The Countdown

A Broken Home and A Broken Girl

(A/N): Trigger warning for abuse, read at your own risk loves.)

(Kelsey's Pov.)

*Flashback*

I laid sprawled out on the bed doing my homework but i was stuck on a few math problems. I decided to ask my mom for help.

"Mommy? Can you help me with my homework, im stuck?" I asked quietly as i walked towards her from down the hall. Her dark hair and dark eyes resembled mine greatly. She glanced over the paper and started to assist me. Math was never my best subject and it always got me so messed up.

Mom's explaining wasn't doing much help, and to be honest it was just making it worse. I started to cry tears of frustration, and this seemed to anger mother. Her voiced raised and her hand gestures became frantic. Calling me "dumb" "over-emotional" and telling me i was "exaggerating".

I snatched the paper from her lap and trudged off to my eight year old bedroom. Tossing my work near my bag and cuddling up reading a book. Reading was the only time i feel safe, like i could get away from it all. Soon i fell asleep the book falling to the floor.

***

I was awakened by the front door slamming. Hearing the chatter between my parents frightened me so i curled up under all my blankets trying to hide. It all escalated quickly as i heard his strong foot steps coming down the hallway. Part of me hoped he would turn right into his bedroom, but inevitably i knew where he was mapped out to be.

Hearing my door creak open i trembled and my heart raced as i heard him bellow out my name calmly "Kelsey Christina Reigns". Using my full name and i knew i was in trouble.. I pulled myself from the blankets and faced a man i could barley recognize. This man, my father, was unrecognizable in his current state. Balled fist, face contorted with anger, he started his verbal assault. Calling me names similar to the ones my mother used earlier. His sentences laced with profanities.

"Why do you always have to fight!? Your grades are coming down and it's your own fault! And they are too low for my liking!" He screamed pulling me closer by my hair. I knew what was coming and i feared it more each time. You never knew his way of attack until it has happened. Telling me he had dealt with worse as a child as he held me by my wrist.

The first time his hand made contact it knocked the wind out of me. He held me up by my wrist and continued swinging. I cried out when he finally let me fall, unlacing his belt from his pants.

This was the one way he always threatened but never acted. At least, until tonight. Throwing me to my bed and holding me down as the leather came in contact with my now bare bottom. Attempting to shield myself but only then feeling the sting on my hands. I sobbed and my air was coming in short gasps. Then he finally stopped, laced his belt back up and left me there, sobbing.

Pulling up my shorts and curling up into a ball on my bed. I still could not control my breathing. That's when i heard my mother in the hallway "Stop breathing like that, you're going to make yourself pass out. And stop crying you brought this on yourself." With that statement she turned out my light and closed my door. As if my pain was too distracting.

The crying starting to stop, most of my tears gone, and as my eyes adjusted to the darkness i noticed my book from earlier ripped on the floor from where father had been standing just five minutes ago. Then the tears i didn't know i had started flowing again and i cried myself to sleep

***

I woke up the next morning for school, my lower half completely sore. I almost couldn't stand but i know speaking up would cause more trouble, so i fought through it. As i stripped down, i examined myself as i had learned to do after nights like the previous.

The marks across my rear and back were still bright red. While examining my hands i noticed my bruised wrist, from where he held me during the endeavor. I gasped realizing my need for sleeves that day. Pulling on an over sized sweater from my aunt, and some thin jeans i slowly crept down the hall. No one else was awake which i was grateful for. I grabbed my bag and some apple slices and rushed out the door onto the front porch. Hearing the birds songs calmed me, but feeling that the humidity was already high made me slightly regret today's outfit choice, it would be an adventure but i had no other choice. If anyone saw the marks it would be worse. Gladly i didn't really have any friends to notice, i thought to myself stepping on the small school bus.

***

(A/N: Okay loves i hope you enjoyed this chapter and there weren't too many tears. Because i know i shed a few writing this. I just figured that Kelsey deserved a backstory that explained why she feels that her parents are never there and it's just Natalia and her Aunt.)