We hung up. Downstairs, I heard a key turn in the front door. Oh no, I thought. My mom was at a hotel and my cousin was staying with some friends. That could only mean one thing. That the key turning in the door belonged to one other person; my father. The one and only person I was afraid of. Well, so far. I don't know what he was doing here; the last I knew he was in Mexico with his new wife and her kids. I couldn't get out of the house without him seeing me. I heard the door close and lock. Oh no. I was trapped inside my own house. I looked around my room, searching for the nearest weapon, or what could possibly be used as one and found a black metal umbrella.
"Kate," I heard him shout.
The door of my room wasn't locked because my mom didn't usually bother me after she went to bed. But it was closed, however. I always feared the next time he'd come back. Even if Amy and my mom were home, they wouldn't have done anything. I didn't make a move to lock my bedroom door but I did move slowly toward it. Once in front of it, I reached and grabbed the umbrella. I heard heavy footsteps come up the stairs.
"Kate," he called.
He walked down the hall where he stepped in front of my door, which I was on the other side of. He turned the knob not even bothering to knock. No one did in my family. He opened the door and I was on the ground.
"I knew I'd find you here," he said.
Where else would I be at this hour? I thought.
He kicked me with the toe of his boot.
"I haven't even done anything yet," I cried.
"Be quiet. You'll wake everyone up," he said.
"No one's here. Mom . . . Mom's at a hotel and Amy's at a cousins," I replied.
"I meant everyone in the neighborhood."
He kicked my back.
"Ow," I whispered.
"Just you being here . . ." he told me.
"Oh do you this to your wife too?" I asked.
"Shut up. Now get on the bed."
"What, no," I said.
"I said now."
I closed my eyes and shielded my face with my arms, the umbrella in one. He hit me then kicked me some more, throwing the umbrella on the floor.
"This isn't the last you'll see of me. I'll be back," he said.
And then left.
I waited until I heard him leave the house I frantically dialed lizzies number on my phone, as it wasn't programmed.
"Hello?" she asked.
"Liz . . . Lizzie?" I asked.
"Yeah Kate what's wrong?"
"I . . . I need to come over. I need to get away from here."
"Yeah sure. Do you want my mom to come pick you up?"
"No it's fine I'll walk."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. Thank you, so much."
"Yeah sure."
"Ok bye Lizzie."
"Bye Kate."
I frantically put some stuff in my purse, not sure how long I'd be gone. I then walked down the stairs and out the front door, slamming it closed behind me and began the long walk to Lizzie's.