Writing Exercises

06/6/24 Echoes

Tw: Angst, trauma, emotional, and physical abuse

These are ocs so confusion is bound to happen. I'll have explanations about them in a different part. Enjoy! 

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"Cora!" That last word echoing through her ears before she hit the ground; unconscious. 

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A perfect green lawn, a clean white picket fence, classic suburban home. "Come on, Cora." A masculine voice coaxed her. She knew she couldn't trust it, but he was her father, he said he would change. She couldn't not trust him. "That's the smart choice." His stern gaze followed her as she dropped the bag, and ran sobbing into his arms. "Never do that again, brat." He scolded through his gritted teeth, squeezing her to the point where it was painful. Cora yelped, and he only let go once he was sure he got his point through. "Go to your room, and if I see you outside of it, I'll beat your little ass." She learnt the hard way to take his threats seriously, because he would definitely take them seriously.

She laid down on her bed, sobbing to the point where she coughed and hurt. She was trapped, Cora knew it, her father knew it, her brother knew it, everyone in her family knew it, but no one gave a shit about her, and she couldn't forget that. No matter how much her father lied to her and tried to cover it up with half-assed shows of affection and care. Her birthday was just an attempt to keep her under his control. Christmas was a mess, no family coming over, no lavish dinner, just cheap presents her father took from a homeless shelter. 

"Cora." Her brother whispered. He was older, taller, and more adjusted to the reality of their household, his spirit already broken. "Cora." He repeated at a louder volume, sitting down next to her. "He caught you didn't he?" He wasn't expecting much of a response, but Cora fought to get herself under control. Her breathing was stuttering. "Don't force yourself, just breathe, calm down." He rubbed her back.

"Why do I listen to him?" She cried to him. Every time she was close to leaving, close to escaping this hell, her father convinced her to come back. "Why?!" She demanded, hitting the bed. She hated herself for listening to him, being so easy to manipulate, being putty in his hands. "Why am I so stupid?" 

"Don't say that about yourself." He begged. "You're not stupid. You're young." He tried to reason with her, pulling her into a hug. 

"Then why do you listen to him?" She looked up at him. "You're not young. Why do you listen?" Her big sad eyes breaking him down. He opened his mouth, but closed it, not sure how to answer her question. 

"Im not sure." He mumbled. "Maybe it's because there's nothing better for me to do." He looked out the window, out to the freedom of the world. 

"Gavin." She whimpered. "Don't say that." Tears were already pricking her eyes once again. "You're better than that." 

"No, no. It's true." He insisted, looking back down at her. "You know my grades, you've seen me try to get further in this world. I'm too old." He brushed her hair back. Cora knew that was a lie, he was only 20, barely even an adult. "You can't give up now though. You can get further. I believe in you." His voice shook, and Cora could tell he was breaking down. "Cora, listen to me, you have to much potential to end up like me. Pack your bag, and I'll help you." He said before he slowly got up, and left.

She was left by herself once again, left with her thoughts and the void, yet there was hope squashing the void in her mind. Cora got to work, her bag already packed from her previous escape attempt, and all she had to do now was wait for Gavin, and whatever he was planning to do.

It was only after the travesty of a dinner and her father had passed out drunk in the living room Gavin made it clear what he was planning. 

"Come on, Cora. You have too." He pleaded. "You can't end up like me. I'll drop you off at grandmas, you can live there until I can help you more." He was going to drive out of the state to their grandmothers and drop off Cora.

"I can't leave you. Gavin you have to come with." She refused to do so without him. She was the only thing she really had. Leaving her brother was something she wouldn't — couldn't — do. It was out of the question. "Please." 

"I can't, you remember what I said, I'm too old to leave." They were both crying, though Gavin wasn't as obvious. "Just get in the car. I'll visit you. I won't be too long." He wouldn't settle with Cora staying, wasting away like he did. She had a chance, and he didn't, or at least he convinced himself. "Come on." He took her hand, making her reluctantly follow her to his car.

"Do you have to leave? Please, stay." Cora stood outside of his car door, the sunrise behind her. "You can come with." Her nose ran, her eyes wet. "Please." Gavin couldn't even look at her, his own face hot with his own tears. 

"Cora. Stop. I'm not abandoning you. I'm giving you a chance at life I could never have!" His voice torn with pain. "Go inside. I'll watch you go in. You can watch me leave. Just remember I won't be gone forever." Cora sniffed, holding the strap of her bag tightly. She marched down the gravel path the lead to the door of her grandmother, and knocked. 

Her grandma opened it and let her in, but she only did so after looking back at her brother, a determined look on her tear stained face and waved. Her brother returned to the gesture, before Cora went inside, and he drove off.

(Part 2???)