Young And Beautiful

Chapter 2

I locked my bedroom door as quietly as possible, my heart racing. What was the worst that could happen? It didn't matter what they were going to do. They adopted me without consent, and I was a grown adult. They were insane, and I could not stay there. I needed to leave. I needed to escape.

While Matthew was fast asleep, I threw the few clothes we had in my suitcase and threw it out the window.

I looked over at Matthew and sighed heavily. My beautiful baby boy. I knew I could not leave him with the Browns, but where would I go with him? What would I feed him? I knew he would be safer here with them but I couldn't live without Matthew. We'd struggle and go through everything together. The two of us against the world.

Like nothing happened, I rushed back downstairs. Everyone was now seated in the lounge. I joined them, a smile on my face. I felt sick.

Father Patrick took out his Bible, and I began to feel nervous.

"Where's your rosary dear?" he asked me.

I pulled it out of my dress and held it in my shaky hand.

"Good girl. Now, Rose-Marie, today we're going to perform a very necessary act for you to be able to live happily and comfortably for the rest of your life."

"And what's that Father?" I questioned.

"We need to cast out the evil in you."

For some reason, I couldn't help but smile, then I started laughing. I really couldn't help it. They all looked at me as if I was possessed. Maybe I was, but it was just hilarious and ridiculous that they thought I was the evil one.

"The evil in me?" I chuckled. "I have no evil in me, Father Patrick."

"Yes you do, child," Father Patrick insisted. "You seduced your father, who loved you as if you were his own child. You mistreat your son. You refuse to attend the Sunday Mass."

I scoffed, astounded. "Seduced Mr-you're joking right? You must be joking. I didn't seduce anyone. I was raped and forced to keep the child! I'm not allowed to go to the Mass! Let alone leave this house! And no one loves Matthew as much as I do!"

"She's lying father!" Mrs Brown objected. "She is a liar! You need to do the exorcism now!"

"Exorcism?! You need the exorcism! Your bloody husband raped me and you did nothing about it! You abuse me and I have scars to prove it! You're crazy! You're actually insane!" I screamed, running upstairs.

"Rose-Marie?"

I blinked, looking at all the scary faces.

"You questioned what we needed to do. A prayer. It's your birthday isn't it? We need to wish you the proper way, with God's blessings."

My entire body shook uncontrollably. None of that had happened. It was all in my head. I didn't know it back then but fuck I was actually crazy

"Okay," I nodded.

Maybe I needed that prayer after all.

12:55 am. I laid awake in my bed, staring at the clock. I ran my hands through my hair as I sat up, sighing heavily. I couldn't sleep. I just had this bugging feeling that it wasn't safe. I would never be safe. I'd continue to be abused and maybe Mr Brown would suddenly decide to resume his night tortures.

My suitcase was still outside. The window was wide open. Nothing was stopping me. I just had to jump out and walk away. But where would I go? I had no education so finding a job was going to be impossible. I knew nobody in the outside world.

I suddenly got up and threw on my nicest dress. I wore a jersey and boots, tied my hair back and carried Matthew in my arms. I walked over to the window, sat on the window ledge, and put her legs out one by one, careful not to drop Matthew or make a sound. And just like that, I was hurrying down the street with an ugly suitcase full of old rags and a sleepy boy struggling to keep up with me.

The air was cold and it was completely silent aside from the sound of Matthew and my footsteps. I had no idea where I was going or how I was going to get there, but I was never going back to the Browns.