Perfect Student

Chapter 10

(triggering- child abuse)

(flashback)

It started with my mother. I remember her being beautiful, with long thin limbs and silky brown hair that she would twist up into a uniquely colored clip. She would play music when we were home alone and shout the lyrics with me, holding me in her arms and spinning me around the kitchen as we baked desserts for the boys. 

She would tell me stories about me as a baby, telling me that I was never fussy, unlike Bryce who would never be quiet. She called me little angel and told me that she would always, always love me. 

But when Daddy was home, she transformed into a different person. 

She would move around the house like a ghost, cleaning things and preparing meals, speaking softly when my dad asked her a question and not looking him in the eyes. He was sharp with her, always critical as he was with all of us, and one day she decided she'd had enough. We were home alone, and I played with my dolls, waiting for Daddy to bring Bryce home so I had someone to bother. She came rushing down the stairs in a hurry, duffel bag slung over her shoulder and two rolling suitcases by her feet. I brightened up at this, standing from my toys and walking over to her.

"We're going on a trip?" I asked with excitement, bouncing in place.

"Mommy is going on a trip!" she informed me, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Do you want to come?"

I nodded, bouncing up on my toes.

"Okay, we only have a couple minutes sweetheart, so I need you to pack a bag quick while I get everything ready to go!" she said. I went upstairs dutifully, filling a suitcase with all my stuffed animals and a couple of my cutest outfits, before zipping it up and racing to the door.

"Perfect, honey!" she praised me, before unlocking the front door and pressing her hand to the knob. She waited there with her head angled to the side as she listened for something. "It's almost time to go!"

My forehead crumpled in confusion.

"Mommy," I said, tugging on her sweater. "What about Daddy and Bryce?" I struggled with my R sounds so the word came out like "bice".

"They're not coming with us, Adeline," she said gravely, shaking her head at me.

"But why?" I asked, tears filling my eyes immediately.

"Daddy isn't a good person. He hurts Mommy and we need to go to be safe." She spoke quickly, throwing words that I knew at me, but they didn't quite fit in that order. Daddy wasn't bad. He gave me baths and food and took care of everything for us.

"Bryce come too!" I said, stomping my foot. The garage door clanged to life from the other side of the house, and she pushed her bag higher on her shoulder, opening the front door.

"No, Adeline. Bryce isn't coming. We have to leave right now," she said seriously. This started a fresh round of confusing tears. Why couldn't Bryce come?

"Bryyyce!" I whined, missing him already. Tears poured from me and I heard voices coming from the garage. My mom cast a panicked look towards the kitchen and leaned down, pressing her lips to my forehead.

"I love you, sweet girl. Be safe," she said, before walking out the front door without a single look back.

Bryce and my dad walked into the house quietly, placing their stuff down and heading to their separate rooms. When he heard sobbing coming from the front room, Bryce ran to me and wrapped his arms around my head, holding me closely.

"What happened, baby?" he asked, not understanding the reason for my sobbing.

"Mommy gone!" I shouted, completely out of breath.

"What?" our dad asked angrily, walking in quickly from the kitchen.

I pointed at the door, and he ripped it open, looking out at the empty street. Mom's car had disappeared from the driveway, and it was clear she wasn't coming back. His nostrils flared with anger and his eyes became different as he slowly turned to face me.

"Bryce, go to your room," our father commanded, making a scared Bryce let go of me and scurry up the stairs.

"You let your mother leave and abandon us, and you didn't stop her?" he asked slowly, each word tense and measured. I shook my head no. I didn't know what I was supposed to do. I missed Mommy already.

My head turned to the side, and I pressed a hand to my stinging cheek before I realized I'd been slapped. The tears stopped immediately as the pain and shock set in. He hit me and I wasn't even sure why.

He walked towards his office without another word. When he was out of the room and I heard his office door click shut, I ran up the stairs and pressed my stinging cheek into my pillow as tears came slowly once more. Mommy left because of me. Daddy was right. I deserved it.