It Gets Better

Hell On Earth

When Marley comes home from school though, she’s snapped back into the harsh reality that she dreaded so much. As she walked through the door she heard he mom yelling her name, and like always she sounded pissed.

Marley debated turning around and walking back out of the house. But she knew that would only cause more issues. She dropped her backpack by the door and walked up stairs to see what her mom was yelling about.

“I told you to do the god damn dishes last night. Why the hell aren’t they done?” Her mother yells at her as Marley walks up the last step.

“I’m sorry,” Marley said quietly “I fell asleep and forgot to do them.”

“Forgot? I’m so fucking sick of you “forgetting” to do your damn chores.” Her mom yells louder.

Marley flinches at the volume of her mother’s yelling. If things weren’t already bad enough her mom’s stupid girlfriend comes into the room and starts yelling at her too.

“We don't ask much of you Marley. The least you could fuckin’ do around here is the few things we do ask you to do.” Her mom’s girlfriend yells.

That was it. Marley couldn’t take their bullshit anymore. She was sick of just sitting there and taking all the yelling from them. She finally stood up for herself.

“What do you mean you don’t ask much of me? All I ever hear day in and day out is Marley do this. Marley do that. I’m sick of being your personal slave just because your too lazy to do it yourself.”

“What did you just say?!” her mom screamed.

“You heard me!” Marley yelled back. “All you ever do is sit on your ass and get high! I’m the one who cooks dinner for me and Drew. I’m the one who does the laundry. I’m the one who does dishes. IT’S ALL ME!” Marley screamed.

Before Marley knew it her mothers hand was making contact with the side of her face.

Marley flinched in pain and immediately her hand was on the spot where her mother had just slapped her.

She screamed I hate you and ran crying down into her room.

Once in her room, Marley fell against her door and started crying harder. She wondered many things. Why did her mother hated her. What did she do to deserve to be treated this way. Was her life even worth living anymore.

She acted upon the last question. She pushed herself up using her door. She started digging around in all her drawers and on all her shelfs. She finally found what she was looking for. She pushed up her sleeves and started to make it better. One cut, two cuts, three cuts, four. She wanted to stop but couldn’t. This was the only thing that made it all better.

After her wrist was covered in open cuts, she walked her the bathroom. She carefully washed them out and bandaged them up. She pulled on her favorite hoodie and went upstairs to make dinner for her and her brother.

Shortly after Marley finished dinner, she heard a soft knock on her door. The only person who ever knocked on her door like that was her sister Kacey.

“I just want to be alone…” Marley said tiredly.

“Come on Mar, you can’t just sit and torture yourself.” Kacey says warmly. “Please just talk to me.”

Marley sighs and opens her door. Kacey walks in and goes and sits on the bed.

Marley goes and sits next to her. As she sits down Kacey wraps Marley in her arms.

“What happened? I came home and mom was on the phone bitching about you to dad.”
“I forgot to do the dishes last night because I fell asleep.” Marley said, trying to fight back the tears.

“It wasn’t even your night to do dishes. It was Drew’s. So why is she jumping on you?” Kacey asks confused.

“Because I never stand up for myself. I just sit there and take it. But I pissed her off because I finally stood up to her.”

“That makes sense of why she’s bitching about you to dad.”

Right as Kacey said that Marley’s phone started to ring. Marley looks down to see a picture of her dad on the screen.

“I don’t want to answer it…” Marley said joylessly.

“Just talk to him.” Kacey said grimly.

Marley swiped her screen. “Hell-?”

Her dad’s harsh voice cuts in. “What the hell is going on?”

“Hello to you too.” Marley said sarcastically.

“Don’t get cocky with me. Why is your mom calling me and bitching that you're being disrespect?” Her dad barked at her.

“Because. I fell asleep early last night and forgot to do the dishes. When i got home, I didn’t even take two steps into the house before she started yelling. She’s just mad because I finally stood up to her.” Marley said in a matter of fact kind of way.

“Why Marley. Why did you have to do that?”

“Because Dad, I’m sick of her saying that I never do anything around the house when all I ever do is bust my ass to make sure this house doesn’t fall apart.”

“Language Mar. And I know. But why didn’t you just call me or talk to Kacey. Why did you have to stir up the pot?”

“Dad. I’m sick of the way I have to just sit here and take this bullshit from her. And I’m not gonna watch my language. I’m 16. I’m so close to getting the fuck out of this place. And I promise that when I do, I won’t even look back. Oh, and to answer your question of why I didn’t call you is because you always tell me the same damn thing. To be the bigger person. To bite my tongue. To just let it go. By doing that, she just gets worse and thinks its ok to do it to me because I never stand up to her. And I bet that in all of that Jada failed to tell you she slapped me across the face.”

Marley’s dad gasps. “SHE HIT YOU?!” he yelled, pissed.

“Yea, Jada slapped me across the face.”

“Now, Marley, she is your mother, it would be nice if you still called her mom.” he said woefully.

“No! She doesn’t treat me like a daughter so why should I treat her like a mother?!”

“I’ll take care of it Peanut. Stiffen up that upper lip. I’m here for you.” he said tenderly.

“Thanks Daddy.” Marley said warmly.

Marley hung up the phone. All she had to do was look at Kacey and her arms were open and waiting for Marley.

Marley curled up in her sister’s arms and fell asleep. She was happy to be asleep where things were better than reality.