The Path Less Taken

Avery: September 1, 2014-8:09AM

        Buzzzz buzzz.....

It is too early to talk to anyone. I just want to sleep.

        Buzz buzz buzzzzz......

Gosh just leave me alone! I'm tired, I'm crabby, and I'm sore. Stop calling me.

        Buzzz......buzz....buzzz....buzzzzzz

Alright I'm up!

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        I roll out of bed and grab a t-shirt, jean shorts, and a pair of underwear out of the closet. I glance over to the pile of clothes in the corner of the closet, and pick them up to throw them in the hamper. As I toss them in, I see it--the handprint stained in red. I feel chills run down my spine and slide the door shut. 

        I walk down the hall to the bathroom and close the door behind me. I pause as I see my reflection in the mirror. I look broken. Anyone else would think nothing of it, but I see only a shell of my former self. I don't feel the same. I probably never will. I start the water for my bath and turn it all the way to hot. When I lower myself in the scalding water, I flinch. My skin feels like it's on fire. I don't know why, but I decide not to use soap. I want so bad to wash away the evidence of the horrific nightmare that was yesterday afternoon, but I cant bring myself to.

        After about thirty minutes, I pull the drain in the tub and dry myself off with a towel. I quickly get dressed and dry my hair with a towel before braiding the curly, blonde strands down my back. As I walk downstairs into the kitchen, I smell Derek's pulled pork.        

        Derek is my step dad. We don't always get along, but he means well and I know he loves me like his own. I sit down on the barstool and he throws me a juice box and a breakfast bar.

        "Morning princess! You're up early for a Sunday." 

        "Yeah, I decided to not sleep the day away today. Is mom still sleeping?"

        "Yeah she was sick last night. Let her sleep. We're having Uncle Charlie and Aunt Rachel over around 1:00." Derek chops up an onion and puts it in the Crock Pot. 

        I get up and walk back to my room. My phone is vibrating again, so I grab it off my nightstand and flop down on my bed. I have four unread messages from Collin.

        9:33PM-Collin: Hey babe are we still hanging out tonight? I miss you so much. 

        10:17PM-Collin: Babe? Are you okay?

        10:56PM-Collin: Avery you're starting to scare me. Please text me back

        12:09AM-Collin: Alright. I hope you're just sleeping. Text me in the morning. I love you. Sweet dreams.

        I text him back and let him know I'm okay and that I fell asleep. I get up and walk downstairs to my mom's room. I open the door and my dog, Snowflake, jumps up and runs over to me, licking my hands. Mom is snoring like a freight train. I jump up on the bed and gently shake her shoulder.

        "Mom.....Mom I need to talk to you."

        She rolls over to face me, "What's wrong sweetie?"

        I take a deep breath before answering, "Can we go for a drive?"

        She gets out of bed and walks to the bathroom. I walk out to the garage and slide on my Toms before sitting on the steps. I nervously shake my leg and wait for her to join me. Once we're both in the car, we pull out of the garage and exit the subdivision. 

        I start to tell her the events that led up to last night, and she stops me mid-sentence.

        "Avery did he rape you?"

        I don't say anything. The tears speak for themselves.