A wounded soul (elmax story)

Chapter 3

Els POV

We continue that ritual several more times that night. I wake up the next morning at 8:45, max is sleeping under me and Astro (her Belgian malinois) is sleeping at the end of her bed. I bask in the fact that I'm sleeping with the most beautiful girl I've ever met and then sit up a little. I make sure I'm careful not to wake max and walk downstairs.

"Hey El." Nancy says making me look up and jump a little. "Oh sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. How'd you sleep?" She asks and I shrug. "I think I slept better than max which makes me feel like shit." I say going to get some milk. She sighs and then continues with "today we need to go shopping to get you clothes. Do you know your size?" I sit down at the table next to her and shake my head. I'm sure it's a xl or xxl. You're fat. "Okay, we'll go to the store after I eat and take a shower. You need one too stinky" she mocks making me smile a little. "There's that bright smile of yours." She teases making me smile even wider. I drink the rest of my milk and go upstairs to grab some clothes out of maxes drawers.

I walk into her room and notice that she's on her phone. "Hey Ellie. How'd you sleep?" She inquires not raising her gaze from her phone. "I'm sorry you had to stay up with me all night." I say looking at my feet, feeling my heartbeat raise. "Hey. Look at me, I would never be mad about that. Sleep is something we do everyday. Losing a little bit won't kill me. I bet I slept more last night than youve slept in weeks." She rants making me feel a little better.  I grab my clothes and go take a shower so that me and nance can go to the mall. I get out and walk through the kitchen into the basement to find Mike and will setting up a campaign for D&D. "Are you okay?" Mike asks me in a concerned tone making me shrug. "It's been happening since I was just 8. He started when my mom left." I say laying down on the couch. They both nod and continue and I lay there dazing off.

I hear my mom and dad yelling through the house and I hear my mom stomp to my room and open my door. "Baby, I'll come back for you eventually." She says grabbing my suitcase out of my closet and leaving my room closing my door. That was the last time I saw her. That night I went into the den to see my dad and he was drinking and broke 3 of my ribs because I accidentally spilt his drink.

"El, come on!" Nancy yells and I jog up the stairs "let's go get some new clothes" she says with a wide smile.

We go and get into her car and she starts to play music. We get to the mall and go immediately to AE. Nancy is pulling countless things off the walls and handing them to me. I follow her all through the store and she finally turns to me and tells me to go to the dressing room. We both go into the dressing room and I start to get undressed. (Don't make it weird. We're both female.) I put on the first outfit which consists of a yellow shirt and some black shorts. I look into the mirror and my face drops instantly. So many bruises. So many imperfections. "You're beautiful. Don't let your story make you feel ugly." Nancy says lifting my head up to look at myself again. "Get that. It's cute." She says again and I nod. I take off my shirt and Nancy winces. "What??" I ask concerned as to why she's making that noise. "Your back is just so painful to look at el." I nod and shrug. "It was painful when it happened too."

"ELEANOR. I'M SICK AND FUCKING TIRED OF YOUR SHIT. YOU NEED FUCKING MONEY??? OH GET A FUCKING JOB" my dad yells as he whips me again with his belt. "Dad... please" I beg laying on the ground exhausted. "Ask me for money." He whispers bending down. I remain silent and he whips me again. "ASK ME FOR FUCKING MONEY ELEANOR." He screams next to my ear. "Dad, please give me some money for something to eat." I spit out bitterly. "YOU DONT NEED FUCKING FOOD. FAT. FUCKING. PIG." He yells beating me in between words.

"El??" Nancy says breaking me out of thought. "Yeah??" I ask and she laughs a little. "I asked you if you were hungry." She says and I shake my head "not really." I say shrugging she smiles and then off we go to the next store. By the end of the day, I'm carrying at least 9 bags and Nancy has about the same amount. We get to her car and I ask her something. "Nancy, what's gonna happen to me and my dad?" She starts the car and looks at me before saying "well, he's going to go to jail. We're gonna take you to the police station for a statement and pictures and he's gonna go to jail. You'll either stay with us, or someone who adopts you." I nod and I can feel my heart start to race. "Do I have to see him??" I ask frantically as my breathing shallows out. Within 3 seconds I'm shaking more than I can comprehend and breathing has become an issue.

He'll kill you.
You'll be ratting out your own father.
Why would you do such a thing?
Bitch.
Awful human being.
You should kill yourself.
Kill yourself.
Kill yourself.

"Ellie. Breathe. Look into my eyes and breathe. Ground yourself. Feel my hands on yours. See my eyes looking at you. Just, breathe." Nancy says taking me out of my trance. Kill yourself.