The Butterfly Effect Of Love

Chapter 1: The Move

Here we go again I sigh, packing up my things for the 3rd time this year. And its only February! Anyway I'm Alex Kendricks, I'm 17 years old and I have one leg. It's a long story but lets just say it was my mom. Yeah, my mom. She is abusive towards me. I have a scar that runs from the left side of my head all the way down across my right eye and down my neck. I usually have to cover it up with makeup, because if anyone found out, lets just say I would get another beating. Which I don't like.

Anyway we usually move all the time, and the government is fed up. They are giving us this last house for 2 years so I can finish high school, then get a job so I can support us. Which I really don't want to. My mom has made up this story where when i was a baby i fell down the stairs and broke my leg, hence the leg had to be amputated. She always tells me to wear pants so no one can find out about it. It makes me sad, but i have to keep my emotions aside i cant let them slip through. Not again.

As i finish packing my things i bring my last bag downstairs, and i see my mom in the kitchen talking on the phone. "Alrighty, thanks for the address. Oh, yep we have the key. Yeah, i know 2 years then if she doesn't get a job we are out. I got it, thanks bye." "Okay brat, come on get your bag in the car, your in the trunk again." "O-okay mom." I stuttered, grabbing my bag and tossing into my moms Mercury Mariner. She pops the trunk and i hop in. She then smacks me across the face. "That's for taking so fucking long." Then she slams the trunk door shut leaving me in complete and total darkness. I try to slow my breathing as my pulse quickens. "Still okay" i whisper to myself, taking deep breaths. "It's all gonna be over soon." I try to sleep as the car drives off.

I was startled awake by someone yanking on my hair. "Ow ow ow!" I exclaim. "Shut up Alex we are here and you were sleeping, so get your stuff your have the room upstairs by the closet on the left." My mother tells me and i wince in pain as she yanks my hair again. "I said move it!" She yells at me causing me to run over and grab my bag. As i dart in the house it has light grey walls, with white trim. The living room is on the right, and the kitchen is straight forward, and there's a bathroom on the left it looks like. As i pound up the stairs i find the smallest room on the left like my mother told me. It looks like a nursery i think to myself, as i hobble my way in my fake leg has been bothering me lately. I haven't been able to run much without it hurting. I know i should tell my mom, but she would just beat me.  I decide to deal with the pain, as I've had much worse, and go back outside to help my mom with the rest of the boxes from the trailer. "The moving truck will be here tomorrow so i expect you to be up early and unload everything. Am i clear?" "Yes ma'am." I say. As she walks into the house with her purse i am left to get all the boxes by  myself, like usual.

Once i finish getting all the boxes in, and unpacking them i take a deep breath, and look at the time. 7:59. Great, i have once minute before my "scheduled" beatings. I always dread them, but its been my life since i was little. I just wish i could tell someone its all eating me alive I don't know how much longer i can go on. As the time turns to 8:00, i hear my moms heavy footsteps as she comes into the kitchen. I look of terror crosses my face and i look into her eyes. I look of pure madness. She smiles at me. "Come with me sweetie, they have a basement. It's perfect." I gulp, and quietly follow her to the door on the back of the staircase. Once we get down there she turns on the light illuminating the room. It's pretty small from what i can see, concrete walls with shelves bolted in there. I guess my mom unpacked all her "tools" that's what she liked to call them. As a take a deep breath and turn to face here she says. "Come and sit right here." She points to a chair which i reluctantly do. "Now take your shirt off and face your back towards me." She spat out. I slowly slip my shirt off over my head and toss it to the side. Leaving me in just my bra. I can feel my heartbeat in my throat, as i know what about to happen. "I'm going to give you 7 strikes, as that is how many i think you deserve today. You should be grateful. I would usually give 10." She said to me as she grabbed the whip, and I prepared for the pain. Knowing i start school in the morning. 1...WHAP 2...WHAP 3...WHAP. And on and on. Each time the pain a little worse. Once she was done she tossed my shirt at me and went back upstairs like nothing happened. I felt the blood trickle down my back as I silently cried. After about 5 minutes of crying, i decided I should get up and shower, as i have school the next day. So i hobble my way up two flights of stairs, which is hard for a girl with one leg you know. And grab my towel and my crutches, for when i get out. I first have to take of my jeans which were bloody, and slip my leg off. I know it sounds weird. Once i do that i use my crutches and go into the bathroom to shower. Which was a painful experience. After i was done i change into shorts and a silk tang top as it felt okay on my back. Once i was don't i crutch my way back into my small room and curl up on the floor with my little blanket from the trunk of my moms car. And i eventually fall asleep, making sure to set my alarm for the next day.