Runaway

Birke

I found Birke when I was six as a ragged puppy living in a trash can.  I felt a deep connection to him the moment I saw him.  I begged my mother to let me have him.  My mother didn't want him, but my siblings said that I should have one thing for my own, so my mom agreed.  I'm not sure she wanted to, but she did.  Maybe she thought I would spend a lot of time with him, and she wouldn't have to interact with me.  So anyway, I named him Birke, which means Birch in German.  He was a good dog from the start.  He seems to be purebred, as he lacks any traits or colors found in other dogs.  I took him home in a paper bag, because it was all I had.  Birke was shy at first, but warmed up to me.   My mother would sometimes kick him or even stomp or even stomp on him if she was mad, like she did to me.  I taught Birke tricks all by myself, I fed him all by myself, I walked him all by myself.  He also did not have problems with Petal, my calico Maine Coon cat who was three at the time. 
Birke, who is now four years old, walks over to me as I walk into the door.  I cuddle him.  My mother kicks Petal to make her get out of the way.  Petal yelps, and rushes over to me.  Petal is now six years old, and isn't as energetic as Birke.  I walk up to my room, and they follow.  I could not love anyone or anything more than I love them.  They are my life.  They are the only good thing about my life.  Petal lays down in my lap, and falls asleep.  Birke lies next to me under the blankets.  I love them both so much.  I can feel Birke and Petal's fur.  I close my eyes and drift off to sleep.

I wake up to Petal shrieking. 
"Petal?!"  I say, concern in my voice.  I run downstairs and see Mom kicking her.  I grab Petal, picking her up, and say, "Mom, what are you doing?!"
"Teaching that darn cat a lesson!"  Mom responds. 
"But she didn't do anything to you..."  I say, gripping Petal tightly.
"She was in my way!"  Mom says.  "That stupid cat should go to the slaughterhouse."
I take a step back, horrified.
"Now get to school!"  Mom growls to me.
I nod my head.  I take a shower, brush my teeth, brush my hair, get dressed, and put my backpack on.  Petal meows at me.
"I'm sorry, Petal,"  I say.  "I can't bring you."
I close the door and lock it.  I have the only key.  If it's not locked, Mom will most likely hurt them. 
Mom smacks me as I walk out.
I rush to get the bus.  The horrific bus.
I get onto the bus, and sit next to the person who hates me least, Sophia.  She isn't my friend, but she doesn't bully me.  She doesn't look at me as I sit down.
"Hi, Maddie!"  The popular girl behind me, Laura, says.
"Hello,"  I say, praying she'll leave me alone.
"You're sitting next to Sophia, I see?"  Laura says.
"Yes, what about it?"  I say to her.
Laura smacks me.  "You think you're so cool, Maddie.  You are a loser.  Sophia hates you too, I know it.  You're never gonna be popular or cool.  You'll always be the lame person you are."
"Ignore them,"  Sophia says to me.  "They're just bitches who think they know everything."
I stare at her.  Nobody has ever said anything to the sort to me before.
"T-thank you,"  I say.
"You're welcome,"  Sophia says kindly.  "I've got your back."
I smile at her.  Maybe now that someone likes me, I've got a chance."

"Mr. Cook?"  I say.
"Yes, Maddie?"  He responds, crossly.
"Can I use the bathroom?"  I ask him.
"Can you?"  He says to me, obviously annoyed.  "Whatever, just be quick."
"Thank you."
I rush off the bathroom, swing open the door, rush into the first stall, close the stall door, and lock it.
"Fuck,"  I say as I see blood on my underwear.
"Maddie?"  I hear someone's voice.
I panic.  I pull up my pants, open the door, and say, "What?"
I'm relieved to see Sophia there.
"What's wrong?"  She asks nervously.
"I think I got my period,"  I say to her.
"Oh.  Use toilet paper for now, I guess?"  She says.
I groan.
"Or we can sneak out."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"But my mom will kill me."
"Let's just do it!"
"Alright."
We walk to my house.  I walk in and run to the bathroom.
I grab a pad, and put it in.
I walk out.
"Just what the fuck do you think you're doing?"  Mom asks.
"I'm sorry, I-"  I begin.
"NO EXCUSES!"  Mom screams.  She smacks me.  "YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF!"  She smacks me again and again. 
"MOM, STOP!"
"NO!"  Mom screams.  "WHAT WERE YOU DOING?"
My face has a red handprint on it.
Birke seems to hear my screams, because he's barking madly.  So does Petal.  She's screeching as loud as she can.
Mom grabs my arm.  "YOU'RE GOING TO PAY!"  She throws me down the stairs leading to downstairs.
I scream.  Did I hear bones crack?  Or is that my imagination?
"YOU ARE WORTHLESS!"  Mom screams at me.  "YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING PIECE OF SHIT!  YOU DON'T DESERVE LIFE!  GET AWAY FROM ME!"
My siblings emerge from their rooms because of the racket.  I run to my room.
Petal and Birke are waiting for me.  I come in and lock the door.  Petal and Birke lick me as I lie down on my bed.  I appreciate Petal and Birke so much.  I'll never let anything happen to them.  They lick me and cuddle me, trying to calm me down.  And it works.  The negative energy is gone from me.  I relax myself, and let their fur warm me.  I'll never let someone hurt me.  They mean so much to me.  If anything happens to either or both of them, I don't know what I would do.  They mean so much to me.  I close my eyes and drift off to Dreamland.