks in a demanding tone. The glare is returned and Dad looks him dead in his eyes.

"Mom? Dad?" I feel the anxiety flow through me and my vision grows blurry as tears line the bottom of my eyes, threatening to spill over.

"All of you, please go upstairs, now!" Her voice is unsteady and her face is flooded with tears again.

"No! What is happening here!" I let go of Selena's hand and put on a brave face.

"Listen, to your mother, Cier." Dad turns to me with a stern look on his face.

"Why are you guys fighting?" I look down and mess with my feet, trying to stay strong for my family. "You guys need to tell me what is going on!"

"Your father, here, is being a cheater! He got into so many drugs and alcohol!" Mama raises her voice and emphasizes his title.

"Dad?" Jeremy and I say at the same time. We look at one another and at Dad, back and forth. Selena stays quiet and I motion for her to go to the living room and watch the rest of her annoying show.

"What the hell? You are being so distant from us! Are we not enough, for you?" I just burst and the waterworks start. Drugs... Alcohol... Cheating... Jeremy was right... I breathe heavily and go speechless.

"Shut up! You don't even know what it is like to be addicted to all this! Maybe you are right! I can't believe how much of a burden you are, Cierra!"

Mom slaps him and all is silent for a few moments. She yells at him. "Just leave, you bastard!"

"Fine, Sandra! I was going to leave you anyways! I can't believe I dealt with you all these years!" His face is full of regret and all is silent.

Jeremy and I watch him walk up the stairs. I go after him, angry, really anxious and still completely confused.

"Cier! Stay down here." Jeremy whispers to me.

"What is your problem? Don't make this any harder for Mama and all of us!"

I feel his fist plummet into my face. My cheek feels hot and painful to touch. I am swung to the side, losing my balance and meeting the floor. Dad grabs a fistful of my hair and pulls it along with my shoulder. Another punch makes its way into my face. Over and over again, a punch here, a punch there. I can't even process it all and I can't speak. I barely notice all the tears. I finally let out a scream.