“DANI,” my step dad Joe screeched, “get up and make me food.”
Once Joe is done blabbing he walks back downstairs to his armchair and sits in front of the TV. It's 11 at night and he couldn't make food for himself.
I stand up and stretch, my bones are in agony from sleeping on my hard bed. One would think if they did work all day for someone they could at least get a nice bed. nope.
I open my door and walk down the stairs. The revolting scent of beer and cigarettes makes me stop and cough. Once my coughing fit was over I walk down the hall to the TV room. I pass the pictures of my mom and me on our wall. She's dead. I miss her so much.
flashback-
It's cold out. The wind blowing my hair in all directions.
“Mom?” I call out, Nothing. I close my eyes. BOOM, A gun shot.
“MOMMY,” I scream. I'm lost and petrified. No one will help me.
“Don't hurt her.” I hear from a distance.
The wind is blowing even harder now. Leaves flying everywhere.
“Run.” I hear my mom say. I ran, fast. BOOM goes a gun.
I look back. There, 20 feet from me, lies a still body.
I spin around looking for the shooter, no one is in sight.
I stride towards the restless body. Here on the ground restless before her 11-year-old daughter was my mom.
Her head rises while saying, “I love you, my sweet girl.” before she becomes lifeless.
“I love you more,” I whisper.
End of flash back
I wipe away a tear while walking into the TV room.
“What would you like to eat?” I ask joe.
“Bacon.” he mumbles.
“Just bacon?” I question.
“That is what I said. Now go away, I'm watching TV.”
I do as I'm told and get into the kitchen. Once the meat is out of the fridge I turn the stove on and grab a pan.
I place the bacon on the hot frying pan as I hear the tv blaring and joe cussing.
while bending over to grab a plate and I feel a slap on my ass.
“WHAT THE HELL. I TOLD YOU NEVER TO DO THAT.” I scream.
“Don't you ever yell or tell me what to do!” he sneers and slaps me hard. I fall over and grab my face. It burns. I have taken this too long, I do not deserve to be treated like this.
joe grabs my arm and pulls me off the ground. With a thud, I'm against the fridge struggling under his grip.
“You’re just like your mom, weak.” he spits.
“Don't you ever talk about my mom like that!” I say infuriated.
“You are only 17 meaning you live under MY house and you obey MY commands.”
His grip is getting stronger. I can't take this anymore. I am weak, but today, I will not be taken down. I do something I would have never, in a million years, thought I would do.
“You know what? you’re right, this is your house. I'm leaving.” and with that, I grab the hot pan and slap him over the face. I don't dare look back. I just run, through the hall quickly grabbing a photo of my mom then it's out the door and down the street for me. by the time I look up I'm a few blocks away.
“Hey wait up!” called an unusual voice.
“Hello?” I say into the darkness.
A figure was running up to me. I had half the mind to run, but for some reason, I didn't.
“Hi, I'm Dean. please don't think about running away. I saw everything through your front window. I'm not here to hurt you.” before I let him continue I step in.
“Where is u stalking me?” I question.
“God no. I was taking a night walk to clear my mind and I happened to stop and check the time in front of our house. I'm glad I did I caught u slapping him with a pan and running. I figured you could use some help.”
“I'm gonna take a chance and ask if I can sleep at your house tonight,” I ask questioningly because I had just met him a few minutes prior.
“That's the other thing I was gonna say. I don't usually do this but you are a fine girl. A legendary sight I saw when u hit him with the pan.”
“Thank you,” I whisper before he leads me to his place.
I have done things I could never do. But today, I am free to be the real me.