Eye of the Storm

Chapter 1

"Damn it, Maria!" My father screamed, raising his hand over his head. "You made me spill my fucking drink!" He roared, striking me. I fell to the floor as he tried swinging again. I jumped up as soon as I could only to be struck back down again. I felt another bruise forming on my arm. "Where the fuck are you gonna go, Maria?" My father taunted me. I felt the tears come rushing down my face. "Such a little bitch," he laughed. I stood up again. "I only came to get some of my stuff." I whimpered. "Get your stuff? For what? Got somewhere to be?" He teased. "I'm leaving." I said. At least I think I said it, I was shaking with fear I didn't even know if the words came out or not. "Leaving? To go where? You gonna go run off to try and find the same mother that abandoned you and left you here with me? Is that what you wanna do?" He began laughing again. "No. I'm turning 18 next week so I'll be able to buy my own place. Far from here." I answered. "And where the hell are you gonna get the money for that?" He yelled. "I've been working ever since I was 13. Every day as soon as I left school I went to work and stayed there til close. You know that. I have enough money to survive. And I'll get a job when I move there." I replied. "So you think you got this whole thing figured out, don't you, you little bitch?" He laughed in my face, forcing the strong smell of alcohol into my nostrils. "Yes, I do." I whispered, unable to speak at a regular volume. He laughed again and slapped my cheek. I fell to the floor again. "What makes you think you can fucking leave me like your mother did?" He roared, slapping my other cheek even harder. Now the tears were beginning to soak my shirt. "You don't need me here. You don't love me anymore. Just please let me go." I cried. He threw the vase at the wall. The glass smashed and shards were thrown everywhere. "You're here because you're mother didn't want you!" He screamed. "And neither do you. Please let me go." I pleaded. "You look just like her," he said, his voice sharp yet hurt. "She left me because of you!" He cried, throwing another vase. "That fucking bitch! I should find her and show her what a fuckup daughter she has for a child!" He screamed. "She's dead!" I screamed back, beginning to cry. His face froze. "You're lying! Shut the fuck up, you fucking bitch!" He screamed and raised his arm again. "No I'm not! I've kept tabs on where she's been for years now," I said. His arm stayed frozen in the air, his face changing, beginning to realize that I wasn't lying. "She was killed in a car accident two days ago." I whispered, barely able to speak. His arm fell to his side and fell back in shock. I took this as my chance to run and grab the rest of my things. I grabbed the already packed bag and ran back down the stairs. I looked over at my father one last time. His eyes were glazed over and I actually saw tears come down his face. He was staring at an old picture of her that he claimed was still up because he never felt enough energy to take it down. "Goodbye dad." I said, and ran out of the door.