Living in the Dark

Chapter one

So I guess I'll start with an introduction. My name is Waverly Alexandra Burke. Everyone calls me Wave. I'm 15 and a young sophomore. I go to a private school called CPA (college prep academy). I'm an okay student, I make mostly Bs and an occasional A. I live with my mom, my 17year old brother and my step dad. My dad left us when I was 11.

As I'm telling you this, I'm sitting at my bedroom window looking out. My room is a unique color. It's like the ocean. Sometimes it looks more blue and other times more green. The window I'm sitting at has a window seat. I spend most of my time in my room. It's my safe haven when the battles in my head are like a living hell.

"Waverly!" It sounds like Dave, my step dad.
"What?!" I shout back.
"Come down!" I roll my eyes and slip on my cardigan. I run down the stairs.
"Yeah?" I ask. Everyone is in the kitchen looking at me.
"What?" I ask again, impatient. My mom looks like she has a bad taste in her mouth.
"You're father wants custody of you and your brother." She explained.
"What?!" I shouted. "Hell no! Where has he been since I was 11?!"
"Calm down Waverly and watch your language," commanded Dave.
"Waverly, your father is on town right now." My mom said. "He's coming over tonight for dinner."
"Why?" Asked Sam who had been quiet through my out burst.
"Because he wants to see you," my mom answered. "And he wants to go to court."
"No, he can't!" I shouted. Then after taking a deep breath I said. "I'm going to my room." I left. I ran upstairs, slammed my door and locked it. Then I started crying. Not because I was sad, because I was angry. Angry at my mom and Dave for agreeing to let my father come over and for not telling me until the last minute. I was angry at my father. He had no right to come back and ask for custody rights after leaving us. Someone knocked on my door.

"Go away," I said.

"Wave let me in, it's Sam." I unlocked my door and Sam came and sat on the bed with me. I leaned against him and he held me while I cried. He stroked my auburn hair.

"Why Sam?" I asked. "After leaving us and...." I trailed off.

"I don't know Wave," he said. "But I'll make sure he doesn't hurt you again." I shuddered. Before he left, my father had molested me. It was sickening. I could still feel him hands feeling my body. My mom still has no idea. I only ever told Sam. I started crying again. Sam held me tighter and rocked me back and forth.

"Sam, I don't want to see him. Not today anyway. I can't handle it. I'm already so fucking messed up."

"No you aren't," he said. "How's your arm?" I pulled my cardigan off.

"Fucked up." I showed him my arm. It was covered in scars and cuts from my wrist to elbow.

"Wave," he whispered. He hugged me. I pulled my cardigan back on.

"Yeah."

"Please stop," he pleaded. "I know you hate me saying that but I don't want you to end up in the hospital or dead."

"Sam, I'm not suicidal."

"But if the blade slips or you get an infection."

"Sam, I'll deal with it."

"Waverly, you need help."

"Sam," I said. "I'll deal with it." He sighed and held me again.

"Wave I just hate seeing hurting."

I know, I thought.