I'm Blind Not Fragile

Chapter 17

When I wake up the next morning, I'm startled because I don't remember where I am. The bed is too soft, and I know I'm not in Brooklyn because of the lack of traffic sounds and shouting coming from outside. I try to sit up, and the pain is what forces me to remember the events of yesterday. The confusing dinner, with sweet Eliza and her terrifying brother Hans. I finally manage to sit up and put my feet on the ground. My stomach doesn't hurt nearly as bad as it did yesterday, it was more of an incessant ache this morning and tomorrow it will most likely just be sore. I have built up a bit of a tolerance for pain after all these years, sparring with Brandon.

Just the thought of Brandon makes me sad. There is no way that I can force him to talk to me. To tell me what has happened. He claims his father said he didn't have to be my friend anymore. But what would drive Shawn to tell Brandon he didn't need to be my friend anymore. Has something changed? Am I no longer allowed to go to their gang house anymore? What about my other friends, will I be able to see them again? That is if I ever escape Howard. He claims that I am to leave as soon as he and Mr. Chamberlain sign their contract, but after he attacked me last night, have things changed? Will I ever be able to leave?

I hear soft feet dance across the floor, and I know that it is Juniper coming towards me. Weird that I didn't notice the main door open. I really do need to pay more attention. I am in actual danger in this house. There is no question that if I upset Howard again, he will resort to violence against me.

"Good morning Gertrude, did you sleep well last night?" Juniper says from right beside me.

"As well as I can after my stomach got kicked in last night," I say a bit harshly. Honestly, it's not Juniper's fault what happened to me last night. It might not be wise to be mean to my only ally in this house.

"I'm sorry, I understand. Are you in pain? I can get you some ibuprofen after you eat." She offers up. She honestly hasn't done anything horrible to me. And she seems like the kind of person who doesn't like watching people get hurt. Maybe she will take pity on me eventually and help me escape.

"That would actually be very nice. Thank you, Juniper." I respond very diplomatically.

"Great. Howard has requested that you have breakfast with him this morning. I came up here to help you get ready." I don't know what expression she's making with her face; I'm sure it's a sympathetic one. Her voice sounds a mix of sad and regretful.

She moves across the room and opens the closet that I discovered last night. There is some rustling of fabric, and suddenly Juniper is beside me again. Sitting on the edge of my bed, I have my face pointed in the direction of the sun shining through the window. I can't help but smile when I feel the sun's warmth on my skin—a small reprieve from the terrors around me. At least the sun is still spreading her warmth despite the coming of winter. Tomorrow is September 29th. My 16th birthday. Normally I would be in my room helping Eric finish my application for getting a seeing-eye dog. But here I am, being forced to eat breakfast with my father after he attacked me last night.

"Ok, I got out a shirt, and a skirt both have paper tags on them, so I think you can manage. I will be outside the door. Call me when you finish." Juniper says before she slips out of the room. I pick up the shirt first and find the tag before slipping it on. I do the same with the skirt and call Juniper back in. She brushes my hair, and then we're on our way to the dining room.

We exit my "room" and go down the spiral staircase. Once we go through the door at the bottom of the stairs, we follow a far less complicated path than what I was lead on yesterday. I assumed that they were leading me around unnecessarily yesterday anyways. After what feels like a whole 6 minutes of walking, we finally reach the dining room. Juniper leads me to my chair and silently slips out of the dining room.