FINDING LIFE

MR.BITCHFACE

CHAPTER –2

Waking up to a silent home is exactly what I needed with this blinding headache and that's exactly what I got. Every day I wake up at 4:30 without any alarm to wrap up the chores before my parents wake up. I am not allowed in their room and they are not be to be disturbed...this is rule number 3. and then getting myself ready for school which takes quite some time because I have to tend to my wounds and put makeup if any of the scar is visible, though my baggy clothes help to cover myself up nicely. I begin with wrapping bandage on my ribs, because few days ago that's where his kick landed and then next was my calf, that's where my mum chose to carve "idiot" with a knife because I forgot to put knife next to fork during dinner, it was three days ago so, it is yet to heal.

With them life is definitely hard, but it wasn't much better at orphanage. Though I could handle the bullies in orphanage but not my adoptive parents. They weren't like this from the beginning, we share beautiful memories but apparently God loved to fuck it up.

"Damn, its already 7oclock and I need to be at school by 8." one last time I ran my eyes through to see if all the work is completed.... making breakfast-done, dishes-done, laundry-done, floor mopping-done. "Yup, it's all done." With that I started my 40minute slow walk to school.

The way from home to school is filled with life...people out on a jog with their dogs or partners, small kids playing in the park, teenagers trying to act as adults smoking weed. Looking at all of them fills my heart with heaviness yet relief. Heaviness because I can only yearn for somewhat normal life, but relief because I do not want any other person to live a life like mine. Life sure did brought a lot of pain but made me strong enough to handle any situation.

"Bloody bitch, can't you fucking see where you are going?"

"I am sorry sir, it's my mistake...please forgive me."

"A mistake? Damn it is but who is going to compensate for wasting my time and do you even know how much this shirt costs?"

I have been in my thoughts until this commotion grabbed my attention. A red-haired girl, my age was constantly saying sorry but the man was being a prick, apparently the girl bumped into him due to which the coffee that the man was holding fell on himself. And I have had enough of his rudeness which led me to butt into the situation.

"Excuse me, was it cold coffee or hot? Ahh, don't answer given the way you are not shouting in pain, it must be cold. But do leave the girl alone and remove your filthy hand from her waist." both the girl and the man were staring at me now.

"What?" the man was appalled to see a tiny girl taking stand against him.

"Did I stutter or are you just dumb to understand a simple phrase." The man still didn't remove his hand from the red-haired girl waist, but he did start squeezing it even more.

"Listen girl, it got nothing to do with you. So, get on your way before I make you." the man was definitely buff but did it stop me from making a comeback...hell, no.

"Well then, I will just submit the video to the police that I made before coming here and as per Section 750.136b of Michigan legislature... a person is guilty of child abuse in first degree if the person knowingly causes physical or mental harm to a minor. And it is punishable by imprisonment for life or any term of years. And from what I can see police is only 200m from here. So, all I need to do is shout. So, listen Mr.Bitchface LEAVE HER ALONE." In the end I did shout to catch police's attention and was successful at that. Both the red-haired girl and the man were shocked. But the man did leave the girl and walked away the minute he saw police coming our way. The poor girl was still terrified but relieved.

"Thank y-" before the red-haired girl could thank me, I walked away. This situation was equally terrifying for me. Shouting, fight or abuse are something that I might be used to but not comfortable with. All of it scares me to my core. But it feels good that I was able to help another person in need. I often find myself in these situations because it is very important for me to try to rise above my fear, to support myself in any manner.

By the time I reached school, it was 8:20 am... which means that I am late for my AP Calc. The moment I entered school gates, yellow late slip was handed to me and I am sure my parents would be informed about it. Now I will have to face my greatest fear tonight while few moments ago, I was just trying to conquer that. Well, it's just something that I probably deserve because it's not like they never loved me. I didn't do what they asked me of. I couldn't save him. I robbed my family of the happiness.

Studying is something that I definitely enjoy but school is a bit loud, which is absolutely normal and I want my last year of high school to be as normal as it can be. I am not exactly a loner nor popular but when it comes to besties and stuff...i don't need one.

"Hey Athena, aren't you going to next lecture?" Amelia asked with boredom because its normal for me to zone out and she often has to remind me that lecture is over. She is such a darling and my desk mate.

"Oh sure, thanks again! You are a life saver. See you in next lecture." I wanted her to leave first so that I can get up carefully minding my injuries without letting her know about them and till now I have been doing good job. I did have few slip ups in the past, but nothing that a good lie and a big smile can't cover. Either way, I do have painkillers but for the time when pain is absolute worst. They might come handy tonight. With these thoughts I carefully walked to my next class with a smile on my face because nothing is wrong...right?

My schedule goes like... AP Calculus, German language, law enforcement, AP economics, AP biology, PE on alternate days. But the best part is lunch break and that's where I am headed right now after almost sleeping through 1st three lectures. The canteen in my school is big but still crowded and you can hear the kids roar even from outside the school, to which you can assume that it is not the best part. So, the best part is "free food" that is provided to top 10 kids at school and I happen to rank one. It gets even better because no one bothers to sit with me and unlike home, I can relish the food at absolute calm. Initially, kids used to come and sit with me but lack of verbal answers from my side irritated them. In my defense, I always nodded or smiled but they were not big on silent friendship...well, it's their loss. I like it better without friends because then I don't have to lie or fake certain things and talking drains a lot of energy.

Now the lecture that I hate the most is P.E and that's exactly where I am headed right now.

"Thump" the moment I entered playground, a volleyball rammed into my shoulder.

"Fucking watch it" and I threw the ball right back to my classmates.

"You too fucking watch it. Don't use this word in my lecture, knight"

"But coach it's just a word and aren't you being a hypocrite?"

"Yeah, and don't use it in front of me" and started walking away.

"Okay, I won't fucking use 'fucking' in front of you, well just behind your back." I know he heard it but walked away shaking his head.

This bickering with coach George is the only thing nearly enjoyable in this lecture because doing exercise and playing games are painful due to the injuries that I often have. Though basketball is where I shine at but even after great persistence by coach, I never joined the team and that's how our bickering started.