Limerence

Chapter 3: Neglect

Zimealeah's POV

I hid out in the bathroom all day until dismissal, and before I left school I attempted to clean myself at the sink.

Finally the school day is over and I can walk "home"
with my headphones in my ear listening to music. Today is Monday, so I have to take care of my neighbors dog for my usual pay, 30$. My neighbor feels sorry for me. Just like everyone else. Maybe it's because I live in a foster home.

The street I live on, is unsafe. Stolen cars always speed past here. Gunshots are always heard throughout the night. Brutal car crashes every once in awhile. Fighting and arguing is always heard outside. It makes me want to stay inside forever. The world is a dangerous place. But as much as I wish I can stay sheltered forever, "inside" isn't any better than outside.
I make it back to the apartment and I go upstairs, preparing myself for whatever I'm about to step into. As I open the door, no one is in sight. Okay. All I have to do is go to my room, lock the door, and stay in there till tomorrow. But the worst happens.

As I open the door to my room, I see my foster parent slouched on my bed with a glass beer bottle in her hands, drool falling from her mouth, and the room smells like cigarettes. I think I want to cry..
I approach her and shake her softly, trying not to startle her awake. Slowly the woman opens her eyes and stares at me for a few seconds, then I get clocked in the head with the glass beer bottle, glass shattering everywhere and cutting me. I shriek in pain, confused and hurt.

"You bitch! Who the fuck do you think you are awaking me in my sleep? Huh?" She screams, getting up and tackling me to the floor, continuously punching me as I try to cover my head. "I'm sorry! I thought you were in your room!" Oh great...
"You fucking whore, this is my room! You have no room in this house! You sleep on the floor in the kitchen, ya got that?"
"O-okay! Please stop, I'm sorry!"

Eventually she got off of me, and I stumbled out of the room. Sometimes I think about ending my life, but things could be worse than this.. so I try to be grateful for what I do have instead of focusing on what I don't have. But I'm tired, I'm tired of getting beaten up everyday and bullied at school. I need to run. I need to run as far as I can and I won't look back.