Perfect

Do you love him?

Creeaaaaaakkkkk........... Creeaaaaaakkkkk........... I was swinging on my little yellow swing in our garden. The hospital discharged me yesterday. I can now move my right arm a bit, but it still hurts and aches like mad. The cuts have been bandaged tightly and I have to go to the hospital every other day for 1 month. Great!

Robert was so mad about mum saying that they were over, he shouted and swore, so the hospital staff threw him out of my room. Yay! Mum says that she never wants to see him again, finally he can get out of my, our, lives. Him and his stupid drug dealing. He will probably go off with another woman. Hollie maybe, or someone else he picks up at a bar while he's drunk.

'Rosa, breakfast's ready!' mum calls from the kitchen, the sweet smell of pancakes wafted through the window. Ever since she broke up with Robert she has become her normal self, happy, cheery.....and mum like. 'Coming!' I smiled as I jumped off my swing, and ran towards the front door, my denim skirt flowing in the morning wind. 'There's a plate of pancakes on the table, help yourself to sauce and strawberries!' mum grinned as I sat down to enjoy my pancakes. I put a mountain of strawberries on top, I check the calories on the sauce, way too much! So I left that.

After breakfast I cleaned my teeth, I brushed my hair and I put my shoes on, ready to go to the park. 'Bye mum, be back in around 1 hour!' I called as I grabbed my bag from the kitchen side. 'Bye!' mum shouted from upstairs, then I shut the door. I was really hoping to meet Alex, I hadn't seen him in ages. I felt the soft tickle of the grass on my ankles as I reached the park. I saw a few guys playing football, none of them were Alex. I felt my heart sink. I found a nice spot of green grass and I sat down. The sun was beating on my arms and legs, filling my whole body with warmth and happiness. The grass was tickling my feet, as I had taken my shoes off and my arm was hurting as much as ever. And the bandages were hot and itchy. I really wanted to take them off, but they're coming off tomorrow anyway.

All I did for 15 minutes was stare into space, doing nothing but think. Then someone came up behind me. 'Hiya Rosa....' Alex? I turned around, yes it was him. 'Hi Alex!' I smile as he sits next to me 'What happened to your arm? I mean, I don't mean to be rude, I just...' I smile as he turns bright pink in embarrassment. He is so sweet, and shy. 'It's ok Alex, I umm.....cut myself, but it's fine now! But it hurts....' I wince in pain as I try to pick up his phone that he dropped 'No, it's ok Rosa, I'll get it.....' he reacts when he sees me in pain. He picked up his phone, then I asked him where he was the past few days. 'Ummmm.....My dad's a police man, so we travel sometimes...' he stuttered as he looked at his hands 'After mum left him, he had to find a job somehow...so....' he tried to smile as he explained 'It's ok Alex, I know what it's like to lose someone. I lost my dad when I was 8, in a car crash...' I say as a tear falls down my cheek in memory. 'I'm sorry...I didn't know!...' he comforted me, but I was fine. 'It's fine, I'm fine!' I smile 'No, it's not! Your dad is dead, my mum is still alive.....' he stuttered nervously 'I'm sorry...' he frowned. 'No, it's ok...anyway....do you want to go to the shop?' I suggest, to get away from this awkward subject. 'Sure!' he smiled as I put my shoes on, and I tried to get up, I stumbled backwards, but Alex caught me. 'Thanks...' I blushed as I got back onto my feet.

After we went to the shop I realised that I needed to get back, so Robert gave me his number, yay! I am so happy, HE gave me HIS number! He even added me as a friend on Facebook! How cute! Lottie sent me a message as well:

Ohhhhh.......Rosa! I see Alex is now your friend! Who is he? Do you love him?! I bet you do :) I need an answer like now, sooooo.......

That was Lottie alright. Always asking questions about everything. I didn't know how to answer though. I like Alex, he's cute and funny, but do I love him? Maybe, I'm not sure. But I'm only 13, while he is 16. He probably has a girlfriend. He thinks of me as a friend, doesn't he? I am too lost in my thoughts to notice a crack in the pavement. My foot slips up and I land face first, my right arm is burning up inside. I must of hit it real hard. There is no-one about, apart from a few cars here and there.  I try to stand up, but I have to use my right arm and it is so painful. I look around for someone to help me, no-one. Then I realise I have my phone. I pick it up and I send a message to Alex.

Hi Alex, sorry to bother you, but I just fell over outside number 34 on Oak Tree Street. Can you help me get up? Sorry to bother you again,

Thanks, Rosa

All I could do now was wait, a few minutes later Alex arrived. 'Sorry I couldn't come sooner, here........' he rushed as he put an arm around my shoulder, and he helped me up without hurting my arm one bit. 'Thank you so much Alex, I was so stupid, I wasn't looking where I was going....Is there anything I could do to make it up to you?' I asked as I brushed myself off. I felt really awkward, calling a friend to help you stand up.....I would try not to do that again. 'Ummmm....My dad has a meeting next week, he says I have to go with him. None of the boys are free...so....Would you like to come with me? I mean, because I want someone to talk to and all.....I.....' he started off fine, but then he got nervous and he started to stutter. 'Yes, ummm.....I'll check with mum, but I would love to go....I mean, not because I like meetings or anything.....I.....' I got increasingly nervous as well, it was so awkward! Our cheeks both turned bright pink. 'See you then....' Alex waved as he ran off 'Bye! Text me the details!' I smiled as I continued walking home. Then I replied to Lottie:

I'm not sure yet. He is my friend, but I don't know whether I like, like him yet. He is sweet though. He is 16, and his dad is a police man :) He asked me whether I would like to come to a meeting with him, and I said yes! But I think that we are going as just friends :) If I were you I wouldn't get too excited.

I put my phone away as I opened our front door, to find Robert punching mum. I didn't know what to do, so I just stood there in shock, not moving, not even breathing.

**Mum's POV**

After Rosa left to go to the park, I had a shower, I got dressed, then I did my make-up and hair. I went downstairs to do the washing-up and Robert was there, just waiting patiently at the table. 'Robert, I told you that we are over, you said so yourself, if you don't mind...' I gestured towards the door, but Robert caught my wrist. 'Now I am going to give you one more chance. No-one dumps me and gets away with it, alive.........Let's just pretend this never happened, and we can go out tonight, as a family, with Rosa of course!' he threatened, but then he began to smile an evil and twisted smile. 'Never, you will never be a husband, or a father! Rosa was right, you are sick and twisted, and I never want to see you again! You will never be as good as MY GRAHAM!' I protested as he gripped my wrist even tighter. 'Let go of me....' I tried to pinch his hand off, but he wouldn't budge. I was trapped in my own home.

Luckily Robert was facing away from the door, I saw Rosa come in, but Robert didn't. I tried not to look at her, otherwise Robert would know that someone was at the door. I slapped his hand, put then he started punching me, not very hard. But hard enough to hurt. I fell to the floor as a ball of fire welled up inside of me, it was a mixture of pain and anger.

'So if Rosa was right about you being a bad father, then she must be right about the drug dealing too, mustn't she?' I knew I hit a weak spot, because he instantly stopped punching, and he released my hand, he then turned around to face the door, to make his escape. But Rosa blocked the door. She stood her ground, but he twisted her right arm. Then she let out a high pitched scream of pain. Fresh blood began to drip through the bandages. But Robert just twisted harder, until I ran over to Rosa. 'GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!' I yelled as I comforted a crying Rosa. Robert was still hanging around by the door. 'JUST LEAVE NOW BEFORE I CALL THE POLICE!' I screamed in pain as I looked at Rosa.

Robert dashed towards his car, and he left. Hopefully we would never see him again, ever again. He hurt my child, and me. No real man would do that. 'Do you love him?' I looked down to see Rosa's eyes open. 'Do you love him mum?' she whispered as I put a loose strand of hair behind her ear. 'No Rosa. I thought I did. But I never will again. I will hate him for the true monster he is. No boyfriend of mine messes with me and my child. He will pay.' I muttered under my breath as his car disappeared from sight. 'He WILL pay....'