Domino's

Hanafuda

Another boring day. I saw Alex barging into our room. He sat on my bed and started talking to me:
Listen, Amaya. This might very affect your health. Your pregnancy test results came in, and they're positive. To make you feel better, I bought you this game called Hanafuda. We can play it after I'll come home from work. You should ask dad about an abortion, even tho it's illegal.

I? I was pregnant??? Tears streamed down my face as I thought about what this meant for my future. I was still so young, barely 13. I had plans, dreams, and now everything seemed to be slipping away. I felt like such a failure. As the reality of the situation set in, I started to feel a mix of fear and despair. How would I tell my family and friends? How would I support a child on my own? How would I tell dad? I slowly walked into dad's room asking if we could talk.

What do you need again?
He asked annoyed.

Well, dad... It's hard for me to tell you this but... I'm pregnant. Can I please get an abortion? Please dad?
I mumbled.

You are what?! I can't believe you're even my child. You're such a disappointment! You filthy slut!!! Keep your stupid baby to yourself, now it's your problem! I won't pay a penny for your mistakes!
He screamed at me, as he grabbed a empty bottle of vodka and flung it at me, and before I could react, I felt a sharp pain in my head. I stumbled and fell to the ground, disoriented and in pain. I could hear the sound of my dad's footsteps as he walked away, leaving me lying there alone. I don't know how long I lay there, but it felt like hours. I was scared, hurt, and confused. I didn't know what to do or who to turn to.

Finally, I managed to stand up, my head pounding and my vision blurry. I stumbled my way to the bathroom, too afraid to call the police or seek medical attention, because I didn't want anything to happen to Ash or Alex. I looked in the mirror my dad has broken a few years ago when he was drunk with an empty vodka bottle too. Did he want my head to end up like that? I pulled the pieces of the glass out of my head, and needed something to stop the blood. I didn't know what to do, because we didn't have any bandages. I tore my shirt with force and banded it around my head. I felt violated and ashamed, as if it was somehow my fault. But things like that always happened in my household.

Soon, I started to get hungry. I stumbled to the kitchen to realise, that our fridge was broken. It only had two broken eggs in it, expired milk, some butter and expired breadsticks. Alex usually always tried to keep the fridge stocked, but he doesn't earn much money yet. I couldn't think of any other solution than calling someone and asking for help. So I called Alex, even tho I knew, that he's at work:
Alex, Alex please come home. I'm not feeling well, dad launched an empty vodka bottle at me. My head is full of bruises and I don't know what to do. Please help me Alex!

Amaya, please try to relax, drink some water and wait for me, I'm on my way!
Alex said.

I sat alone on the front porch, waiting for my brother to arrive. My heart was racing, and my mind was reeling from the events of the night before. My father, in a drunken rage, had thrown an empty vodka bottle at me, narrowly missing my head. It was the latest in a long line of outbursts, and I knew that I couldn't stay in that house any longer. I had called my brother, begging him to come and get me. He had always been my protector, the one who would stand up for me when no one else would. I knew that he would never let me down.

As I sat there, watching the cars go by, I felt a wave of fear wash over me. But then I saw my brother's car pull up, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me. He got out of the car and walked up to me, his arms open wide. I fell into his embrace, tears streaming down my face.

I'm here, sis.
He said rubbing my back.

You're safe now. Everything is going to be alright.
He added.

Alex, when will you have your own place to stay, so Ash and me can move in with you? I'm scared, I don't want to stay here.
I said

I promise that I will try to figure something out as soon as possible.
He said.

Do you want to eat some lasagna at a restaurant?
He asked.

Yes! But you know, that you shouldn't be spending that much money, right?
I asked.

Of course I know that. But what else am I supposed to do? And before we eat something, we should visit the hospital first.
He said.
We got in his car and I was still shaking. I felt embarrassed asking, but I had to:
Alex, can you pay for my abortion maybe? I know it's expensive and illegal...

Listen, Amaya. I would love to help you in every way possible, but I barely earn enough for groceries. I'm sorry Amaya.
He said.
I didn't say anything more, I just waited until we arrived at the hospital.

When we arrived, a nurse came up to us immediately and asked:
What's wrong, honey? What happened?

Before Alex could say something, I said:
I ran into a glass door, which crashed on my head.

Oh no! That must hurt a lot. You should go to the emergency room, I'll let the surgeons know!
She said and walked away.

Why did you lie?
Alex asked.

I don't want you and Ashley end up in another family.
I answered.

We should play a round of Hanafuda!
Alex said.
I agreed. I sat at the table, shuffling the deck of Hanafuda cards as my brother watched. As we dealt out the cards, I could feel the tension building. My brother was always a fierce competitor, and I knew that he wouldn't go easy on me. But I was determined to hold my own. As we played, the room filled with the sounds of shuffling cards. We teased each other when one of us made a mistake, and cheered when we scored points, even tho I was in a lot of pain. But as the game went on, I began to notice a change in my brother.

He seemed quieter, more reflective. It was like he was seeing me in a new light, as someone who had grown up and changed since we last played this game together.

As the game came to a close, we tallied up our scores. I had won, and Alex said:
Good job!

I realized that playing Hanafuda together had been about more than just having fun - it had been about strengthening our bond and reminding each other of the love that had always been there, even when life got in the way. A few seconds later, the nurse came back and told me, to go to the emergency room. As I walked into the emergency room, I heard a:
Good luck!

from Alex. I quickly looked back to give him a smile. As I layed in the surgery bed, I saw the surgeons walking in. While they were giving me the drug, two other surgeons tried to distract me saying:
What grade are you in? What's your favourite food?

I answered calm and quietly. Soon, I fell asleep.