Our Mental Love

Chapter 9

I toss the picture across my room but that only makes it worse. The floor is covered from inch to inch with the same picture.

I shut my eyes and my breathing continues to be uneven. I gasp for air.

I open my eyes and see my mother being drunk. I see her throw a bottle at me. I see that crazy women everyone tries to avoid.

I clench the blanket in my hands but then a soft knock emerges from my door. I release the blanket slowly. I look at the door and the knock emerges once again.

I sit up and walk carefully to the door. I start to turn the knob but the lock stops me. I hear the simple "click" and the door opens. "Darren, sweetie. Are you okay in there?" My aunt looks in the room slightly and stops moving for a few seconds. She stares at the floor.

She looks back up at me with worried eyes. My aunt pushes me out of my room and I almost hit the wall. She smiles slightly and enters my room. I reach a hand out to open the door wider so I could also enter but she slams the door on my face. My nose was an inch apart from getting slammed.

I hear my aunt scuffling around and she mumbles to herself. I lean on the wall lazily. My aunt's footsteps start to come nearer and she opens the door. Her shirt and jacket got puffy. I look back into my room and see every single picture gone. My aunt smiles at me quickly and waddles to the garbage pail in the kitchen. I roll my eyes and walk into my room once again. I hear a whoosh of papers and heavy footsteps.

My aunt locks the door, hesitantly at first but still locks it. I sigh and fall back on my bed. It seems my bed has been my best friend. I start to move on my side but something crinkles beneath me. I reach for it. It's another picture. But this time it's not my mom and dad. It's something else.