Luna's Law

Club 29

Click...

Gently shutting the front door behind me, I look around to see that the place looks remarkably presentable for once. Well, presentable in the sense there were no empty beer cans or cigarette buts littering the floor even though the air still had a hint of smoke. Odd... Chewing my bottom lip, I make my way to the kitchen, my eyes immediately locking with my mum's wicked yellowing leafy eyes. She didn't look pleased, but caught in her hateful gaze, I couldn't move, frozen I just stared back. Grimacing at me she pulled out a cigarette from her back pocket, crumpled up as if shoved into the small space in a hurry. Bringing it to her lips she lights it, taking a long drag. 

Anxiety crept up my neck, my heart pounding in my ears, breathing became rapid as I stood there useless. If my mom was furious at me she was never one to be quiet. She'd shriek at me and get it over with. Why isn't she? What's going on? I can feel my vision blurring from the stress. Why? Am I crying? No! I'm so weak... Pathetic... Suddenly my thoughts came to a halt, a sharp burning sensation, sizzling into my flesh. Thrashing my hand back I held it close to my chest trying to protect it, not even knowing what was happening as my body went off instinct. A lukewarm stream of tears trickled down my face. 

"You're as pathetic as your father." My mum hissed, still holding the lit cigarette she just used to scorch me. My eyes snapped down to my hand, skin bloody as it bubbled up from the burn, my heart wrenching in pain at her vicious comments that cut me ruthlessly, plunging me into a panic. "Think you're so smart, huh? Think you can just run off from your responsibility whilst I have to deal with your shit?!" Growling and snarling like a hound she pushed me into the wall with a rackety thud. Looking at her perplexed, my head spun from confusion, twisting recklessly into a blur along with the impact of my body against the wall. 

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." Crying out I crumpled down to the stiff frigid floor, having no clue what I did, but it must have been something significant, to get this reaction. Protectively I covered my head, flashes of when I was a child haunting my mind as I started to feel her beating down on me, her rage radiating off her with every strike. My skin stinging from the repeated attack, her screams all smashing together into jagged sounds that pierced through my mind, unable to decipher what she was saying. I knew this wasn't right. I knew no parent should do this but I couldn't help but feel like I deserved it. No matter how small the reason I felt like it was fair judgment bestowed on me from the one who gave me life.

Shaking, my ribs shoved into my lungs, my breathing out of sink as I hyperventilate my body desperate for air but none seemed to reach in and give me life. Feeling a sudden large hand rubbing my back, my raw red eyes whipped up, face to face with Clif I see his mouth moving but no words coming out. His face was panicked and pain-stricken, his eyes red as if he'd been crying too, but glimpsing deep into his marine-blue eyes I could see foaming up was genuine concern for me. It was only then I realized my body was no longer being beaten down, the sounds swirling around me starting to sift out into reality, Clif's voice pushing through. "Bre..." 

Trying my best to focus I looked at his lips, trying to read his words, "Breath..." Clif's voice shattered through my haze, his words straightforward and serene just like a spring of fresh water. Nodding I do as advised, closing my eyes I breathe in sharply, the frigid air replenishing my lungs, the tensing of my panicked muscles melting away from the relief of oxygen. "Good..." his smile frail, smile lines deepening as he watched me carefully. After a couple of breaths, I felt his rough touch as he pushed back my hair, his eyes dancing over me, looking for injury I'm guessing. "Come on now, let's get you cleaned up..." He muttered matter-of-factly, standing up he gently pulled me up with him taking me over to the sofa.