The Invisible Girl

Chapter 2

When I woke up the next morning, my body ached all over. I winced, because knew I had a bunch of new bruises. I opened my eyes and surveyed my room. It wasn't anything special, with white walls, a bed, a vanity, and a simple office desk.

I sluggishly crawled out of my bed, and walked into the white-tiled bathroom. The shower was calling my name.

The water ran down my body. It felt soothing on the bruised places. I quickly washed my hair and body, then stood in the shower for a few more minutes, enjoying the warmth. Showers were the best.

Then Helen banged on the door, shattering my good feelings.

"Blondie! Get out right now or you'll get more punishment!"

I turned off the water quickly, and hastily wrapped myself in a fluffy towel. Then I walked out.

Helen was there, but something was off.

I studied her for a moment, then realized that she wasn't drunk.

It was weird, since she almost always was and sometimes, I would find her passed out on the couch, probably not going to remember what she did the night before when she woke.

Then I realized. Dad must be here! I would get a break from the abuse.

I brushed past her.

"Took you long enough. Blondie." Helen taunted.

I paused in my steps. "Don't call me that."

Then I walked into my room and locked the door.

"I call you whatever I want." I heard her calling from the other side.

Today I wore a simple blue V-neck t-shirt, with ripped up jeans, Converse, and my grey owl earrings. The earrings were one of the only things I had left of my real mother.

The other things were a Yankees baseball cap, an Athenian coin, and an old Polaroid picture.

My mom loved the Yankees I'd heard. She went to a lot of their games, which resulted in her buying merchandise to support her favorite team.

The coin was a private joke. Her name was Athena, and she was very smart. She loved Greek mythology. She was an architect and traveled everywhere, designing famous buildings.

One of her favorite places she ever went was Athens, Greece where she got me the coin.

The picture of her was beautiful, although faded and yellow around the edges.

She was a beautiful woman, with curly black hair compared my blonde, and the same stormy gray eyes. I knew I wouldn't ever be as pretty as her.

I never knew her, but I wished that she was still here all the time. The little I knew came from what dad told me. He described her as beautiful, smart, and amazing.

They never got married. He proposed to her, and she said yes. Then they had me. But a month before they got married, she got in a bad car wreck. She was wounded badly but the ambulance came too late.

Shaking off the memories, I pulled my hair into a pony tail, grabbed my backpack, and walked downstairs.

I paused at the doorway and took in the scene I saw.

Dad was sitting at our oak table, in his chair at the head of the table, drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. That chair was usually empty.

Bobby and Matthew were bickering among themselves about who was the better driver in Mario Kart. Personally, I thought Bobby was, but I didn't say anything.