All Strings Attached

3

The day went by painfully slow seconds feeling like minutes, minutes like hours, it ended at some point but it was pointless, the day would start over again and this cycle would repeat.

I walked to the place I lived. I couldn't call that home, because it is not. I walked through the door and tried to hurry to my room. I made it to my room with no problems, pretty sure both my parents are gone so I think I am fine.

I dramatically laid on my bed, I tend to be dramatic. Laying on my bed I stare at the ceiling wondering what I should do. I figured I would take a walk. I stepped outside of my house after traveling down the stairs. I walked out of the apartment complex and walked towards a park.

Getting to the park I walked up to a bench and sat down. The bench was very old with pieces of wood sticking out. But I really didn't mind. This bench was almost like my second home. My parents would always take me to this park but they never let me play, so I would just sit on the bench and watch all the other kids play.

It always felt like a punishment to watch the other kids play. Like my parents just wanted to make me watch. Like they wanted to tell me "This is what good kids deserve but you, you are not a good kid.

I think they just aren't prepared to have kids. They shouldn't have had me so young. They were not prepared. Which ended in bad parenting and abuse. They'll figure it out soon enough.

A lot of people always wonder how I can live with my parents, and how I deal with everything they do to me. And my answer has always stayed the same. They are my parents no matter what they do to me. I still love them. Maybe I don't love them as much as the others love their parents but, I love them.

Drowning in my thoughts, I was caught off guard by a finger taping me. It was just some guy. I didn't know who he was but he asked me a question.

"Could I sit here?" he pointed at the spot next to me on the bench. I nodded my head not really caring.

I noticed him watching a kid. Was he a pedofile? Oh heck to the no! I need to stand up for that girl!

Then the girl came up to him.

"Dad, I want to swing! Come push me!"
"Ok, ok calm down sweetheart."

Oh. My. Gosh. I felt so bad for thinking that about him. I mentally facepalmed myself, and scolded myself for judging so quickly. I had been working on that.

He left the seat and went to push his daughter on the swing while I continued thinking. Another presence sat next to me, but without asking. I glanced at the mysterious women. Well maybe she is having a bad day. I shouldn't be so fast to judge based on appearance.

I was going to leave but she had just sat down and I didn't want to make it look like I didn't want to sit next to her. So I waited a few minutes before getting up to leave, but she grabbed my wrist. I got scared and flinched but what came out of her mouth was unexpected.

She told me that something fell out of my pocket. I was confused so I looked at the floor, where she was pointing, and saw a paper. I thanked her, feeling flustered because of my overactive imagination, I grabbed the paper and walked away fast.

Getting home I shut the door quietly worried that my parents were home. I was right, they were home and they were screaming their lungs out towards each other. I listened carefully, to hear what they were yelling about. They were yelling about me.

"WELL WHAT DO YOU EXPECT HER TO DO NOW!" my mom screamed at my father
"I DON'T KNOW AND I DON'T FUCKING CARE!"

That was always how it was my mom caring slightly about me and my father trying to change something.

"WE CAN'T JUST SEND HER OFF TO SOME RANDOM HOUSE FOR A YEAR AND A HALF!"
"What...?" I whispered to myself heartbroken. Even if they suck, my parents are all I have. I got the courage to speak.
"What do you mean send me off to some house?"
"Oh! Sweetheart, I thought you weren't home." my mom softened her voice
"Well obviously she was." my father mumbled but me and my mom both could hear it.
My mom chuckled nervously then spoke to me
"Danielle, me and your father have been going to couples therapy and they said that it would be better if we both go somewhere without you for a while." my mom told me with hesitation
"For a while? You guys will be gone for a year and a half! Maybe even longer!" I started raising my voice but my father glared at me wanting me to stop but I really didn't care so I continued
"PLUS YOU GUYS SAID THAT I WOULD BE WITH SOMEONE THAT I DON'T KNOW! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DO THAT WITHOUT-" I was stopped in my tracks with a hard slap to the face. My father of course. I continued but now with a whisper-like voice. The fear of being slapped again arising.

"So then, who am I going to stay with?" I asked. Tears pricked my eyes as I waited for them to fall out soon.
"We haven't decided yet. You could pick if you wanted." my mom answered I stared into her eyes. Great, I don't have any friends. Goodness does this suck! But I don't want to be with some rando I don't know.
"Ok I'll ask around at school then." I answer softly, the tears slowly going down my face.