Broken (A Zach Bryan Fan Fiction)

Chapter 2

A shiver ran down my spine as Officer Rogers pulled up along the curb in front of my fathers house.

"Take as much time as you need" he said.

I took a deep breath, mustered up half a smile, and shakily opened the passenger door. I froze as I approached the front door, my mind filling with all the horrible memories from this place. A single tear fell down my cheek as Officer Rogers opened the front door.

I put my head down as I crossed the threshold and skirted up the stairs to my bedroom. I ran over to the closet and slammed my suitcase on the floor, throwing all of my belongs into it as fast as I could. I pulled out my backpack from under the bed and emptied out my bathroom along with my cellphone, laptop, and charger.

As I made my way down the stairs a photograph from the living room caught my eye. It was a photograph of me and my mother back when she was still young and healthy. I was sitting on the swing at the park near our house and she was laughing away behind me as she pushed me on the swing. I quickly picked it up, as my eyes welled with tears. I held it to my chest and then quickly stuffed it in my backpack.

"Is that everything?" he asked gently.

I gave him a nod and headed back to his vehicle without even looking back at that place that was supposed to be called home.

The drive was long and I didn't even bother to ask where we were heading, it didn't matter anyways. I stared out the window of the car into the darkness of the night as we travelled farther and farther away from the place I used to call home. What would this new life hold for me? Would my father be able to find me here? Will I like it here? My mind was so consumed with all of these thoughts I didn't even know that the car had come to a halt.

I took a look around and realized that we were at a gas station in the middle of no where.

"Go on inside and get yourself something to eat" Officer Rogers said as he tossed me his wallet "and can you grab me a soda while you're at it?"

I nodded and headed on inside. A kind man held the door open for me but gave me a strange look as I approached the illuminated store. I thought nothing of this until I passed by a mirror in the convenience store.

I took a good long look at myself in the mirror. My long wavy dirty blonde hair was tattered and knotted, there were various cuts and bruises all over my face and collarbone. My vibrant blue eyes were bloodshot and puffy, and I had a nasty black eye. My lips were dry and cracked, blood still caked to the corners. The clothes that I'm wearing are ratty and dishevelled. I look like a mess, I'm a hollow shell of the person I used to be. I used to be a driven, happy, and outgoing person, there used to be a light that shone in my eyes. The person that I see in the mirror now, that's not me, not even a shred of resemblance.

Broken.

That's what I am, I'm broken. Beyond repair.

As tears welled up in my eyes again I quickly gathered a drink for myself and officer Rogers along with a sandwich. I checked out with the cashier as fast I could without even looking him in the eyes. I scurried back out to the car where officer Rogers was waiting for me. I got in the car and handed him his drink without even saying a word.I ate in silence as he continued to drive on into the night.

At one point I began drifting off to sleep where my nightmares continued to haunt me of all the despicable things my father did to me.

"No dad" my seventeen year old self begged "please, please just leave me alone"

"I told you to clean this shit up" he spat in my face.

Before I could even think he threw one of the plates I had just finished cleaning at me and it shattered upon impact, leaving a multitude of tiny cuts on my arm and hand.

I whimpered and stepped away from him, he chuckled and took a step closer. As he did so he grabbed the pack of my head and slammed it into the counter.

"Are you going to try talking back to me again?" He asked.

I shook my head no with tears in my eyes. Before I could even realize what was going on he shoved my head into the sink of hot water and soap and held it under the water as I started to scream and panic.

"Brynn" A familiar voice spoke "Brynn, wake up"

I was awoken by officer Rogers shaking my shoulder looking concerned.

"Are you okay?"

"Uhm, yeah, I'm fine" I managed to choke out.

"We're almost here."

I turned and looked out the window, the sun was rising and the sky was filled with beautiful colours. At least there was some beauty left in this world.

It was then that I noticed the roadside sign which read 'Welcome to Oolagah'.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"Oolagah, Oklahoma" officer Rogers replied.

I nodded and we continued to sit in silence until the car pulled up to an apartment building.

"This is your new home" he said as he gestured to the building.

Officer Rogers helped me carry my belongings into the apartment and handed me a key.

"Your first 3 months of rent are covered and you start your job at the local diner down the road tomorrow" he informed me.

"Thank you, for everything"

He gave me a half smile and handed me his card.

"If you need anything, anything at all, just give me a call" He gave me a half hearted smile and headed out the door.

The apartment was small, but had everything I needed. Thankfully the apartment was furnished and the bed was already made for me. The kitchen was small and dated but thankfully had enough groceries to last me a couple days.

I walked into the bathroom, turned the hot water on and stripped down. I looked at myself in the mirror and it was then that I realized how badly I had left myself go. My father had restricted my eating that I looked sickly, you could see my ribcage and hips poking out. I quickly turned away from he mirror disgusted at the sight of myself and stepped into the burning hot water.

I winced in pain at first but then let the hot water wash away my pain, or attempt to at least. I sat there in the shower for what felt like forever. After cleansing myself and washing my hair I stepped out into the brisk air. I wrapped a towel around myself and headed to the bedroom here officer Rogers placed my belongings.

I slipped on a pair of underwear and an oversized t-shirt and began to unpack my things. There wasn't much to unpack so it didn't take me very long. Once I finished I set my alarm and headed off to bed. It took me awhile to drift off to sleep, but it didn't do me any good as it was a restless sleep anyways.

All too soon my 7:30 a.m. alarm was blaring in my ear and it felt as though I had not slept at all.

~whisperingspring