Phillip and I walk down the sidewalk in silence, a calm, peaceful silence. I like walking with Phillip, that is until we part ways.
For some reason, all day something has been making my body feel almost anxious about something. I don't know what it is. I've just felt so... Off all day. Like there's something I should be remembering, or something I should be afraid about, but I don't know what it could possibly be, and it's been eating away at me.
"Oh, by the way, tomorrow I'll be gone from school." Phillip pulls me out of my thoughts as he speaks, my head turning to look over at him.
"What for?" I ask as we stop at the part of our walk we split ways at.
"Uhh, going to go celebrate one of my cousin's birthday." Phillip shrugs, a small smile on his face as he turns to cross the street.
"I'll see ya in two days, Trav!" He waves as I wave back before continuing my walk home.
I pause at the front steps when I reach the house. Something deep down told me that something was wrong. But what isn't wrong when I come home?
I step inside, the house silent. Way too silent. It was an uncomfortable silent. I slip my shoes off before I glance over at father on the couch. Then it hit me.
He had a paper in his hand, all crumpled up from him gripping it. My eyes dart to the red numbers in the corner.
40%.
It was the test I took a few days ago. The test I completely forgot about, even though I guessed on half of it because I didn't have enough time.
"Travis." His voice was full with barely contained anger, and I slowly walk towards him until I'm standing in front of him.
(WARNING: ABUSE AHEAD)
"What the fuck is this shit?" He asks, his eyes staring up at me, making my heart pound faster.
"I'm sorry, sir. I was running out of time and-"
"Oh you were running out of time?! You were running out of time, huh?" He suddenly stands up, tossing the paper onto the floor, next to an empty beer bottle.
"I've done all this shit for you and you can't do the simplest thing by doing good in school?! You're fucking pathetic!" He shouts as he swings at me, hitting me in the face, in my eye.
I fall back, my hands gripping the carpet as I brace myself for his words. For his beating.
"You're a mistake. You're useless. I can't believe you're my son." Father seethes, grabbing my hair harshly before he lets go to kick me in the side.
"No wonder why your mother left you. She didn't want to see her son to grow up into a fucking mistake." He laughs. His words hit me like no hit of his ever could.
Suddenly I feel like a little kid, coming home expecting to walk into his mother's embrace.
"Let's take a walk. We haven't prayed together in a while." His words snap me out of my daze as he grabs my hair harshly, dragging me towards the door.
He pulls me up by my hair as we reach the door before he lets go of my hair, his hand wrapping around my shoulder and gripping my shoulder enough to bruise.
~~~
Father drags me out of the car as we reach the church, unlocking the doors as he shoves me inside, following close behind.
We walk down the aisles before he kicks me into my knees in front of the altar, my eyes glossing over with tears as I stare up at the cross.
"Pray." He threatens as I listen to him unbuckle his belt.
"Dear heavenly Father," My voice starts to tremble, a lump forming in my throat, "I am so sorry for the way I complain about my circumstances. Please forgive me for my bad attitude when things don't go my way. I want to see your hand in every part of every day- good or bad. In Jesus Name, Amen."
"Good. But not good enough." He says from behind me, his voice echoing through the church walls before he tells me to lift my shirt and I do as I'm told.
I flinch as the buckle hits the floor, meaning that's the side he was going to whip me with.
I bite down on my shirt as I stare at the big cross, a single tear falling down my cheek before he strikes. Again and again and again.
I struggle not to make a noise as his attacks become more painful as my back is raw.
Then the blood starts.
Once my back is covered in blood he stops.
He grabs me by the hair, dragging me back to the car.
I'm so sorry, God.
~~~
(END OF ABUSE)
I lay on my side in my bed, tears falling down my cheeks as I stare at the wall, a silent sob leaving my lips, my hands sliding up to tug on my hair.
I feel like a little kid. A little kid that just wants his mom. A little kid that wants to be loved and cared for by his parents.
But my back is in so much pain I can barely move. My heart is broken, I have no mother, and I have no loving father. I have no family. I have no love or care.
(Small self harm mention)
All I have is a blade.
All I have is scars on my wrists, calming me, reminding me of the calmness that they inflict.
Just like how the news ones made me feel, even if just for a little.
YOU ARE READING
Meet You at the Graveyard.
Romance(If you couldn't guess, Title is based off the song, "Meet you at the Graveyard" by Cleffy) This story is more based on Travis and his life and what he goes through, and doesn't focus much on Sal even though it's both of their povs. SAL I never unde...
