Hope

|Chapter 2|

"Val, you're eating them and then swallow those pills lady because I fucking want my bestie back with me to school you know it's boring without you and Tony is nothing but tail to me now."

Daya brought too many food items and now making me eat every single bowl filled with different things. I ate some Thai mango sticky rice and gulped tea. Tony walked in holding medicines and not even my own parents brought me these and Daya is helping me like family and Tony is my brother. Mom came by again to check my cut and asked the doc how long I would stay and hearing his words she left.

"Val is everything okay at home?"

She somewhat knew about my parents, but I always stopped her from coming over to mine or even have a chat with them. She will lose control hearing my mom and dad then a huge war will begin. Tony on other hand have seen them once at a bar nearby. Truth, is he dropped them at home because they both were drunk.

"I guess so and I have left every chore there and lying here maybe I should leave today and reach home as-" 

Daya covered my mouth and pushed me back to bed and pulled the duvet till my neck. She tucked me to bed and kissed my cheek as a bye. Tony waved at me, and the curtains were drawn finally I closed my eyes let those butterflies free again.

___________

"CAN'T YOU FUCKING HURRY?"

Dad yelled as I walked to smell worst thing inside the house. Bottles lying everywhere, clothes thrown here and there plus the dishes left uncleaned also there is vomit here. How are they leaving in here. I saw a ballon like thing and understood what that is. A used condom.

"Clean these shit...or else..."

Dad warned me and I picked up the clothes as they watched TV. My neck hurts and I closed my eyes and thought about things that made me happy. Suddenly a sharp pain caused me to drop the plate from my hand to break into pieces. I heard footsteps heading to me and it was dad.

"D-dad I will clean it and b-buy new o-one." 

My words tied up with coming fear and he watched me carefully. My hands shivering and he turned around and left the room. My heart beating the heck out, but all changed when he walked in holding baseball bat. 

"Breaking the things I brought with my money and now saying excuses."

He bounced the bat to the floor and picking it up. I stepped back and he came closer. Now I have accepted the pain. He swings the bat to my leg, and it hurt like hell. I fell on my knees not able to cope the pain and tears flowing through my eyes. His rough laugh echoed around, and I touched his feet to plea, but his bat hit my back making me fall backwards.

"No use of you."

He bent to my height and raised my chin and slapped my face. The bat was dropped, and those footsteps reached living room. I laid on the floor and my neck, back and legs hurt. I held my scream and got up somehow holding the countertop. I heard my phone vibrate and checked to see Daya calling me.

"Hey Val pal...how you are doing and need me to come over?"
"No need and I-I doing fine here...just cleaned the dishes and now heading to b-bed."
"You sound sad are you okay?"
"Good night Dd and I am okay dear."

I closed my room door and curled up on the corner. I lied to my bestie and now crying like shit. Why do my parents be like this? Am I even their daughter? No one else is there to take care of me and my school fines are paid by them so I can't leave. A knock on my window and I saw Daya waving at me. Did she climb the roof?

I got up and opened the window and pulled her in or else god knows what will happen...what is wrong with this woman?

"You're crying...did they beat you?"

I turned away and wiped my tears. She hugged me but the bruise on my back hurts. I pushed her away and I know I am beginning a bad friend but it's better to make her stay away from me or else my pain will cause her pain.

"Daya Hills...we are not friends anymore because I never saw as one."

Daya's eyes changed, and she turned to window and jumped out. I feel so sorry to her.

"Call me when you're-"

"Why should I?"

She wiped a tear from her cheek and left like that. I lost my friend because of myself. Daya was my only friend I can say out aloud and now she is gone like air. I am super sorry Daya Hills. I walked to my bed and not able to lay I sat there with a pillow to support my back. My legs are numb and neck not better but good. My phone was singing 'Cruel Summer' someone is calling me. Unknown number? 

"Valeria Grace, right?"
"Y-Yes...that is me and you are?"
"Consider myself a secret for now."
"Secret? I-I mean w-who are y-you?"
"Secret...meet you soon Valeria...soon."

The line went beep and I kept looking at the screen for another call, but nothing came. Called back but that number isn't active anymore. I blocked that number and switched my phone off. 

The moment I closed my eyes the phone flashed, and it was a text from an unknown. Is it the same guy? I opened the text to see my photo. The room was dark, and it looks like taken now. The same position I laid while talking to that unknown. I jumped from the bed and switched the lights on and looked around but it's just my normal room and filled with books and other things.

"Anyone here?"

Only my words echoed, and I went to bed with lights on and covered myself under the duvet when the phone flashed again. It was a text from that unknown.

'Hope you liked your photo Valeria Johnson Grace.'

He used my middle name, and I threw the phone away and hide myself under duvet. My tears stained the pillow and the phone kept beeping, but I ignored them and closed my eyes to feel invisible pair staring me but not here.

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[word count: 1056]