There is defining moments in life.
Don't ignore them.
They corner me in the ally.
" Come here, sweet-thing.", the one with the atrocious beer breath says.
" N-no pl-please stay a-away." I try my best to sound confident but that just doesn't happen.
" Now why would we do that?" Says the man with the bottle of beer in his hand. Berfore I get any responce out of my mouth I feel a hollow ache on my right cheeck. Beer-breath punched me.
"We won't take but just a minute of your time." he says.
Backing up I fall in my feet. Bottle-man holds me firmly to the ground while beer-breath undresses me.
When I'm fully undressed I see him start to take off his pants.
"This will only hurt a lit-."
"Whaaaa whaaaa!"
I jolt awake. I turn around in my seat to check on Elizabeth who is setting in her babt carrier. I look at her diaper and notice it's full. Turning to Michael -my father- I ask,
"Can you pull over? Lizzy has a full diaper." Nodding his head he pulls off to the side of the pitch black road. Sighing I unbuckle and go to the backseat. I grab the whipes and a clean diaper to change Lizzy into.
I unbuckle her and lay her on the backseat.Half way through changing her she starts crying.
" Hey baby girl. It's okay mommy's here." I coo to her.
Her crying subsides but not completely. I pick her up and set her in her carrier, and get in the backseat. I grab one of the bottles I pumped before we left and shake it up.
"You can drive now. I'm going to feed her." I tell Michael. He nods and gets on the road again. I cradle her in my arms and put the bottle in her mouth. Looking out the dark window I rock her and pat her back. As we pass hundreds of acers of feilds I rember all the memories of picking blackberries with my mom and dad before the divorce. I sigh. Lizzy spits the bottle out of her mouth. I put her burp cloth on my shoulder and burp her. After that I set her in the carrier and buckle her in. I climb back into the the front seat.
"How long?" I ask
"About an hour. " Dad says.
"M'kay. I'm going to sleep. " I mummer.
"Okay. Night, Gen."
* * *
I wake up to a jolt. I see the truck is stopped outside of dad's house. With a sigh I unbuckle myself and get Lizzy out of her seat without waking her. Dad grabs my luggage out of the tailgate. I sling Lizzy's diaper bag over my shoulder and walk behind dad. I look at the porch I notice the old same dog Charlie. I pat his head as we walk by. I take in my surroundings. An old one story house just off the main road, rocks in the lawn, dad's old beat up Ford, and Charlie laying on the front porch. Dad finally gets the door open. We walk into the same old family room.
Cream walls, one couch, two recliners, and a huge flat screen T.V.
We walk all the way to the back of the house to my room. I open my door to the same setting as last time.
A queen size bed in the middle of the room with a navy blue comforter, a desk and chair, and a computer.
I turn around and look at Michel.
"Thanks dad. I'll see you in the morning?" I ask.
"Probably not. I leave at four in the morning. But night, Gen love you."
He says hugging me, being careful not to hurt Lizzy.
"Yeah. Okay. Night love you too."
He turns and walks out of the door leaving my bag on my desk. Sighing I walk over to the bed. I lay Lizzy down and change her diaper. I leave her clothes off and have her in just a diaper. I lay her between two pillows and go over to my desk. I unzip my bag and grab my clothes and put them up.
I grab black yoga pants, my sports bra, and a grey tank-top. Changing quickly I get into bed. I bring Lizzy closer to me. I kiss her forehead.
"Night Lizzy. Mommy loves you."
The last thing I think is tomorrow was gonna be one hell of a day.
-------------------------------------------
The picture is Gen.
