Hope

Chaapter One~ In The Begining

The sound of screaming and fists pounding the wall rang in my ears as I tossed in my bed; which was in fact not a bed but a stack of blankets piled on the floor with a pillow at the top. It was one o'clock now and the fighting started as soon as George, my moms boyfriend; walked in the door at around 6:30. Whenever he had a bad day he would take it out on my mom as if she didn't have her own problems to deal with. The house went silent witch worried me more than when I could hear screaming because it insured me that my mom was alive. I got out of my "bed" and opened my door cautiously,
"Mom?" No response, I went to the bathroom to see if she was crying in the shower like she usually does. I noticed the mirror above the sink was cracked; again. Shattered pieces of glass was all over the floor, I looked at my foot to see tinny shards of glass in the bottom. I had a high pain tolerance since my mom wasn't the only person George beat. I never told my mom because she would worry and to be honest, we needed George. My mom can't work because of her sickness. Her body gives out on her multiple times throughout the day so a doctor stays with her till 4 and when I come home home, he would leave. I like to watch after her before George gets home because I can show her how much she is loved and tell her not to give up. She's tired and repeatedly tries to over dose on drugs multiple times. She doesn't care anymore, she says she has nothing to live for. I walked to the master bedroom where I saw my mom on the old mattress on the floor. A sigh of relief escaped from my mouth and I found myself laying next to her not caring if or when George would come back.
Around 6 a.m. George came in and was banging against anything and everything he could touch. Tears fell down my face, he was drunk and I had to go to school. "Ma?" I gently rubbed her arm.
"I have to go to school." I whispered and pecked her cheek. She grounded as I placed my fingers on her bruised arms. I jumped as a loud bang rang in my ears, slowly getting up and making my way to my room, I was carful to not step on anything so George wouldn't hear me. I threw on an old pair of ripped jeans and my favorite t-shirt. I gently touched the fine print on the ragged shirt on my chest. With my finger, I traced the word 'HOPE' and attempted a smile. I grabbed my bag and my jacket, tied it around my waist, and went out the back door.
I counted each time my foot hit the frozen concrete. I kept my eyes on the ground so I didn't have to see my surroundings, which usually consist of old broken or boarded windows, beatings; which I can't stand seeing, and occasionally people shooting weed on their porch. Anyone can do anything in this neighborhood, cops are genuinely scared of the place. Many officers have lost their lives coming through here... one of them includes my father. Lost in thought, I bumped into a person. I held my breath while slowly looking up to find myself right next to Mr. Harrison, the old man that lives about a block from me. I exhaled and smiled, "Sorry Mr. Harrison."
"It's alright, Eden. Lost in thought again?" He raised an eyebrow and chuckled.
"Yeah." I shrugged.
"Maybe daydream while looking up." He winked and with that he was walking back inside. Taking a chance, I took his advice. As soon as I looked away from his house, I regretted it.
A man about the age of 20 was walking towards me. I immediately looked down and picked up my pace. When I thought I passed him, he grabbed my arm, put his hand over my mouth until my screams were muffled. Pushing me against a fence, his hot breath; which smelled strongly of alcohol, hit my neck as he whispered, "what a pretty girl..." I tried to push him off but each struggle, his grip was getting tighter.
"Don't struggle!" He barked. I picked my foot up and kicked him on his knee making him fall. I ran as fast as I could until I reach 46th street where I saw Colt. I ran and fell into his muscular arms, crying like I was three.
"Eden? What happened?!" His sky blue eyes were as wide as saucers as he hugged me. His surprisingly soft hands were brushing through my long chestnut brown hair as I stuttered trying to get my words out.
"I-I don't e-even kn-now what happened. A-a guy came a-and he tried to r-ra..." before I could finish my sentence he shushed me.
"Eden, it's okay. Do you want to skip today...? I could call my dad and tell him-" I cut him off.
"I cant skip another day..." I was calm now, him holding me usually had this effect on me.
"Okay." He nodded.
Colt walked me to school keeping me close the entire way. Colt and I have been best friends since we were 3. He was my next door neighbor until my dad died. My mom was so emotionally wrecked that she spent the rest of our money on drugs which caused her to get the sickness she has now. All our money was gone so we moved about 9 streets away to Braden Rd. where all the crime in the city happens. It was the only place we could afford. All the money that George makes goes to my mom and her doctor, alcohol for himself, or pizza for dinner.
When we reached the school, Colt talked to the principal (who was also his dad) and asked if he could stay with me the whole day. Of course his dad said yes, he was like a dad to me as well. In fact, they asked if I could live with them but I refused because I convinced myself that my mom is still in there somewhere and she needs me. I lie to myself to make me feel better, I don't want to drown in a pile of my own self pity.
"Eden?Eden?!"
"H-huh?" I shuddered, looking up I saw Mrs. Beck.
"I swear if you daydream in my class again I'll-" she was cut off by Colt's dad.
"You'll what? Send her to detention? She has done nothing wrong. She may not be called apron today." He looked at me and winked,
"Eden, all your other teachers have been told the same thing. If you need to talk please come to my office." Everyone in the room was looking right at me. I could feel my face turning red.. Colt grabbed and held my hand under the desk and my face started to become hot and I felt butterflies in my stomach. I pulled away slowly and looked over at him to see that his paper was full of solved math problems, while mine was blank. He nudged the paper over to me signaling to copy him, so I did.