It was a lonely day today, one of the worst. My eyes were focused on the rain drops that pelted my window like hail on a stormy night. It was just a light drizzle though, but with the silence that echoed through this house it made those drops sound deadly. No one was home and for that I believe I am thankful. I haven't eaten for a few days now, my stomach felt as though it would rip apart, but that's why they were gone, they were looking for food. I was responsible for protecting our home. I hated this job, but I was being punished. As always.
They hated me, they wouldn't admit it, but I knew it. No one was on the street anymore they had all ran for shelter, afraid to get their expensive attire wet. I on the other hand only had one pair of clothing, they were lucky; they didn't know how important it was to keep clothes nice as much as I did. If I so much as walked into a puddle I would feel the hand of my mother's on my cheek. I would feel it for weeks.
I heard the creek of the front porch steps and I looked down at the corner of my window. I see a man there, but what did I do? I got up quickly and walked down the stairs to the door. I waited to see if I'd here a knock, but I didn't. I looked through the mail slot carefully and seen he was still there. What was he waiting for? I closed the slot soundlessly, but somehow he heard it? Or did he see it? "I knew you were home." I heard him chuckle and I bit my lip in fear. What did he want? Money? I had none.
I just stood there soundlessly. I thought about running out the back door, but what if he heard the screen door? So many thoughts ran through my mind, but I knew none of them would work. So I opened the door slowly and looked up at the man. He was clean, shaved and if I was asked I'd say a bit chunky. I hadn't seen somebody other than my family up this close in months and I still wasn't used to it. He cocked his head to the side examining my soot covered face and my dirty tattered clothing. He seemed to be upset by what he saw, because of the small frown under his stubby nose. My brow's furrowed in confusion, hadn't he ever seen a girl like me? Or was I one of the few in this city.
"It's me your father Lacey." He said a bit sadly. I was even more confused, my father was out with my mother. "You're not my father." I answered him innocently. He just shook his head. "She hasn't told you..." He mumbled sadly, a look of hurt crossing over his face. I shook my head slowly and looked at him questioningly.
"Hasn't told me what?" Is what I asked as I walked out of the front door and closed the door behind me. If he said he was my father I think I could believe him. We had the same nose, same green eyes; his hair was even red like mine. I looked up at him. "Are you really my father?" I asked him. He nodded and looked at me his expression seemed even sadder than before. "Can you take me with you?" I asked quietly. He was a stranger but I just wanted to get away from here, away from the brutal treatment of my family.
"Yes you can Lacey." That's when it clicked. He had to be if he knew my name. No one knew me around here, and I looked like no one here. Everyone had brown or black hair, no one had green eyes. He took my hand gently and walked out to his car as we were soaked by the rain. It felt good on my skin though. He helped me inside and then got in on the other side. He was soon driving away just as I seen my mother walking down the street, her expression was furious, I just hoped she wouldn't find me wherever it was we were going.
We arrive at a small house. I walk in and look around. It has two bedrooms and one bathroom. I liked it, it was cozy and welcoming. "I always hoped I'd find you again." I heard him say from behind me. I looked behind myself and seen him. "Your mom took you away from me 15 years ago, so your 16 now?" He asked, raising a slight brow. I nodded. "And a half." I added with a smile. He chuckled and nodded. "Well you're free to take a shower; I might be able to find you some clothes... So I'll be gone for about an hour. I promise I'll be back." He said reassuringly but I was already on my way to the bathroom. I couldn't wait to take a shower.
I was in the shower by the time he had left. The soap felt good on my skin. I felt clean already, I scrubbed myself hard though. My skin was a fiery red after I had gotten out. My hair was clean and didn't look greasy and stringy anymore. For the first time it looked nice. I dried my hair out and wrapped a towel around myself. I searched for a comb and when I found one I began combing my hair out. It had gotten so long. I wanted it to be short again.
By the time all of my hair had been combed out, I had scissors on the counter and hair on the floor. My hair was to my shoulders now. I thought I looked pretty. I cleaned up my hair throwing it away and walked out of the bathroom still wrapped in my towel. I started looking around the house. It was so clean and nice.
By the time my father had gotten back home I was asleep on the couch, a blanket pulled over my bare body. I woke up when he sat down on the edge of the couch. I looked at him lazily and he held the clothes out to me. "I have more out in the car but it's raining." He smiled and kissed my forehead. "You can still sleep if you want." I nodded. I wanted to put my clothes on first so I got up and held the blanket around myself, running into one of the bedrooms and closing the door. I dropped the blanket and put the close on over my skinny body. They were baggy but comfortable.
I ran out to him and hugged him. "Thank you! So much!" I smiled and still hadn't let go of him. I hadn't been this happy in a long time. He hugged me back awkwardly. "You're welcome. " He sounded troubled and I looked up at him confused. "What is it?" I asked and let go of him backing up.
There was a knock at the door and I looked at him expecting him to open it, but he didn't. "I'm sorry..." He said with a painful expression. The door was opened and there was a man standing in the door. The police was who he was. My father walked up to the man and turned his back to the man as he was handcuffed. "Jerry Grey you have the right to remain silence, anything you say or do can and will be held against you in the court..." His voice soon became in audible as he was taken away and put into the police car. Another police officer walked up to me and asked me if he had done anything to me and I shook my head no. I told him he was my father that I wanted to know what they were doing to him. It was like everything was happening so slowly. Why couldn't I be happy just once? Is what I was thinking.
They told me to pack my things and so I did. I packed nothing, just the clothes I wore on my back. I didn't want to take the other clothes he had bought for me, it'd be too painful, and I would feel like I had stolen them because he hadn't given them to me yet. I still hadn't eaten, but I easily ignored the hunger pains I felt. They took me and put me into another police car. They still hadn't told me what my father had done wrong. I continued to ask as they continued to keep the silence. They left taking me away. Again I looked out the window as rain drops pelted the window. Again the sound was deadly in the echo of silence. I wanted so bad to be happy and again that was taken away from me.
I was put into a foster home, where shortly before I found out what my father had done. He had raped and murdered girls. Did he plan that for me as well? I was glad to be away from him, but I still longed to be with him. I wanted to be with my father for one reason. To feel wanted. He made me feel wanted and now once again, I felt unwanted and hated.
