Trapped

16

"How are you a father when you allowed your friend to rape me and him continuing to make me feel uncomfortable? I know you witnessed him touching me right in front of your own eyes." I wipe my tears. "That night when he took my innocence, I saw your drunk ass walking past my room through the crack of my door, and when Steve left my room, you just looked him up and down and said, "Hey bud." What kind of father are you? Huh? I told you he raped me, and you picked him over me. Why? Why is that?"

He doesn't say anything.

I shout with all the rage inside me. "Answer me!"

He tries to speak, but I didn't let him.

"Actually, no. Shut up and just listen! You don't get to speak. You once told me when I was a little girl... Your little girl, you said you would protect me. Where was that protection?" I pause. "I don't need you... EVER. Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to see Erik, who is my ONLY family."

Next day

I walk slowly to my mom's grave. I cross my legs, sitting in front of her, playing with the grass, "Well, here I am, mom... A victim of rape and assault. You tried to prevent it from me, but in this world, there is no escaping it... I need you more than ever... I need your laughs, your voice, and you that comes with hugs."

I hear a stick crack. I look behind me, seeing Erik behind me. I immediately get up with my hands behind my back. "Uh... Hi! What are you doing here?"

He looks past my shoulder to the tombstone that marks my mother's name. "I could ask you the same thing..." He put his eyes back on mine. "Was there a funeral I missed?"

I smile with a small life. "Not the time."

He grabs my arm, leading it down. "Why didn't you tell me your mom died?"

I engage with the grass again. "I wanted to. I really did but talking about her with you made her feel alive."

He rubs my shoulder.

"How long were you standing behind me?" I question.

"Long enough to hear everything..."

"Oh..."

"Why didn't you tell me, El..." He responds with a gloomy look.

"I didn't want my problems in your life. Something stupid happened, and I want to forget about it, but I can't no more..."

"Was it Steve?"

I nod. "I am going to beat his fucking ass!" He says, getting angry.

"No, no! Stop! I actually have been dealing with this situation with an officer..."

"Can you really trust the police force with this?"

"I know you are doubtful about the police force, but Mark seems like a real deal... He helped me on getting a pregnancy test, and we read the results together, and he is taking me to an appointment this Tuesday at one o'clock to see if-"

"Woah Woah... Back up."

I left my mouth wide open. "Shit..."

"He got you pregnant!"

"Keep your voice down!"

"No one is around. That bastard!"

"Erik, stop..."

"Why didn't you tell me any of this... I feel like this officer Mark is mere your best friend than I am. I opened up to you about something serious, and you locked me out of your life."

"I know, I know..."

He grabs me quickly and hugs me tight. "Ellie..." He says, starting to cry.

I wrap my hands around him. "I don't know what to do, Erik. If the doctors say I am actually pregnant, what am I suppose to do?"

"I am skipping school and coming with you today."

"Your dad... He will be mad."

"I don't care what my dad thinks or does, I am being there for you." He lets go. "You are my best friend, and I am pregnant with you."

"Erik..."

"Yeah?"

"That sounds so weird."