Love is the strongest glue

Chapter 5 : Bruises

( Trigger warning : this chapter contains physical abusive actions, and scenes of psychological abuse that may be triggering for some readers.)

Last period went by quickly, and as soon as the bell rang I was out of there. After school I usually hang out in the center garden before walking home, but I don't want to be here any longer after what happened at lunch.

The center garden is a beautiful circular garden that is in the center of the school cafeteria, it has benches so I just sit there to read most times. The garden is full of beautiful flowers, including my favorite: black eyed susans. Nobody goes there because everybody is in such a rush to go home, unlike me.

After my freakout at lunch, I ran to my last class as quickly as possible and kept my head down. Now that school is over I can go home and forget all about today's events. I don't know why I feel this way but I hope I didn't scare Christian too much. I walked out of the classroom into the crowded and chaotic hallways. I overheard the same old conversations about what they are going to do this afternoon.

"I'm going to a party at Brian's house."

"I have to study for my algebra test."

"I'm going to get stoned and watch some Netflix."

These conversations are the same ones that happen everyday when school ends, it's like a continuous loop of deja voux. I get to the end of the hallway when I hear someone yell No I won't let you take me, and the funny thing is, I am not the least bit surprised. I thought I saw Christian out of the corner of my eye, but I keep walking. It's best if I leave him alone.

The sky is a bright blue, and the sun is shining brightly. If you looked from a window it would look like a perfect summer day, but then as soon as you go outside the chill of winter would greet you. The clouds were moving quickly above, it seems even they have somewhere they need to rush off to. I decide to take the quick way home because it is too cold to delay the inevitable. The faster I get home the faster I can enclose myself in my room.

The walk home was quiet, at times I heard snippets of conversation from other walkers, and sometimes the only sound was the wind. My thoughts were spiralling between what I had to do for homework, what I was going to eat for dinner, and Maya. I easily scheduled out my homework plan for the night, and I decided on spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, but I couldn't get Maya out of my head. I shut my eyes tightly to shut the thoughts out, but as my eyes closed the picture of her smiling and spinning in circles came into my brain and projected like a movie theatre. She was so happy. We were so happy, or at least I thought we were. I was pulled out of the trance by a strong cold wind. I pulled my jacket close to my chest and started walking again.

The rest of the walk home was normal, I mainly zoned out and my body walked me home. I only knew I was almost home when I heard yelling, it was my parents. From far away all I could hear was a blur of words, but as I got closer the conversation started to become understandable. I stood in the bush under the window so I could hear what this argument was about, and to see how long it would be until I could go inside.

"It's your fault!" My father yelled.

"What is my fault?"

"Oh you know what I am talking about" he said with a harsh sharpness.

"If you are referring to our daughters death, then I do not understand how that is my fault."

"I think you do, so stop lying."

"Oh yeah I do know, but I just love fighting with you so much that I pretend to be confused. I obviously have no idea what you are talking about!! "