Chapter One
"GIRL!"
"GIRL!"
My covers were ripped off and I was yanked up by my dark brown locks, usually I like my hair, but right now it was just being used to hurt me.
"AHH! STOP!" He flung me onto the floor, and I crashed into it with a thud. With shaky limbs I scurried to get up only to be kicked in the ribs. I curled up on the floor and tried to protect myself from any further blows.
"Do you know what time it is girl?!" He screamed into my face. The smell of Jack Daniels was overwhelming.
"It's f#<king ten thirty! Get your lazy ass up!" Oh no I forgot to make them breakfast!
"I'm s-sorry I-I d-" I tried to make some form of apology, but I kept stumbling over my words.
GET IN THE KITCHEN!!!" He bellowed. I tried to get up but my stomach screamed in pain and I bent over to grip my torso. I let out a pathetic sounding whimper and cursed myself for letting them see me this way.
"Did you hear me?!!" He grabbed my arm and forcefully pulled me up.
"Get in the damn kitchen!!" He dragged me out the door and threw me down the hall. I fell and hit the wall. He growled and I crawled away, pushing myself off the ground. I ran towards the kitchen.
Melanie was slumped over in a chair by the table. She was fumbling over her lighter. When she saw me she chucked it at me.
"Make..make it workk" she slurred. With trembling hands I flicked the metal and it flared up. I handed back to her and she placed it under the tin foil.
"WHY AREN'T YOU MAKING ME BREAKFAST!!" Tony shouted. His first balled up and his knuckles where turning white.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry..." I whispered over and over again.
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Tony went to the bar and I was left with Melanie. This was my favorite time, I could be alone. I went to my room and got dressed in my old jeans and put on a random t-shirt. I gasped as I saw myself in the mirror there were bruises on my arms and neck. My lip was slightly purple and puffy.
I put on a huge jacket to hide in. I loved big jackets, they could hide me, keep me warm, somewhere I could be safe.
Melanie was lounging on the couch laughing to herself. She was sweaty and smelled disgusting. I sat on the floor by the couch. I pitied this woman, she stays here and gets hit just so she can get her fix. She was broken, like me. I wanted to help, but she was too far gone.
"I'm going on a walk to the store, do you need anything Melanie?" I asked while I brushed her dirty blonde hair out of her face. She giggled.
"No hun.... thank you. Thank you so much." She whispered. She went from bubbly to depressed in seconds. I sat there with her for a long time.
I think Melanie would be a great person if drugs hadn't taken over her life. She always used to talk about how she wanted to be an artist. I've lived with Tony and Melanie for about three years now. Before that it was a group home, and before that it was Ms.Carson
I've never had real parents, but Ms.Carson was the closest thing I had to a family. She adopted me when I was a baby. She was a woman with a warm smile and a good heart, she took care of me until she died in a car accident. I was eight, after that I bounced from family to family I don't even remember their names. I would only be there for a week or so anyways.
I was put in a group home when I was ten. Then when I was thirteen I somehow ended up with Tony and Melanie. Tony wanted another slave to hit around I guess..
I was walking home from the store, snacking on some jalapeno cheetos. There was a nice breeze , and the sun was shining. It was perfect. I sat on the curb outside my house and just watched the neighborhood kids play around. I couldn't help but smile. They had no worries, the only thing that mattered was not to get tagged.
If only life could be that simple.
I got up and brushed off my pants. I stopped at the mailbox...
Tony Gardner bill, Tony Gardner overdue notice... I lazily thumbed through the mail until I came to a blue envelope with my name on it.
Kimberlee Carson
John F. Kennedy High
No way...
