BR{OK}EN

~eight~

~Daniel's pov~

Its been a week since Ash tried to throw herself off a bridge, and honestly I've never been happier to have someone in my life.

"How was your day?" She asks me as we walk down the street to our houses.

"It was ok, classes were boring"

"And my team beat yours in ultimate frisbee" she says in a bragging tone as she bumped my shoulder lightly with hers

"Shut up" I say, bumping her back. Lately that's has been this flirty banter between us. I don't know, maybe its just me. I looked at her, and she had a smile, but I know that a smile can hide a lot. Its crazy how much a smile can hide.

"Bye Daniel" she says when we get to my house, snapping me back into reality.

"Bye Ash" I say before she pulls me into hug. I held her tight before pushing her away so I can go home.

I walk in my house and I see my father, drunk on the couch. I sigh to myself and walk up the stairs. I quietly close the door, and push my book shelf in front of the door. I sit quietly in my room, in the back corner behind the bed. Just in case my father comes in the room. Bad things happened last time.

~flashback~

"Where are you boy?" My father says as he opens the door. "I know your in here, if you keep hiding, the worse the punishment will be" he says. I quietly slip out from behind the bookshelf. "Ah there you are" he said as twisted smile

"You're drunk again dad" I say as I step back against the wall

"Dad? That's not what you are supposed to call me"

"I'll call you Dad or father, that's all"

"You're being bad, time for your punishment"

"Please don't" I say as I cower back to the wall

"You should have been better, its been a while since I've had a good fuck" he says as he slowly licks his lips

-----

It hurt so bad. My necked body collapsed on my bed, shaking. I couldn't walk without a limp for a day or two.

That was just last week, just a few days before I saw Ash try to kill herself, my own father raped me. That wasn't the first time either...

So now when he gets drink, I push the bookshelf in front of the door and hide

Its the only thing I know who do really well. Ok that and music. But still, its scary having to hide from your own father because you are scared to get raped. I slip way back onto my corner, and let sleep consume me.

-----

"Daniel? Are you in here?" I hear my sister Anna say through the door

"Yeah" I say as I blink away the sleep

"Ok, dad just went out" she said, and I hear her footsteps going down the hall, until a door eventually closes.

I grab my phone and text Ash, to see what's up with her

Hey

Ash🔥
Hey

What's up?

Nothing much, my mom just brought home another guy

That must be hard
My dad just left
Do you want to come over?
Ya know, to get away from it all?

Sure, text me your address

Ok
194 lamb Court, 67123

See you soon

I felt bad for her, but my dad kept bringing this on woman home, she had long light brown hair, and her eyes kind of looked like Ash's. But that's not the point. I stood up and pushed my bookshelf away from the door, and went to the living room. I turned on the TV and some crime show was on, so I watched it until I hear a light knocking on the door

A small smile formed when I opened the door. "What's up Ash?" I say as I motion her in the house

"Nice house" she says

"DANIEL WHO DO YOU HAVE IN THE HOUSE" my sister calls from upstairs

"JUST MY FRIEND ASH, CHILL OUT" I yell back to her

"OK DON'T KEEP HER TOO LONG, DAD WILL PROBABLY BE HOME IN AN HOUR OR TWO"

"THANKS ANNA"

"Sister?" Ash asks with one eyebrow up

"Yeah, you want to meet her?"

"Yeah!" She says getting really excited. I laugh as I take her upstairs to Anna's room.

They instantly click and are giggling and talking about some hot celebrity guy. A light smile forms on my face seeing Ash communicate with people was all I needed to see.