Nothing To Lose

"You'd Have Been Aborted Ages Ago"

Chleo's POV

"Are you going to work today?" I asked.

"Why?"

"Because we both need to pick up extra hours. We've been stretching the light bill as far as we can."

"Don't tell me about the bills, why don't you just pick up a shift yourself?"

"Why don't I? Maybe because I want to have at least 5 hours of sleep at night, maybe because I want to graduate high school, maybe because I don't want to live in a roach-infested shit hole for the rest of my life, maybe because I don't want to eat the same two-dollar TV dinners every night. Do any of those reasons suffice you?"

"What you're too good to live like this anymore?"

"I've always been too good to live like this, but what other choice do I have?"

"Exactly, so why don't you start showing me a little respect?"

"Respect? You want me to show you respect? What-Please, please tell me what you've done to warrant respect."

"You've got a roof over your head, don't you? Food, a bed."

"Well, golly jee, thank you for doing the bare minimum of a parent." I was giving him a nice, slow clap when I felt his hand on my cheek.

"I'm about tired of your smart mouth." I laughed.

He felt the back of my hand on his soon after.

"And I'm about tired of you being a lazy lump that wants to be treated like a king, but has the mental capacity of a fool."

He slammed me against the wall by my throat.

"Aw, did I bruise your little ego?"

"You-Ugh."

He crumbled, clutching his crotch.

"I'm not eleven anymore, Marshall. That shit won't work on me. Especially now that I know what a bitch you are. Now do the dishes, it's your turn."

Marshall was my mom's boyfriend. I wish I could say he was nice in the beginning but that would only be a half-lie.

Truth-be-told we were never that social with one another. I stayed out of the way while they did whatever.

That was until they started their nightlife.

It was all downhill from there.

Then one night she never came home, we filed a missing person report.

But nothing ever came of it.

She disappeared and I'm stuck with Marshall.

Father of the year.

Now, he never kept it a secret that he didn't want a daughter, in fact, he made sure I knew it every day.

That's when the hitting started.

Two years later it stopped.

Or at least that's when I started hitting back.

Growing tired of the vulnerability and discomfort I felt in my own home I looked for ways to change that.

I signed myself up for some activities after school just so I wouldn't have to go home right away, and I'd be in a safe place.

I joined student councils for the snacks and a gym that catered to kids and taught self-defense. When I'd gotten the hang of that I realized I wanted more.