Another Broken Smile

28- Suitcase of Memories

Her eyes widen in fear and her little body shivers at the sight in front of her. Screams of agony fill the empty walls as the drunk father thrashes around the house scarring his loved ones unknowingly.

"Get out of my way" he yells at the woman whose cascading tears tell a story that no one hears. Her body shields a chest of drawers behind her as her eyes plead for the treasure in them to be left alone.

The man pushes his wife aside who stumbles and falls, banging her head against the wall in the process. Her body gives up as she crumbles to the floor losing all hope of saving her hard earned cash from the evil clutches of her husband. She really needed that money to pay the grocery bills and the ever increasing rent .

His eyes pool with greed as he roughly opens the drawers in search of the money required to stock his dwindling alcohol collection. Why did his wife always come in between? Stupid woman.

In his drunken stupor, he knocks a couple of frames that fall to the ground shattering precious glass and memories that already seemed too happy to be true anymore.

As the reckless father exits the house, the little six year old rushes to see her mother, whose tears, like a waterfall cascade down her pale face. The mother hugs her daughter tightly like seizing the last ray of sunshine and hope and doesn't even bother to dry her tears.

The little girl hugs her mother back, her own tears now splattering the little blue dress and glistening the golden batch of achievement that sits proudly pinned to it. The little girl's eyes constantly flicker towards the door in innocent wonder about how her knight in shining armour could turn into such a monster.

I wake with a startle. Beads of sweat seem to decorate my forehead and I can feel my rapid breathing. After so long, had I dreamt about the past in such vivid pictures that always seemed to haunt me. I was taken aback which made me momentarily forget about my pounding headache.

Shoot! My head hurts so badly. How drunk was I last night?

I push away my suffocating covers and for a second thank the chilling breeze that rips me from the past. I gaze around the unfamiliar room and smile at the reminder of the camping trip. As I look down, I still find myself in yesterday's red dress and concentrate hard to remember the details. My head ache doesn't help either.

I look around to find two Advils and a glass of water on my bedside table along with a note. I quickly gulp the tablets and read the note to myself,

'Gone to breakfast downstairs.

P.S. have a bath, you reek alcohol

                                               -Adeline'

I quickly grab my clothes and decide to take a hot shower in hopes of clearing my hazy thoughts about last night.

I do remember being involved in a game of shots with Daniel, some dancing. Oh crap! I remember standing on a table surrounded by a bunch of hormonal boys. How embarrassing!

I remember bathing in the amazing pool upstairs, but the last thing I remember is... Alec

Oh shoot! I think he carried me all the way from the party to the room. Ugh! God only knows what I must've told him. I also think he tucked me in bed and kissed me on the forehead before leaving, but I am not sure. I can feel my cheeks heat up in embarrassment at the mere thought of it.

Maybe I should start digging my own grave!

I hear knocks on the bathroom door and jump in surprise.