Lilith

Breaking Points

I'm perched on the slanted roof, legs dangling, leaning back against the chimney. The night wraps around me like a cozy blanket, and the stars twinkle like old friends, casting their gentle light on me.

Stars have always been my refuge. offering me solace from the chaos. Tonight is no different.

I can hear my parents arguing inside, their voices muffled but still piercing through the night air. Their fights have become a nightly ritual, but up here, I can pretend I'm alone.

Closing my eyes, I let the cool breeze soothe me, breathing in the scent of pine and earth. Up here, it's peaceful, away from the turmoil that waits below.

I open my eyes and look up at the stars, tracing the familiar constellations with my finger. The Big Dipper, Orion, Cassiopeia, they're my companions, guiding me through the darkness.

A shooting star streaks across the sky, leaving a trail of light behind. I make a silent wish, hoping things will get better, that someday I'll find the courage to break free.

But for now, I'm content to sit beneath the starry sky, my troubles forgotten. In this moment, I'm free. Free to dream, free to hope, and free to believe that my future is out there, shining bright like the stars above.

Lost in my own little world, reaching for the stars, I get yanked back to reality by Spike's non-stop barking. It's like he's yelling, "Wake up!" I can feel my heart drop as I hear someone banging on my bedroom door,the one I've locked tight to keep the craziness out.

The banging gets louder and louder, like they're not gonna stop until they get in. And Spike's barks just add to the chaos, matching my rising panic. I know I can't stay up here forever, but every bang feels like a punch to the gut, destroying the peace I had, I get back to my room.

"Spike, chill out,"

I mutter, but he's too hyped up, picking up on my stress. The banging turns into heavy thuds, like they're trying to break the door down, and I take a shaky breath, bracing myself for the showdown, holding on to the calm the stars gave me just a minute ago.

take a deep breath

"here we go"

I say as I walk to the door hands shaking I don't want to open the door. This always happens he gets angry at my mother and takes it out on me because it somehow is my fault, it's always my fault even when it's not.

It's worse when I don't open the door, last time I decided to do so it got me a week of bed rest that's what they told the school that I had some bad fall and need bed rest, I wasn't able to move for a hole week, broken bones, fractured bones, any injury you could think possible chances are I've had them.

I open the door to face my worst nightmare, my father's fists coming at me like a raging storm. Normally, I keep Spike on a short leash because the last time he tried to help, Dad hurt him even worse than he does me. But today, I forgot, and before I can react, Spike leaps into action.

It only makes things worse. Dad's kicks rain down on me as I curl up, trying to protect myself. I feel a couple of ribs crack under the force of his blows. Spike bites down on Dad's leg in a desperate attempt to save me, but it only earns him a brutal kick too. When he's done he walks out of the room, I stay on the floor for a few minutes trying to catch my breath waiting for the pain to dull enough for me to stand up.

I struggle to my feet, the pain making it hard to move. I close the door, locking it behind me, and crawl into bed, the door bearing the scars of the violence. I console Spike as best I can, his whimpering echoing my own pain, before finally succumbing to exhaustion and drifting off to sleep.

...............................

I wake up to the searing pain from last night's beating, my body aching and bruised. My alarm blares, a reminder of the day ahead, but I can't bring myself to move. The debate rages in my mind,should I wait until after school to take Spike to the vet, or go now? In the end, his health wins out, and I decide to skip the first few classes to get him the care he needs.

At the vet's office, I explain away Spike's injuries with a lie, the words tasting bitter on my tongue,

" some ashole kicked him while we were at the dog park"

not a complete lie. the vet buys it, and soon Spike is in good hands. I bring him home and let him into the backyard, knowing it's safer there while my father is around.

It's a warm day, so I opt for shorts to school. I arrive during lunch, stomach growling from missing breakfast,my father's latest punishment. As I walk through the hallway toward the cafeteria, a strange noise catches my attention from an empty room. I consider ignoring it, but curiosity gets the better of me.

What I see inside shatters me,Dante, my boyfriend, kissing another girl. Tears blur my vision as my heart crumbles. He was the only thing holding me together, and now he's tearing me apart. But the real gut punch comes when I recognize the girl it's Camilla, my supposed best friend.

I burst into the room, tears streaming down my face, a mix of anger and betrayal bubbling inside me.

"Roro... I can explain,"

Dante stammers, but I cut him off with a venomous glare.

"Shut up and don't you dare call me that."

I look towards Camilla and she just ajust herself on the table like she hasent done anything wrong and says

"lily it was just an accident..I'm sorry".

I let out a humourless laugh

" an accident, heh so what yall fell into the room closed the door and his hand just accidentally went up your shirt and accidentally kissed you" .

Before they can say anything else, I unleash my fury.

"You know what fuck you guys yall really deserve each other, a slut and a bitch, also you should get yourself checked out that burning sensation your fealing isn't a burning desire Dante, she's fucked every one in the dam school"

I spit out, my voice trembling with rage and hurt. I push past them, the tears drying up as I resolve to no longer show my weakness.

As I stand in front of them, I make my decision. With a swift punch, I break Dante's nose and deliver a stinging slap to Camilla's face.

"We're over"

I declare coldly before walking away, leaving them behind in a whirlwind of pain and betrayal.