Highland Tangle

FAITH #2

When I get home, I stand before it at the beginning of the walk way up to the front door. I'm very hesitant to walk through that door, when I do you'll soon know why. Come on Faith, you can do this. I walk up and unlock the door then enter my house. "Papá, estoy en casa." (Dad, I'm home.) I say with hesitation, in worry of what will come from him. "¡Mocoso ingrato! ¡Llegas tarde!" (Ungrateful brat! You're late!) I hear him yell and I immediately freeze and can't move or speak frozen in fear of him. He's probably been drinking but even if he hasn't been, he's scary sober too.

"¡Lo siento, papá! Por favor, no te enojes. ¡Seré mejor, te juro que puedo!" (Sorry, Dad! Please don't get angry. I'll be better, I swear I can!) Im able to muster up as he walks up to me, I'm still frozen so I'm surprised I got that out but I didn't show it. I said those words with basically a semi-paralyzed face. "¡NO SÉ SI PUEDES SERLO! ¡¡ERES TAN INCOMPETENTE COMO TU MADRE!!" (I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN BE! YOU ARE AS INCOMPETENT AS YOUR MOTHER!!)

In case you're wondering, My dad speaks really only Spanish but understands some English so i just wanna translate for y'all how are seeing things from my point of view. "No soy incompetente. Soy una chica inteligente. Por favor, déjame ir a mi habitación." (I'm not incompetent. I'm a smart girl. Please let me go to my room.)  He looks at me furious then smiles with a devilish grin and then after taking a drink of his beer he smacks me with a backhand and I go down and start crying as I hold my face and he stinks down to me.

"Chica inteligente, chica bastante estúpida. ¡Nunca me hables así! Ahora, ve a tu habitación y haz tu tarea." (Clever girl, pretty stupid girl. Don't ever talk to me like that! Now, go to your room and do your homework.)
He smacks me again then leaves and I pick myself up holding my face and walk to my room then get my homework started. Yes, my dad hits me. I'm terrified of him and so is my mom. No one knows but my family, we seem like your average normal family in public, when I cover up my black eyes with make up that is.

Behind those doors, my dad is an alcoholic and a monster when he drinks. If you're asking me now, Why don't you leave? Why don't you get him help? I'm a 16 year old girl, where would I go? And We've tried but he thinks he can handle his alcohol. I don't even think he knows he hits us. When I said he's scary sober too, I mean like he's intimidating but he doesn't hit us, at least I think he doesn't I've never seen him hit mom when sober only drunk. When he's sober he's loving and kind but as soon as he's drunk the monster comes out.

I love my dad, I know he doesn't mean to do what he does. I spend the next few hours doing homework and studying then I hear my parents start to argue and after a good 10 mins of fighting, it abruptly stops. Followed by faint crying, and I know he hit her. After that is all I hear is him yell, "¡NO TE ATREVAS A HABLARME COMO ESA MUJER!" (DON'T YOU DARE TALK TO ME LIKE THAT WOMAN!) Then a bottle, his bottle Im guessing, I hear shatter and All I can think to do, for the first time in my life, is run.

So I pack my back pack with clothes and some of my books and climb out the window. I get outside and just start running I don't know where but I just keep running and fast. Luckily I do volleyball so I'm conditioned for running. I decide to try the church and I see a man start walking to his car so I go to him. "Excuse me sir? Can you help me?" He puts away his bag in the backseat. "Of course, I'm Pastor Foster. How can I help you?" I take some breathes while he introduces himself, "Thank you sir, and I know I've seen you preach some messages on some Sunday but anyways I didn't know where else to go. I need a place to sleep."

"I see, you don't have a friend's house you can go to or anything like that? I can help you but I just wanna make sure this isn't your only option. Also it's close to 10, shouldn't you be at home?" I start crying and shaking my head as earlier replays in my head. "It's okay, My office has a couch you can sleep here tonight but we need to figure out something better for you. "Thank you so much, Pastor Foster! I appreciate this so much." I hug him and he politely hugs me back. "I'll lock my office so that no one can get in and so you just stay in there, and I'll text the senior pastor Jim Kirby about this so he knows your there."

I smile and nod as I follow him to his office and lay on the couch. "Once again, thank you." He smiles and nods, "if you get hungry I have some snacks in my drawers and over in that mini fridge some waters and juices. I have to get home bye now." He waves and locks the door and I get my blanket out that I packed and put on my hoodie and sweats in case it gets cold at night which it might. I am so thankful for Pastor Foster. This just shows how nice of a guy he is, or just a moment of generosity. Anywhere is better than my house I don't ever wanna go back there again. I hope I never have to go back. Please God, I know I don't talk to you often but if you can hear me, Please make it so I don't have to go back, Please.

THIS IS THE END OF FAITH'S SECOND SECTION!!

How will things work out for Faith?

FIND OUT IN THE COMING CHAPTERS OF HIGHLAND TANGLE!!