Prologue
"You will never be good enough, Bella Swan! I wish that I would've gotten rid of you when I had the chance!" my so-called mother screamed at me as she raised her fist and brought it down onto my face. Again. Blood gushed into my mouth and all down the front of my shirt. She had never treated me well, but this was an all-time low.
Finally finished with the beating, Renee grabbed a rag and wrapped it around her hand. She then picked up the bottle of liquor that had inadvertently led to the beating in the first place. As she turned and walked away, I warily sat up, scared that she would come back for more. When I was sure that it was over, I limped into my room and picked up my phone and dialed the only number I knew by heart.
"Char-erm, Dad, I have to get out."
The plane had just landed, and as I gathered my stuff together, I had an overwhelming feeling of despair. There was a knot in my stomach as I remembered the last fight between Renee and I, the night before I left to live with Charlie. She had beaten me again, but she let me go. Barely.
"Ma'am, it's time to get off," a flight attendant spoke to me, snapping me out of my thoughts. She was in her mid-thirties, and had a genuine smile on her face. Maybe she could sense what I had been through, or maybe I was just reading into things. I have a tendency to do that.
I grabbed my suitcase from the overhead compartment and made my way off of the plane. I walked through the airport to baggage-claim, and my father was waiting for me there. I had covered the bruising well, and he gave no indication that he noticed anything.
"Bells," Charlie said as he gave me a warm hug. "I've missed you." I winced and hoped that he didn't notice.
"I've missed you, too, Dad. It's been too long," I replied genuinely. I had missed him.
Charlie wasn't aware of the exact reason for me wanting to leave Phoenix, and move to Forks with him. He just knew I was sick of Renee, and I fully intended to keep it that way. I didn't want to know what would happen if he found out what she had done.
He took my suitcase from me, and we made our way outside. It was gloomy, as was to be expected. But I believe some part of me was holding onto hope that the sun would make an appearance. I spotted his police car parked close to the building. Charlie is the Police Chief of little Forks, Washington. He loved what he did, and he did it well.
We got to the car and put my stuff in. I climbed into the front seat, as Charlie climbed into the driver's seat. We rode in silence for the hour it took to get home. My dad was never one to say much, and it seemed as if things hadn't changed.
As we arrived at the house, I noticed a beat up, black car. Charlie noticed my curiosity, and said, "Do you like it? It's a 1969 Chevy Impala. It's had better days, but it runs well. I.. I got it for you. So that you wouldn't have to walk to school every day."
I didn't like it. I adored it. It was the most absolute perfect car for me. "Dad.. I love it," I replied, with a look of wonder on my face. No one, not even him, had done something like this for me. I was in awe. "Thank you. I really appreciate it."
"Of course, Bella," Charlie said with a small smile. Like I said, he isn't one to show emotions, but I could tell he was happy with my reaction.
We headed inside, and brought everything to my room. I hadn't been there in years, but it was just the same as I remembered.
"Let me know if you need anything," Charlie said. "I'll let you get settled in." Thankfully, he was never one to hover.
I sat down, finally alone. It was a strange feeling. In Phoenix, I never had that feeling of being truly alone. Renee was almost always home, which meant that she was probably drinking, and drinking always lead to a beating. But for the first time in many years, I felt safe.
I got undressed, laid under the covers on my bed, and drifted into a peaceful sleep.
