Evermore

Chapter Nine

Aurelia 

It had been a few uneventful weeks, just filled with seemingly endless assignments and homework from school. I had gone to the library to study with Delaney, and the sun had set by the time I walked home. 

The streets were shadowy and dimly lit by a single flickering street light. As I reached the old, creaky house a sense of dread washed over me. 

I pushed open the door and the smell of stale beer almost immediately hit me. Empty bottles littered the living room. My foster parent, Mr Driscoll, was slumped on the couch watching television. He looked up as I entered. His wrath was brewing. 

"Where have you been?" He slurred. 

"I-I was doing my homework at-" 

The sudden sound of breaking glass echoed through the room, interrupting my sentence. He had shoved the empty beer bottles off the table, sending them crashing to the floor, the glass shattering into a million pieces. 

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as he staggered towards me, face contorted with anger. "Where's my beer?" He yelled. 

"We r-ran out," I mumbled. 

Before I could react, he gripped my arm tightly as he said in my ear, "Don't make me ask again." 

"I'm sorry. There's really no-" 

And just like that, he shoved me hard. I stumbled backward, my forehead hitting the corner of the wooden table. I felt a warm trickle of blood running down. 

"Get out," he yelled. "Now!" 

Dazed and terrified, I pushed myself up from the floor. I ignored the wave of dizziness or the awful pain as I stumbled out on the front porch--the door slamming shut behind me. 

As an orphan in the foster care system, a house never felt like home. I had to move around a lot. Some families try to show genuine care but then there are the others who do it for the money. It is a constant reminder that I am just a burden. 

So why get attached? Why hope?