Caught In The Midst

Chapter 3. Questions.

We were in the same room as the night before. The white walls creeped me out. Officer Torres was across from Lily and I. I had flashes of deja-vu. 

"Thea"

"Hm?" I looked up from my gaze.

"We're going to start with you today." Officer Torres said.

"Ok." I looked down at my palms. They were starting to get hot, and I noticed beads of sweat. I rubbed them off on my jeans.

"Are you ready?"

I nodded.

"Let's review why we're here, shall we?" He didn't wait for an answer, he rummaged through papers in a Manila envelope. "An anonymous source reported a sighting of domestic violence. Is this true?"

"Yeah." I squeaked. 

"The source also claimed the offender was Mack Portease. Your father, can you confirm that as well?"

I nodded.

"Can you explain the situation in further depth. This is all the information we have."

I felt a lump in my throat. This could change everything. Everything. I need to tell them the truth, who will I be if I don't? I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

"My father hurts me." I said. I met Officer Torres' gaze and held it as I continued. "He hurts me a lot."

"How long has this been going on?"

"A while." I answered.

"How long is that?" He asked me.

"Since my mom left." 

"When did she leave?" he got out a pen and started taking notes

"Ten years ago."

"So you were 7 when she left?"

"Yes"

"You've been harassed for ten years?" He looked at me. I felt Lily grab my hand. I nodded.

"Tell me about life before your mother left."  I swallowed my tears and kept talking.

"It was better. Not good though. He only hurt her, she was strong for a while though. He never touched Lily or me. Until my mother decided she couldn't be strong anymore, and she left." I got choked up and took a breath. "She left us with him, when he lost her he filled the ole with rage, and he took it out on me. He just never broke the habit. He still does." I threw my head back and stared at the ceiling blinking away my tears. 

"I'm aware you have a bigger family now?" 

"Yes, my dad is in a relationship, they had 3 boys."

"Does he hurt them as well?"

"No only me." My voice cracked and the tears came harder. "I don't know why it's only ever me." I started to sob and hid my face in my hands. I wiped my eyes with my arm.

"Thea, what's that on your arm?"

"Nothing." I sniffed. 

"Thea, it's important we know all the details so we can take care of this problem. "

"Give her a break." Lily said. "Can we just come back tomorrow morning?" 

"No, Thea what's that from?" I could see the concern in his eyes. 

"He just grabbed my arm."

"That looks like a lot more than a grab, Ms. Portease."

"He grabbed me hard. He was trying to get me down."

"Down from where?"

"I was climbing up the latter to the attic and he grabbed my arm trying to get me down."

"Did he get you down Thea?"

"Yes."

"Then what?" 

"Then he didn't let go of my arm. He pinned me against the wall and kneed my stomach. He made me throw up." I felt numb, like it wasn't even me uttering these terrible words. Where was Thea Portease? 

"Was this the first time that's happened?" He was still scribbling notes down. 

"God no! Have you listened to anything she's said?! This has been going on for ten years! And I've watched every minute!" Lily was fuming and picked up her coat. I'm glad she finally had my back. "We'll be back tomorrow morning Marty." She stomped out and I followed her. 

"Thanks Lily." I held my arms out, she embraced me and i could feel her shoulders shaking. 

"It's my fault" She bawled.

"What?"

"I could have stopped him but I told you not to tell." She wiped away her tears and stared at me. 

"Never blame yourself. You're my rock." I grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the sinful building. We passed a man on the way out. He nodded and smiled at us. He's oblivious to the hell I live in. I smiled back as if nothing was wrong. I had not a care in the world. Little does he know.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Where the hell were you two?" My dad was waiting for us at the door.

"We saw a movie." Lily said nonchalantly. 

"You're lying. " He stared at me. "Lily go upstairs I need to talk to your sister in private." 

"No." Lily crossed her arms 

"Lily. NOW!" He yelled. Lily don't go please please please please. I thought to self. I prayed. 

"Fine." She left. She walked away. Tears welled up in my eyes.

"What's the matter precious? Bad day?" 

"Dad stop please, we only saw a movie."

"Did you now? Which one?"

"Red Dawn" I squeaked.

"That left theatres 2 weeks ago you brat." His hand was like a whip on my face. He pinned my shoulders against the wall. "WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU?!" He spat in y face and I winced. I stayed silent. His fingers squeezed my arm hurting me even worse due to the prior bruises left there. 

"Get away" I whispered. He grasped my arms tighter and dragged me to the bathroom. He threw me against the wall. I hit it and fell to the floor, gasping for a breath. He kicked me on my way down and screamed insults at me, I could smell alcohol on his breath, I couldn't see him anymore. It was dark, his voice seemed miles away, the pain was ceasing. I was losing consciousness.