The Sadistic Father

Chapter 3

He keeps texting and calling but as always I ignored him. I was sitting out on the bench in gym waiting for my turn to be called to play soccer. I check my phone to see 15 unread messages from Jacob and 27 missed calls and 9 voicemails.

Jacob: Hey

Jacob: You there?

Jacob: ????

Jacob: Please answer me

Jacob: Alison?

Jacob: Alison???

Jacob: You've been ignoring me for weeks now

Jacob: Please tell me what's wrong!

Jacob: Please talk to me!

Jacob: I'm here for you.

Jacob: You can talk to me.

Jacob: Ali?

Jacob: Alison please answer me.

Jacob: Look I need to see you. Meet me in the courtyard right now!! Same spot. I'm waiting for you.

Jacob: Please?

I gave in I had to respond I couldn't help but feel bad for him. But what I kept thinking was: Why does he care about me so much? I decided to respond and meet him.

Me: Okay I'll be there soon...

It was last period I had gym so I just asked to leave early claiming I had really bad cramps. I had to change in the small tight girl's washroom on the first floor. I met him 10 minutes later at 'our place' in the courtyard. He was already there leaning casually against a tree. As soon as he was me he made his way towards me. The look of worry written all over his face.

"You've been avoiding me for weeks now Ali, please just tell me what's wrong? Don't say it's nothing because that's obviously not true"

"I'm fine Jake. Don't worry about me."

"Look I know that something happened. Something that is hurting you so much that you don't think you can trust or let anyone in. But I'm here for you Ali always. Remember that. I know that you've been hurt in the past but I will never hurt you. Yes it sounds cliché but it's true you mean everything to me and I can't imagine my life without you. It kills me to see the girl I love hurting like this. You keep it all closed up that it gets to the point where you can't take it anymore and you explode. I want to help you deal with all of this and talk to you so that you don't get to that point."

"But if I tell you, you have to promise that you won't freak out. Promise me that"

"I can't promise you that. Please just tell me."

"Jacob please just promise me that."

"Okay fine I promise."

"My dad he- he hits me."

"Like beats you?"

"Yes, constantly..." I pulled my shirt up slightly so that he can see the bruises on my rib cage. I showed him the scars on my arms. I showed him the scratches and bruises on my neck and shoulders that my father gave me when he was trying to drown me a few weeks earlier. I felt awkward showing him this I've never showed anyone these things. He turned red with anger.

"What the hell? How could someone be so cruel? When did this start?

"Ever since I could remember."

"We have to do something about this Alison we can't just let him get away with this. We can call the cops or something. Or press charges I don't know. But I can't just sit back and watch you get hurt."

"We can't! My dad is a cop they are never going to believe us."

"Ali it isn't right we have to do something."

"Don't you think I know that? I'm the one who has had to deal with this for the past 17 years. I got to the point where I don't even care anymore because I would rather be dead than have to live another day with his abuse. I can't take it anymore. But we have to be realistic Jacob we aren't exactly believable or trust worthy. You've been arrested before and I have hurt myself before so they might think I'm doing it to myself. We are just two high school kids, who's going to believe us over a cop?"

"I understand all that but I don't want to see you suffer. Please don't say that Alison your life is too precious to end. Please tell me that you aren't going to hurt yourself again. Promise me that you aren't cutting again."

"I know but that's life. Life is all about suffering and pain."

"I understand where you're coming from but you didn't answer my question. Are you cutting Alison?"

I never responded. My silence was the answer.