In and Out

1

                                       WREN
"Please," I choke out, as another kick is sent to my ribs. This isn't the first time, but I always hold out hope that it will be the last. My mom sits at the counter drinking the bad juice that seems to make her hate me. She just watches me from her seat. Never engaging, but it hurts just as much. My father has some white powder left on his nose. He always seems to. I don't remember when it started, the beatings. But I can never think of a time when they weren't an everyday occurrence. I try to be a good girl, I really do. I follow their rules and I never make a sound. But they don't care, they never have. So instead of fighting, I cry. I cry because it hurts. I cry because I wish for love. And I cry because no one can save me. A final blow to my ribs causes me to whimper, and my father picks me up and slams me into the wall. My parents share a laugh as if I just told them the funniest joke, but I didn't. They were laughing at my misery, at my pain. But they were done, they went upstairs.

Every bone in my body feels as if it was shattered, but I stand up and drag myself down the stairs. Holding my ribs, I limp over to the small tub and run the cold water until it's filled. I strip off my clothes that stick to me like a second skin and crawl into the bath. I shudder as I run my hands through my matted blonde curls that are probably more red than golden at the moment. After I wash my beaten body with my small bar of soap, I grudgingly push myself out of the tub and wrap myself with my small towel. I set out my school uniform and put on one of my few sweatshirts and pairs of shorts. After limping over to my small mattress, I begin to fall asleep, praying for tomorrow to be painless.
••
I wake up with a jolt. I have every morning for the past 11 years, but every time my heart races as if these night terrors are a new occurrence. Sighing, I force myself to get up and get ready. I look in my cracked mirror and see my curls standing in every direction, and my bright blue eyes look dull. I struggle to pull my clothes on over all my injuries, and I wince when my leggings snag on an old scab. I pull my hair back with an old white ribbon and walk up the stairs, praying my parents aren't awake. As routine, I make them breakfast and set it on the small table. Every morning I never fail to wish for one bite of something, but my fear holds me back. I can wait. I leave quietly and start my 10 minute walk to school. I don't thank my parents for much, however they signed me up for school and I am eternally grateful. No matter how terrible my parents may be, I don't think I hate them. How could I? They're my own flesh, my blood. All I can have is hope. Maybe someday they'll realize that they were wrong, maybe someday they'll love me. Quickly, my thoughts are interrupted by my friends. A smile comes to my lips when I see the two redheaded twins.

"Wren! We missed you!" Lily hugs me tight, and I bite my lip to contain my whimper.
"I missed you guys too," I smiled, "How was your weekend?" Lily and Nate grin.
"It was so good, we went to an amusement park and rode everything," Nate practically yelled.
"Yeah and then you threw up everywhere after eating three bags of popcorn," Lily sneered and Nate just rolled his eyes.
"The twister is brutal," he mumbles and I laugh.

"What about you, did you do anything fun this weekend?" Lily looks at me with anticipation, and I just want to cry. I don't want to disappoint my friends with my life, but I can't lie to them.
"Oh not really, just hung out at home," I shrug sending them a small smile.
"Well thats okay! I love a good relaxing weekend," Nate chimes in and swings his arm around my shoulder.
"We should probably head to class," Lily groans and we all laugh.
At least I have my friends.

———
okay first chapter!!
i hope you don't mind that i didn't make a character list, but i figured it would be more fun for you guys to meet them for the first time in the story!
if you have ANY questions feel free to ask, i really tried to give as much baseline info about wren, but if you feel like you're missing something let me know!!
i would love to hear your comments on the story so leave one if you'd like, i love an active reader!
see you all next chapter 🩷