Maia

1

Māori
Whānau = Family
Māmā = Mother

Word count:1132

☽☾

Today was the weekly grocery shopping trip. I had my usual list from Jacob as well as the book I had borrowed from last week. I managed to sneak it out of the house as both Jacob and māmā were busy smoking in the kitchen. The shops were about a 10-minute walk from the house. I moved as quickly as I could, with the book inside the reusable bag. Although it was slightly heavy, I knew it was still lighter than the grocery would be.

I quickly rushed to the library first, returning the book and moving down to the science section. Each week I change subjects so I can learn a little bit of everything. This week I decided to go for biology since it's been a while. I picked up a newish-looking book based on land plants. I quickly flicked through the pages, seeing a couple of new words like 'Bryophytes' and 'Angiosperms'. Happy with the results, I take it to the counter where Ms. Wilias sits, reading through the daily paper. She smiles at me as she scans the book and hands it over. 

I rush over to the supermarket, walking to the usual aisles where each item of food is located. I grabbed a basket earlier, placing the bag with the book inside and the food next to it. I see some townsfolk and smile. Once everything needed has been collected, I move to the checkout lanes. I pay for the groceries from the money Jacob gave me and stack them in the bag. I walk out, already feeling the pain of the bag's weight that's resting on my arm. I could see a red mark forming where the strap meets the skin. I huff as I make my way back to the house.

I take a few breaks in between, to catch my breath and to set the bag down. I feel a small bead of sweat dripping from my forehead. It was summer and boy was it hot. The sun beamed down on every section of the road it could, making this walk worse. My hair was sticking to my face and my clothes were drenched. But my goal was to get home in time so I walked faster.

The feeling of relief hit me as I saw the driveway. I quicken my pace, making it to the door in no time. I lightly drop the bags to the side, opening the wooden handle. But the door is locked.

Jacob must be mad. Either that or he's left this town forever, I'm kind of hoping it's the latter.

I squirm and hold my breath, knowing the first option stated is the only reality in this scenario.

I guess it's time to go play punching bag.

I hear the footsteps. The sound of each step gradually gets louder. They're slow yet tormenting. I'm not even looking at Jacob, yet I can feel the waves of anger rolling off him. The door opens in a flash, I feel relief from the coolness of the wind. Yet that feeling soon evaporates when I see his ugly red, squashed ear-looking ass face.

He's livid. Before I can grab the groceries, he's pulling on my hair, and dragging me inside. I'm pulled to the living room. Māmā was already sitting on the stained couch, looking out of it. She had a cigarette in her hand, blowing smoke onto my face as I was shoved to the ground.

His steel cap boot hovers above my left hand, he's smirking as his foot lowers. I feel every movement, every stomp and twist of his foot. I silently cry, hearing a small crunching sound as he presses down harder. Māmā sits there naturally as if it doesn't bother her. She was too wasted to even notice her surroundings, even if she was sober, she was too selfish to care. As I shifted my focus back on Jacob I saw his boot had moved and it was a matter of seconds until it reached my face.

"Focus you bitch" he gritted out as I felt the contact on my nose. A metallic taste was on my tongue as blood dripped from my nose.

His leg swung again, this time hitting my jaw. I almost cried aloud. I stopped myself in time though, knowing there would be more punishments if I did.

I fazed out everything he was saying. I wanted to faze out the pain but it was impossible. He didn't stop kicking for a while and when he was bored of that well he started laying into me. Punch after punch until I was black and blue. Even then he continued. I felt a pool of wetness on the back of my head, it would be mixing with the matted hair and dirt. My eyes become foggy and I soon blacked out.

☽☾

Eventually, he stopped, sometime after I had passed out. He was probably bored shitless after I become unresponsive. Jacob liked reactions, and Jacob liked to watch me squirm and suffer. His amusement probably died when I was knocked out. It feels like hours since then.

I can only assume he wanted a drink, down at the bar with his buddies. That's where he goes often.

I know from previous experience to clean up, because, in Jaocb's eyes, this mess was caused by me and me only. The blood he drew from me - my fault. It was as if the fact that beating another human being wasn't the cause of the bleeding, it was something completely unrelated.

I knew my Māmā was with him and that they'd be out all night, possibly even until morning. So I laid there, I stayed still. Contemplating everything. I was too hurt to move.

It felt as if a thousand buildings crumbled on top of me and all I could do was watch.

I laid still for four hours.

In those four hours, all I could think about was my Whānau. What are they doing? Are they happy? Is life better for them?

It took me a while but I finally got up.

I slowly made my way to the door, where I had left the groceries. I didn't want any more drama over silly little things,. I struggled to put them away, and I struggled to carry each item but I did it. Not because I wanted to but because I had to.

I took my time to go to my room. I had to hide the book. Luckily for me, a floorboard was my solution. I shoved it into a box under a board. I lay on my bed. I want to give up, but I can't. For some reason, I can't. So, instead, I settle for sleep, deciding the cleaning of my wounds and the floor can wait.