..:: Hurt ::..
Part I
Helpless.
A feeling no one likes to discern but does anyway.
Breathe. she told herself, Just breathe.
A scream rippled through the air.
"No." she whimpered, "Not again. Please, not again."
She glanced up to check the wobbly deadbolt on her door then peaked out the small hole near the hinges.
What she saw made her want to retch.
"God, no!" Amity curled herself into a foetal position, comforting herself by rocking back and forth.
"He can't get in. He can't- "
The door thumped. She let out a small scream.
Think of something else. But the image of her mother's battered body lying limp on the floor, her face molted with bruises kept flashing through her head.
The door thumbed again, this time harder ; a screw on the lock fell out.
She closed her eyes and tried to remember.
A deep breath.
School. Today. In the morning.
She had gone to school today. Yes. Keep those thoughts; happy thoughts.
Suddenly the horrific image of her mother appeared again.
No! Amity took a shaky breath.
School. A boy, with beautiful hazel eyes and a dimpled smile. Passing through the hallways; in a classroom; near the window.
THUMP.
She smiled; a small curl of the lips. Barely , but still a smile.
THUMP.
Amity saw him everyday, she had almost every class with him, she even lived next to him. She didn't know him, nor he her, but , he
would smile at her. Everyday. A smile 'hey' with a grin in the hallway.
THUMP.
It never went further than a greeting but today that changed.
He sat next to her.
"Hi, I'm Jett."
Amity sat there wide eyed then quickly turned around to see if he was talking to someone else.
A husky chuckle made her whip back to look at him.
"I'm talking to you ..."
"Amity." She murmured averting her eyes. She shifted away.
Jett scooted closer. "So Amity/ you live next door to me right?"
Amity's eyes widened. Paul - her stepfather - was never silent bout his exploits. The screaming coming from their home was bound
to be heard. Her breathing suddenly shortened to small gasps; she closed her eyes.
Gentle hands touched her but she flinched anyway. She hurriedly shifting away from him.
"Hey... hey." Amity flicked an eyelid up and saw Jett smiling at her, though with a concerned look in his eye.
It made her heart flip, no one had ever looked at her like that.
"Hey, you don't have to answer. I didn't mean to pry."
Both eyes open now she gazed at her transient bench partner and sensed her was telling the truth.
Amity jerked her head, a weak attempt at a casual nod, signalling affirmative to his question.
Due to the graceless movement her hair shifted away from her neck.
Jett gasped "What is-"
His eyes were the size of saucers; she was confused. Then she followed his gaze to her bare shoulder.
A huge tell-tale blue-ish - black bruise peaked out from under her loose shirt.
She gasped and got up, snatching her bag from the floor and dashed out the , ignoring the angry teacher calling after her to come back.
She kept on running, not even noticing the sound of footsteps that were following her.
She finally pushed though the bathroom door and closed it.
Amity wobbled a few steps forward then collapsed against the wall and slid to the floor. Her breathing was erratic, painful almost.
The bathroom door burst open; she glanced up sharply, not expecting anybody to come in now.
What - or precisely who - she saw shocked her.
"Wha- what are you doing in here?" Amity stuttered.
Seeing the thunderous expression on his face she flinched. Jett's look softened but he didn't break her gaze.
"Who did it?" He spoke in a clam voice but Amity knew well enough that it was a calm - before - the - storm tone.
So she faked oblivion, "Who did what?"
His jaw muscles were clenched. "Who gave you that bruise?"
"Wh- what bruise? I don't have any bruise." she denied.
In a flash he kneeling in front of her and had tugged the sleeve of her shirt down.
She gasped and tried to shift away but he held her firmly, yet his touch was gentle.
She closed her eyes and turned her head, not wanting to see the disgusted look on his face."Amity." she felt him shift closer.
"Amity." he repeated "Look at me please".Her eyes involuntarily opened at his persuasive tone.
He looked worried "Tell me" he urged "Please tell me who did this to you? Who hurt you?" I shook my head,willing him to understand I couldn't.
"You can't tell anyone"she blurted "About the bruise please". Amity grabbed the hand holding her; she knew that she sounded frantic but no one could know.
He was torn,"But-"
"Please" she begged; her expression desperate.
Reluctantly he agreed."But" he warned "I'm not going to forget you can talk to me whenever you are ready "Amity" believed him but she couldn't tell him or any one else ever.
So she simply nodded."You should leave".
He look hurt. She hastily explained herself."I mean- you're in the girls bathroom".
Jett looked around and then blushed- two spots of color appeared on his cheeks. He hastily stood up. "Right. Um."
Amity let out a small peal of laughter. He looked cute, embarrassed. She got up too. She opened her mouth to sooth the mollified boy -
BOOM!
The bedroom door smashed open, the deadbolt now lying in pieces on the floor.
It was like a bucket of water thrown on her, shattering her memory and sucking her back to the present.
"You didn't think you could hide forever could you Amity" slurred a voice from the doorway.
The voice of her nightmares.
Paul.
☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠
Hello everyone :)
This is an old short story I wrote that I'm republishing.
It's a sad fact of like that domestic violence and abuse occurs in our society and I hope that if anyone has ever experienced it is safe now and I hope that your life is better now and to those who are going through it will find the courage and strength to get help and get if of there horrible situations.
