Didn't Mean It

Didn't Mean It - Chapter 21

     “Ashley, when did he first hit you.” I looked across the table at the detective staring back at me. The room was dimly lit and placed at the back of the police station.

     “I don’t know.” I said shyly looking at the floor.

     “If you don’t tell me we can only convict him for attempted murder and not domestic violence.” She pointed out to me and my gaze met hers.

     “I guess it was about two months after we started dating.” I said nervously. I watched as she reached for a pen and paper.

      “Detective, can I speak to you for a minute?” A man said opening the door. I sat there in silence listening to my thoughts as I watched the shadows of the two detectives through the window. A few minutes later the detective walked back in quietly, shutting the door and sitting back down.

     “Ashley, I have some bad news.” She said and I looked up at her prepping myself for what I knew she would say next. “You’re mother is dead.” I felt my whole world stop knowing that they killed him. I felt hot tears slip from my eyes as I nodded.

     “I knew he would kill her.” I said.

     “Ashley, I need you to tell me now about what he did to you.” She said as I continued to stay calm past the saddest news of my life.

    “Okay, well as I said, it was about two months after we started dating. I don’t know I was just talking to a boy from one of my classes and he freaked out. At first it wasn’t anything serious and I didn’t even bruise. ALthough, everything got worse and I slowly was pulled away from my friends and family and he convinced me he was the only one I had. I believed him.” I said looking back down at the floor.

     “He admitted to hitting you so we don’t need to take this to court.” She said reassuringly and I just nodded.

***

     I opened the door to Liam’s house after a silent drive home from Liam’s driver. I walked into the kitchen where Josh and Liam sat with red eyes and I knew why they were crying. I stayed completely silent as I sat down in between them.

***

    The funeral was a couple days later and it was harder than finding out the news in the first place. I remember it vividly. My mother laying there with pale, cold skin. She looked deadly still and I remember starring at her chest waiting for her to take another breath even though I knew she never would.

     They buried her right next to where the buried my father when I was younger and I knew they would now live in eternal love.

***

     “This came for you today.” Josh said handing me a large envelope. “It’s your exam make ups.” He said and I nodded opening it. I looked at the piece of paper reading the title. ‘Write about something that has strongly impacted your life.’ I sighed and nodded as I headed back upstairs to my bedroom. I shut the door and locked it before pulling out my laptop, starring at the blank screen for a few minutes.

     I grabbed my phone and pressed send on Liam’s contact. He was visiting his mother while Josh and I stayed here.

     “Hello.” He said and I smiled at the sound of his voice.

     “Hi.” I said nervously.

     “What’s up?” He asked me.

     “I have to make up my exams and I have to write about something that impacted my life and I don’t know what to write about.” I explained.

     “Really Ashley? I think you’ve gone through some pretty impacting things.”

    “I know but how do I put them on paper.” I asked him.

    “I don’t know. Just start at the beginning.” He said.

    “Okay. I guess I’ll talk to you later I have to beat out this essay.” I joked and I heard him laugh a little on the other line.

    “Okay. I’ll text you. Bye. Love you.”

     “Love you too.” I said before I heard the phone line click as the call ended. I picked my laptop back up and began writing.

     ‘ “Please, I’m sorry. I was just talking to him.” I begged my boyfriend, Jared, after he caught me asking a boy in my chemistry class what the homework was...