𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐦

𝔽𝕆𝕌ℝ

Grace

"Mom, I don't need training wheels."

"Of course you need them, honey this is your first time riding a bike," she said placing my helmet on my head.

"But I've seen a lot of videos explaining how to do it mom." I huffed and crossed my arms.

"You might have the knowledge but you don't have the experience."

"Dad please tell mom that I don't need training wheels," I said turning to my dad who was leaning against his car watching us.

"Tell you this honey, you'll ride your bike with training wheels and I'll buy us some ice cream," he said walking up to me and patting my back.

"Really!?" I exclaimed.

"Yes, really. Now off you go." I settled my feet on the peddles and he gave me a small push. At first, I was a little wobbly but I got the hang of it later on.

"Look, mom, dad! I'm doing it," I exclaimed proudly.

"Yes, yes you are indeed," they said back.

A violent punch to my stomach knocked my breath out. I frantically opened my eyes and came in contact with my dad standing over me.

"Stupid bitch. Get the fuck up," he grumbled and walked out of my room. I lay there for a while thinking about the dream I had this night.

I missed mom. If only she were here everything would've been normal. I couldn't even recognize my dad anymore. As if he died too when mom died.

I carefully got up from bed not wanting to make sudden movements because of my now bruised stomach. I heard the television open in the living room so it was my cue to get into the bathroom.

I didn't really do much in the bathroom. Just washed my face and applied cream. I didn't really wear makeup because it was too expensive and the money could've been put to better use. Either way, I was still ugly.

I quickly got dressed and was about to head out when I heard my dad speak to me.

"I need 500$ for the bills," he said making me turn myself towards him. He was laying lazily on the couch with a can of beer in his hands. I could spot the multiple envelopes with bills inside of them splattered on the table.

"I don't have 500$ dad."

"Don't you have a job? Where does all the money go?"

"It's part-time dad and it goes to my savings."

"Where it should be going is to pay the bills," he spat getting more and more annoyed.

"Your stupid ass is costing me so much money so the least you could do is help me with some bills." The venom held in his words was unbearable. I couldn't believe he was speaking to me like this. It shouldn't be much of a surprise by now but I just couldn't get myself to accept this reality.

"Sure, I'll have the money for you," I said and finally left the apartment. During my bus ride, my mind was elsewhere thinking about how shitty my life was.

Once at school, I again did my best to avoid unnecessary confrontation with Jake but as usual, it didn't work. He didn't even say a word to me before landing a hard punch to my face knocking me down. My books all fell around me. I clutched my now bleeding cheek and looked up at him with tears brimming my eyes.

"Haven't done that in a while, it felt good." His friends all laughed with him. People started gathering around us. They were all mocking me. Why couldn't anyone help me? At least once.