The next day I woke up to the usual way things work. My mother shook me awake and then I was was squeezed into my coset and into my dress.
"That's to tight!" I hissed when mother was lacing up my corset.
"Now Maria ladies don't complain! You are not a child."
She pulled it even tighter. Oh god, it was like suffocating! I she continued to lace up my corset and I was stuck with that thing wrapped around me the whole day. I was more then excited for spending sometime with Jack. That is what he we had agreed on. At that time I heard a knock on the door.
"Well that must be your father." Mather said.
She walked over to the door and opened it. In the door was a disheveled and dazed looking version of my father.
"Where is hell have you been?" She whispered so that I wouldn't here (even though I did).
"I'd like to speak to Maria alone."
I knew he was drunk. I felt my heart begin to pound. Mother looked to me then back to my father. I could see that she was just as worried as I was.
"Well..." She started hesitantly. "Perhaps if it's alright with Maria."
I felt as if my heart was about to come out of my chest. They both looked to me. I was searching for something to say... If I said the wrong thing than he might just lose his mind!
"I-I mean if you want to..." I stuttered.
I wished I hadn't said what I'd said from the second it came out of my mouth. My mother nodded and stepped out of the room closing the door behind her. I was alone with my father in one room and he was drunk. Anything was possible! My father walked over to me. I could smell the liquor on his breath.
"Maria I figured we should spent some time together and give things another try." He said.
I didn't know what to say. I knew I did not want to spend any time with my father. No I wouldn't. I couldn't.
"I'm sorry father, but I have plans." I said.
His face contorted into something so angry and filled with hate. I knew what was coming. He reached for my shoulders but before he could I darted towards the window. He almost grabbed my dress but missed it my an inch. I hurried down the fire escape. I thought I could hear a muffled "Wait!". I wasn't sure it was really there of if my mind was playing tricks on me. I ran through the streets. Finely I reached Jacks street corner.
"Jack! Jack!" I screamed.
He saw me and my distress. I ran into him nearly toppling him over. I bursted out in tears right there.
"Okay, okay." He stroked my back. "Maria tell me what happened."
He was calm. I could tell that he was trying to calm me down by doing this. My chest felt tight and I was crying so hard I could barely breathe!
"Let's go to the boarding house. We can talk about everything that happened." He said.
He led me to the boarding house. I was able to hold myself together until we got into the boarding house and into Jack's room. It was then I broke down. He wrapped his arms around.
"It's okay. Tell me what happened?" He said.
I took a deep breath. I couldn't help but feel safe in his arms. He wiped away my tears. He sat me down the on bed.
"Tell me everything." He said.
"I-it was my father... He was drunk and he just..." I tried to just spit it out, but it came out in stutters.
His face became even more worried.
"What did he do to you? He didn't hurt you did he?" Jack asked.
"Not exactly..."
"Well what happened then?"
"My father has been drinking lately and then he just lost it! He was screaming at me yelling." I felt tears going down my face. "He grabbed for me and missed. I ran to you... I didn't have anywhere else to go." The words came out in a jumble. He looked away and to the floor. It seemed to strike him hard. He took a deep breath. He seemed like he was about to break down.
"Whats wrong Jack?" I asked.
"It's a long story..." He mumbled.
"Jack whats wrong? Tell me please."
He sighed and looked up at me then said, "I don't talk about it much... It's not really important at all."
"Jack, If somethings wrong I want to help you."
He took a shaky breath.
"Are you sure you want to know?" He asked.
I nodded.
"Alright..." He paused as if he was thinking of the words to say. "When I was a kid my dad used to beat my mom. He would force me to watch it. And then one day... H-he killed her, and I was watching. I remember being so afraid. I wasn't sure what happened to my mother until later on I was to in shock. One day I just left and found the police and then they took him away. He got life in prison so I won't see him ever again. But that's all over now, it doesn't matter."
I looked up at him in shock. I thought it was bad for me but Jack had been through hell.
"Oh god Jack... I'm so sorry." I said.
"No don't be. That was a long time ago."
I wrapped my arms around him. I could tell we both needed it. He looked down at me and smiled. I smiled back. The heat went to my cheeks. I didn't exactly know why it was after all that had just happened, but there in his arms I felt happy. Truly happy.