When The World Turns

Chapter 15 (Official)

Panic starts to crawl up my spine before I can even process what's happening. My hands are slick with sweat, and my stomach drops like I've been punched. My insides twisting themselves into tight and unbearable knots.

Wasn't she supposed to be late today? I thought she wasn't coming home til later.

I don't move. I can't move. My brain scrambles for something, anything to say, but it's blank. Useless.

"Who the hell is he?!" she shouts again, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

I flinch hard, instinctively cowering beside the doorframe as if it might shield me. My pulse racing out of control.

"I won't ask a third time," she says, low and furious, each word coiled tight with venom.

"I-I don't know what you mean," I stammer, my voice cracking. "W-who is who?"

She doesn't wait. Doesn't hesitate.

Her hand strikes my cheek, the crack echoing through the room louder than her words. The sting hits a second later, hot and sharp. My eyes water, more from shock than pain. I clutch my face, staring at her in disbelief.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about!" I blurt out, my words tumbling over themselves. "Who are you talking about? There was no one, I wasn't with anyone!"

I don't even know what I'm saying anymore. Anything. I'll say anything. Just make her believe it. Just make her stop looking at me like that.

But it only makes her angrier.

She spins around without another word, stomping off into the kitchen. I hear drawers being yanked open, utensils clattering before the unmistakable clink of metal. A jolt runs through me, sharp and cold.

When she comes back, she's holding a big silver spoon, heavy looking, something we barely use. Not for cooking, and definitely not for this.

I start backing up, my skin is crawling, and my breath comes in short, ragged gasps. My legs feel like they're made of jelly, and my mind races with panic.

My mother stomps forward, her heavy steps echoing in the silence of the house. I press my back into the cold and unforgiving wall as my body shakes uncontrollably. I curl my arms over my head, trying to shield myself from the storm that's about to hit. But there's no escaping her now.

In an instant, her fingers clamp down on my ear, sharp and cruel. I gasp, my vision blurring with tears as she drags me, each step leaving me more disoriented and terrified. Her nails sink into my ear, and I can't help the scream that bursts from my lips, a raw sound full of panic and helplessness.

I stumble, my knees crashing to the ground, the rough floor biting into my skin as she pulls me down. My hands tremble, and my throat feels tight as if I can't breathe at all. She holds the spoon in front of me like a weapon, her eyes filled with fury. It's like there's nothing left of the woman I once knew. She's a stranger now, someone who only exists to hurt me.

"Talk," she spits, her voice cutting through the suffocating air around me. Her face is inches from mine, and I can see the madness in her eyes, the threat of something worse than the torment already drowning me.

Shaking overtakes me, my body refusing to move, to do anything. The pounding in my chest is so loud, it drowns out everything else. A cold, suffocating fear wraps around my chest, tightening until it feels like I can't breathe, like the walls of the room are closing in on me. My entire body screams to escape, but I'm trapped.

Finally, my mouth opens, the truth spilling out before I can hold it back, my voice trembling with the weight of what I know will make it worse. "He's just a classmate!" I say, the words tumbling out, desperate to keep her from destroying me any further.

"Bullshit!" she screams, eyes wild with rage. She doesn't believe a word I've said. The spoon is still in her hand, gleaming under the kitchen light. She raises it closer, just inches from my face. I flinch but hold my ground, trembling, arms wrapped tight around myself.

"I swear!" I cry out, voice cracking. "He's nothing but a classmate! That's all!"

Her eyes narrow, full of disgust. "You better not be messing around with boys," she spits. "I don't want to hear your name being dragged. I'm warning you, don't embarrass me like how your father did."

"What?!" I blurt out, not understanding, panic rising so fast it feels like I'm drowning. "W-what are you talking about?!"

"You heard me!" she snaps, face inches from mine. "Don't come home with a damn pregnancy. I won't raise it. You think I don't know how this ends? I've lived it"

The room spins around me, everything closing in. My stomach twists violently, and I can barely breathe. What is she even accusing me of? What did I do wrong?

I stare at her, wide eyed, frozen in place. The words echo in my head like a siren I can't shut off. Pregnancy? Embarras her? What does she think I've done? I can't even form a full sentence, my throat tightens, and all I can manage is a trembling breath.

She throws her hands up, scoffing at my silence. "This is ridiculous. Can't even answer a goddamn question." Her voice drops into a sneer. "Don't embarrass me, Max. I'm warning you."

Tears blur my vision, but I nod, anything to make her stop.

She huffs and turns away like she's disgusted just being near me. I stay there for a beat, shoulders shaking, waiting to be sure she's gone. Then I run. I don't care how loud my footsteps are. I just run.

Slamming the door behind me, I collapse onto my bed. My chest heaves as the tears come pouring out, soaking the pillow before I can even catch my breath. I curl into myself, clutching the blanket like it can protect me from the world, like it can protect me from her.

I don't know what I did wrong. I don't know how to make it stop.

I just wanted a friend.