More Than My Own Life (Twilight Fanfiction)

Memories and Cullens

As always, I ran home. I learned early on not to walk or the other girls from the orphanage would catch up to me. I was just walking in the front door when I realized that it was Friday. Most of the other girls would be out anyway. I would be alone until the middle schoolers got here, and they always left me alone. After all, high schoolers were a floor above them. Out of sight, out of mind.

I hurried to complete my chores. I finished the dishes in 45 minutes, cleaned off the counters in 20, wiped down the tables in 10, and had a dinner of macaroni and cheese with chicken done in an hour. I shoved some of the food in my mouth before placing the rest in the fridge. I was too hated to eat with the other girls at dinnertime, but if I waited until after they ate, there would be no leftovers. 

I went up the stairs and collapsed onto my bed for a rare moment of peace. Miss Michelle was nowhere to be seen and with the other kids out and the younger kids at daycare , I was finally able to catch up on my sleep. I never got enough sleep. Between caring for the younger kids, bullies, homework, chores, detentions, and so many other things, I just couldn't find the time.

I buried my face in my pillow and wrapped myself in a blanket. I kicked off my shoes and let sleep over take me.

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I felt someone shake me and sat up immediately. I blinked a few times before I was able to comprehend that it was Miss Michelle standing over me. Oh, God, I had been asleep when she found me!

Wait, wait, calm down. My chores are done. Dinner is made. I have all weekend to do my homework. She has no reason to be mad. I'm fine. I'm okay.

My attempts to calm myself quickly vanished when Miss Michelle reached for me. I rolled to the other side of my bed, away from her. She glared at me. "Come with me". I stared at her, my horror growing. I had been here before, in my foster homes. I was going to be punished. But why, what have I done? I thought Miss Michelle only punished by taking away your food privileges, and physical punishment never went past a couple of slaps unless she took you to her office. I had managed to avoid her office so far. As she stepped towards me again, I backed away.

"Where are we going?" I asked terrified. She just let out a small growl and grabbed my arm. She pulled me down to the first floor, me fighting her the whole way. We came to her office door and I panicked. I've heard stories about what happens in here. In public, she won't give you more than a couple of slaps, but behind her office door...

So many stories. Of thrashings, of torture. I had heard the sound of what must have been a switch or a cane hitting a girl a few years younger than me behind her office door before. The swishing sound and cries had continued on for almost ten minutes before the hysterical girl had been pulled out of the room by her ear. I had pretended to sweep, trying to force my nausea away as Miss Michelle exited her office, rubbing her tired arm.

 And now she was going to punish me like that. It was the only reason I could think of that she would want me in her office. I struggled to get away, fighting with all my power. Miss Michelle stumbled and grabbed my arms with both of her hands, no doubt leaving bruises on me. "Let me go!" I yelled. She opened her office door and pushed me in. Then as I turned and began grasping for the doorknob she shouted, "Enough!" When I didn't stop immediately she grabbed my arm and landed several hard and painful smacks on my jeans.

With a confused whimper, I put my hands behind me to block her blows. She pushed them aside and hit my upper thighs a few times. A sob finally escaped me and she stopped. I turned back around, bewildered. Usually she would slap you in the face or whip you with an object but... Never before had she spanked anyone. Even the younger children were slapped instead of spanked, the force of the blow often knocking them off their feet. She had one hell of a swing, though. My lower lip trembled as I struggled to rub the pain away.