All of You (Sebastian Vettel)

60. Alyssa's Ordeal

Friday morning dawned,  although Alyssa had no idea of the day or the time. All she knew was that she was so hungry that she felt sick.

It took her a few minutes to realise what had woken her. It was the sound of yet another argument kicking off downstairs. She heard her mother screaming at Karl. She couldn't make out the words, but she didn't sound happy. When was Monica Bartlett ever happy though?

Alyssa had never understood why her mother had stayed with that vile excuse of a man. He wasn't good looking. He wasn't kind. He wasn't loving. He was evil, pure evil.

Why had she put him before her children? Before the chance of being part of her children's and grandchildren's lives?

Something smashed. Alyssa thought to herself that it was wonder they had any plates or bowls left. She sighed and sat up. She suddenly became overcome by a coughing fit. She reached out for the plastic bottle of water her mother had brought her at some point. She unscrewed the lid and drained the remaining drops of fluid out of it.

Hearing Nico start to cry, she hauled herself off of the bed, still coughing, and went over to the door. When her coughing fit had abated she started banging on it.

"Let me see my son! Please. He needs me!" she called out weakly. 

There was response but Nico stopped crying so he'd obviously been calmed down. She sank back down on the bed, her spirit broken. She was beginning to believe that this was it for her. She'd never hold her babies again. She'd never see Seb's beautiful smile again. She'd never kiss him or make love to him again. Instead she'd be forced to endure Karl using and abusing her.

The thought of him touching her made her feel physically sick. She knew she'd rather die than live like that, but how could she give up when the brute had Nico? If she gave into Karl maybe, just maybe, she would get her son back.

She just couldn't get her head around the thought. After the love Seb had given her how could she give herself to that disgusting man? But her longing for Nico had her thinking of doing the impossible.

Time passed, she had no idea how much. She heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Thankfully it sounded like her mother. As disgusting as that woman was she was preferable to Karl.

She heard the door being unlocked. She wished she could just fight her way out but she was too weak. The lack of food and her cough had drained her.

Her mother shut the door behind her as she entered the bedroom. She had a Tesco carrier bag in her hand. She handed it to Alyssa.

Alyssa opened it. Inside was an egg sandwich, a bottle of water and a banana, and to her surprise there was a bar of chocolate as well.

Unusually her mother didn't leave immediately as she always did. She sat down on the end of the bed.

"I thought you might like a Mars bar. You always liked them when you were little," she mumbled, looking down at the bare floor.

"I'm surprised you remember that. You were always off your face," Alyssa said bitterly, tearing into the packet of sandwiches. She pulled one out and took a bite. Egg wasn't her favourite, but beggars couldn't be choosers.

"It wasn't always like that. We had some good times," her mum replied.

"Yeah," Alyssa agreed. "Before you chose drink, drugs and him over your family."

"You don't understand Alyssa.  Things between me and your dad were strained.  He was always busy at work. He was never there for me. I was struggling with you kids."