Lumai's Mind

Chapter 5: Last Chance

"Lumai, come eat dinner!" Mum yelled from behind my door. I groaned and sat up, taking a good look at the plain white painted door because I might never see it again. I trudged out of my room and down the stairs.

I heard footsteps on these stairs but no one believed me. Someone else walked these stairs but only I knew.

I shook my head and walked to the dining room where my parents were eating. I sat at the empty plate setting and started serving myself some lasagna.

No one spoke. The tension was suffocating.

After dinner, mum had told me to stay because we needed to talk. As much as I wanted to ignore her and run to my room, I didn't need them being even more pissed at me. I love my door to much for more jeopardising acts.

"You've been irresponsible, Lumai." Mum started, Dad looked mad but not very interested. Mum looked disappointed. "Want to explain you behavior, the lying, bullying, running away?"

I bit my tongue to keep from retorting. Now she asks, I internally roll my eyes. "Well I don't bully, that girl was picking on me so I told her off. I didn't lie. And you'd run too if a crazy lady was screaming threats at you." I said that a bit to defensively but I can't change that now.

"Watch your tone!" Dad finally spoke to me. I rolled my eyes. Mum put a hand on his shoulder trying to calm him down but it didn't work. "I've had enough of your attitude. You are ungrateful and disrespectful!" He yelled while getting up and standing in front of me.

"Respect is earned and gratitude doesn't mean my emotions are invalid!" I yelled back and stood up as well, practically trying to size him up even though I was dwarfed. "You wanna play the 'Father Card' then you gotta be a father!"

"Don't raise your voice at me! I am your father and I provide everything for you!" he took a threatening step forward but I couldn't let him see my intimidation.

"You first! If you yell at me I can yell at you! Your not my dad until you fucking act like it!" Just as I finished my sentence a seering pain spread across my cheek and my head snapped to the side, the force of the blow made me stumble slightly.

"You will respect me or there will be consequences." he said coldly with hate sitting stale in his blue eyes. I was hurt, emotionally and physically by his action. Mum didn't stand up for me, did she support this? Did she know this was the man she married? Does he hurt her too? "You have one more chance. If you pull another stunt we're sending you to a disciplinary boarding school." He said while paused at the dinning room door before walking out with clenched fists.

I looked to mum for help. To hear her say she would never send me away. For her to reassure me that he won't hit me ever again. But what she said broke the last of my hope.

"When will you learn! Now you've upset him. Go to your room!" she scolded and pointed up the stairs. I ran to my room and locked and blocked the door. I finally let my tears fall.

Why did Dad hurt me? Why didn't Mum protect me? Was a few fuck ups all it took for everyone to abandon me? I don't belong here, I don't belong anywhere. I'm not even in high school yet and I've possibly ruined my family life.

Seven years in a potentially abusive house hold makes being sent away not sound too bad... I have to try though. Just tell them what they want to hear. I would be walking on egg shells but at least I'd be safe. How the fuck did my normal life become less lonely but more desolate in one week and then come crashing down because no one believed me!

Was everything always a lie? I can't give up on them so easily, it was just a slip up... A drunk man's words are a sober man's thoughts, does that work for angry men as well? I mean he would apologize if he didn't mean to hit me, right?