Broken Innocence
Narrator POV
Jaide sat nursing her wounds on the cold tile floor of the bathroom; she just stopped the bleeding of one cut, only to have another start up again. She jumped when someone started banging on the thick wooden door, and her hand shot up to insure she had locked it.
"Jaide, get out here!" The slurred voice came through the door, causing Jaide to shiver.
She closed her eyes and climbed into the bathtub, huddling into the farthest corner as the silent sobs rocked her body.
Jaide POV
I woke up a few hours after my dad stopped banging on the door, my muscles screamed in protest as I climbed out of the dirty bathtub and opened the creaky door. My father was laying on the floor by the couch, he had obviously fallen off it the night before and my mother was no where to be found, not that she ever was.
I crept around his still form, making it to my bedroom safely. I crossed the small cramped bedroom in a step and a half, pulling my little brother out of his bed, his tear stained face indicated that he had heard everything. He stirred slightly in my arms and I put him in my bed, cuddling down next to him. Listening to his quiet snores, and slowing my breathing to match his I finally fell asleep.
"Jaide" I heard my brother's voice call out. "Jaidey please wake up." He whispered into my ear, and I bolted up right. Instantly hugging him close. "He's awake." He whispered next to me, and I could feel his heart beating against my arms.
"Shhh." I cooed to him, and his heart slowed the tiniest bit. The sound of feet got closer to the bedroom, and I silently picked him up, pulling him into the closet with me. I hoped with all my heart that my dad was drunk enough not to figure out this simple trick. I crouched down in the corner and pulled my baby brother onto my lap. "It's okay Jack, everything will be fine. Just think about what Grandma's going to give you for Christmas." I whispered into his ear once again.
Flash Back
Narrator POV
Jaide sat on the floor in front of her mother, at only 11 years old. She whispered to her newborn baby brother that mommy would wake up soon and then she'd take them to the park. Jaide knew it was a lie at the time, but she wanted to protect this little bundle of flesh by any means necessary. So, if that meant telling her brother that her passed out mother might take them to the park, she'd do it.
End Flashback
Jaide POV
The sound of my door opening only halfway registered into my brain, my hand flew up to Jacks mouth to keep him from making a noise. Through the crack in the closet door, I saw my dad step next to my bed. He slammed his fist into the pillow and stood there for a second, and then he turned around and slammed the door shut, leaving us alone in the darkness. We stayed there for a few minutes, and finally Jack slumped down exhausted. He fell asleep in my arms, and I stayed there with him, letting the tears fall freely down my face, wishing more then anything he could have a perfect life, with a mommy and a daddy who loved him more then booze and money. And a small part of me wished I didn't have to be his mommy, because I wanted to be a normal teenage girl. Who got to party, and have boy friends. Not worrying about my five year old brother, or how to cover the bruises and cuts.
I slowly, silently, cried myself to sleep.