𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗹 - 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀

Stairs

(Chapter 6)
Flashback
November 9th, 2017
I woke up in an unfamiliar room, my head pounding. I could barely open my eyes. I sat up, bile pushed up into my throat, I choked it down.

"Hey," My friend Wraye walked into the room, everything rushed back to me when I saw her face. We'd been out late drinking, I hadn't gone out with anyone in months, she was the only one of my friends that Jason liked. I got really drunk, like falling over drunk, so she asked me to stay at her place for the night. I probably couldn't even call a cab, let alone drive myself home so I agreed.

"Hey," My voice was small and hoarse. "Do you have an Advil?" She giggled at my hungover state and pulled a bottle of pills out of a drawer. I set one on my tongue and swallowed it with a sip of water.

"It's noon, does Jason know you're here?"

"Fuck." I stood up quickly, choking down more vomit and rushed to find my keys and phone. "I've got to go."

"Can you drive?" She followed quickly after me down the stairs.

"I hope so." I replied, dashing out the door and into my car.

Halfway through the drive my headache started to die down. I was seeing everything fully and the nausea subsided. God I love Advil. Although the hangover wasn't what I was worried about right now. I didn't know how Jason would react, I hadn't told him I was spending the night at Wrayes. I probably scared him to death, all I felt was guilt. I dialed his number on the drive over, straight to voicemail.

When I finally pulled up in the driveway, Jason was waiting for me on the porch. I got out of the car and hurried up to meet him. "I'm so sorry I just," He cut me off.

"I don't wanna hear it." He grabbed my shirt and pulled me inside roughly. My purse flew on the floor as he let a slap come across my face. It sent me doubling back but Jason's tight grip on my blouse kept me on my feet. I shielded my head with my arms, protecting myself from swinging limbs. He pushed me towards the stairs. "Why don't you go let your kid know that you're ok, he was worried sick." I nodded, my face set in stone.

My cheek was sore as approached Calebs room, I rubbed it but that did not settle the pain. I wiped a smile across my face and opened his door.

"Mom!" He stood up from the floor where he was playing with legos. "Where were you?" He flew into my arms.

"I was at Wrayes, I'm sorry I didn't call." I held him tight, combing my fingers through his hair. "I love you."

"I love you too." I walked out of his room, leaving him

"Please stop yelling, Caleb is in his room." We were upstairs, Jason roaring about how I didn't come home last night. I was drunk, I stayed the night at a friends house and forgot to text.

"I don't care if he's in his room. He needs to hear about how terrible his mother is." He held a firm grip on my forearm, cutting off circulation.

"Let go of me." I yanked away as hard I could, only causing his nails to dig into my skin.

"Your job has taken over our lives. You need to quit, if you don't I'm taking Caleb and we're leaving. You deserve what's coming." His words stabbed me in the chest as I sobbed.

"You can't do that," I pleaded, he showed no emotion towards me except anger. He seemed to enjoy the terror he was causing. "I love Caleb and he loves me. If you leave I'll hire lawyers and I'll win."

"You sound crazy, you would lose with that job of yours. You're not home enough to care for a child." He laughed, teasing me as I cried.

"Shut up." I countered, frustration rising in my body. Anger stirred with in me, burning me from the inside out.

"What's you say?" He squeezed my neck at the edge of the stairs. I sputtered but rage quickens my blood.

"I said shut up." I could barely make out words, air was scarce.

He pulled me upwards, choking me and dragged me towards the top step. "You're going to regret that." He lifted me off my feet as I clawed at his hands.

My nails dug into his skin, I kicked my feet snd tried to scream but nothing came out. My vision slipped in and out of darkness, one moment I was fighting for my life, the next I was falling. My abdomen and chest hit the stairs hard as I tumbled down. White hot pain took over, it got worse every step that my body slammed onto.

"Mom!" I heard muffled scream as I drifted in and out of consciousness. I preferred to be unconscious, when I was awake I could feel the stabbing pains and taste the blood pooling in my mouth. I could feel Calebs hands shaking my face, urging me to stay awake as he and Jason spoke with a dispatcher.

"I don't she just fell." Jason urged.

"Mom," My eyes opened, I was able to make out a fuzzy outline of Caleb before I drifted back out. "No mom, stay awake. Please, you have to stay awake." I lifted my heavy eyelids for him. "Dad get some towels, she's bleeding bad." Jason scattered to find a towel.

I pulled my weak hand to the back of my head, my hairline, where the pain was the greatest. I felt a deep cut and winced as I ran my fingers past it.

"Don't touch it, here." Jason held a wet towel to my head, stinging the wound before pulling my ear close to his mouth. "I'm sorry."

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Hey everyone! I hope you liked this chapter. I should be sleeping, I have school tomorrow but instead I'm writing haha! Thank you for 94 views, goodnight!