"I'm home!" My dad shouted as he walked through our front door. 'Shit.' I thought to myself. 'No use in hiding, he'd only do it harder…' "Delilah?" Calling my name ferociously, he took off his shoes, coat, and his belt. I started to walk downstairs—more frightened then excited, pretty unusual for a child to see their dad when he'd been away all day, right? Haha, no. Erm—not for me I mean…
"Delilah?!" My father called once more. "I'm losing patience, get down here right now or—"
"I'm right here." I cut him off almost immediately, I didn't want to know what he would do that could possibly be worse then this.
"Ah, yes, there you are…" I could tell he was going to make this worse for me, worse than it already is. "Would you do Daddy a small favor?" I really didn't like the sound of where this was going.
"Uh.." I laughed nervously, "Well, you know…" He was definitely going to make this worse. "I don't exactly…." I mumbled, and trailed off a bit. "But you know…" I stopped myself so he would just do it, and get it over with.
"Good, would you go upstairs, and get my rings?" Yep, knew it. He was definitely doing this today. I was hoping he'd do it tomorrow, as I did every other day, but I seemed to hope more today for tomorrow than ever, tonight…I was leaving.
I slowly walked upstairs to get his rings—'Lovely, more pain.' I thought…I hate my life. I see other dads take their daughters to ballet, to the mall if they need a ride. Why can't mine be like their dads? Or why couldn't he have just walked out on my mom and I? That would've been better than this! My mom has long hours…ok, actually she doesn't, she just works overtime, I don't blame her though. Every day when I get home, I get out my iPod, pen, and book, with mixed emotions; I always fear my father hitting me, fear him hitting my mom, but I'm always excited for her to come home. My mom and I have been through so much together. She is my best friend. She's been in the hospital for a while now, but she's supposed to come home today.
FLASHBACK"Hey, wanna come to my house after school today?" my friend Melanie asked me.
"I can't." I smiled at that thought. Melanie gave a confused/ pissed off/ and hurt look. "I'm going to the hospital to see my mom." I had to contain my happiness, otherwise, I would've screamed.
At The Hospital
"Hey Mom…" I said quietly.
"Hey Dii." She said with her gentle smile. I loved that about my mom, she could be in a horrible situation, and still see the bright side of things.
"Mom, I don't like Dad. No, actually I have to say I HATE him! He put you here, and he's making our lives miserable. So the thing is, I was kinda hoping you would let me move…no, moving is too obvious. More like run, or escape, to a different town—that's miles away. A different state even!" I had this idea for weeks, and I told myself I would, no matter what. But why I only mentioned it now was because my mom was getting out soon. "Look, I understand if you don't want to come, but I can't put up with that man, I'm supposed to call my father." I said in a gentler tone.
"You really think I want to stay with the man that hurts the love of my life, and does this to me? You've got to be kidding me! I've had the same idea for quite some time." She said it quietly, like he was listening in or something.
"Really?" I was so happy!!
"Well I get paid for overtime! Why do you think I kept working? I'd never actually want to leave you alone with that man!" I could tell she could barely hold in her happiness. "We'll leave early morning the first night I'm back!"
END FLASHBACKMy thoughts overwhelmed me that I almost didn't hear my dad yelling at me; asking if I'd gotten his rings. Peachy. I grabbed his rings, walked downstairs, and braced myself for the pain.
Afterwards…Everything hurts. Hurts to walk. But I need to get rest if we're going tonight. He punched me 'side the face, my arms, I'm afraid to even look at the cuts. And I'm pretty sure that the only reason he went lighter on my ribs is so that I wouldn't have to go to the hospital…which would obviously raise the suspicion level higher than it already is.
I cried out in pain every time. But it never killed my excitement, I knew that this would be the last time he ever hurt me.
I get out my book…
I'd go for the bathroom, with only my razor blade…but I'm already in too much pain to hurt anymore. The hell I go through is worse than most average could even imagine. I know I'm not starving to death, nor am I dieing of AIDS. But I am dieing. Dieing of a broken home. An empty heart. A broken heart! Betrayal. And if I don't escape soon, I might actually die. The death that defeats me is probably better than this. And the days he doesn't hurt me I'm paralyzed with fear. Coming from this pretty home full of betrayed souls, my angst outcasts my love, no matter how strong. And my darkness and fear take over the light...the light that may just save me.
Hey, first chapter of my first story, not sure how you'll like it, but all I can say is that I gave it a shot.