Hidden From The World

pushing you away

RAFE P.O.V

My shoulders relaxed a little when I was out of the house but something didn’t feel right. The way Lexi’s dad looked around and his eyes eventually wandered where Lexi’s room was. Realisation dawned on me. The times she wears hoodies and when I touch her, she winces as if in great pain and then the strong painkillers she carries. Shit. I should’ve realized sooner.

As quickly as I could, I shifted the gear into reverse and drove into a driveway, knocking down trashcans and scaring hell out of the alley cats or the garbage cats. Man how could I leave her alone with him. I am such an idiot.

I didn’t even turn off the ignition on the car or close the door. I just kicked the front door open and what I saw, made my stomach twist and my chest ache like no other time. Blood dripped down from Lexi’s nose, mouth and lips. Her tear stained cheeks, red as she let out another ear piercing scream as her father ripped her shirt in half. I didn’t think. How could I think? I charged towards him and my fist flew into his nose, making a sickening crunch as it hit bone.

Norman stepped back, clutching his now bloody broken and crooked nose. Next, my fist plunged into his gut and he doubled over. Rage blinded me, mixed with a feeling of dread and guilt. Norman was still bent over and that’s how my knee met his nose and another crunch. I wanted to keep kicking the shit out of him but right now, I have to stop and help her. She drew her knees and tucked it into her chest, bundling and shrinking closer as I f she wanted to disappear. Rage took hold of me again. So this was what she was hiding or is there more?

I stepped closer to her. Her face wasn’t bruised except the fingerprints of her father’s hand and her busted lip and brow. Tears streamed down her cheek and disappeared under her ripped torn shirt which was now shredded into ribbons. Thankfully she was still wearing a vest underneath her shirt but it almost was see through. The white material didn’t help either.

My blood boiled anew. I couldn’t help but punch the wall. Norman lay there clutching everything that hurt. I let out a frustrated breath before rushing over to Lex. She tried to scuttle away from me but the bruises on her body didn’t let her do so. I backed away. I didn’t want to scare her she needed help...badly. So as quickly as I could, I scooped her up in my arms. She whimpered at the sudden movement but reluctantly put her arms around my neck and clutched it tight. I looked back over my shoulder to see the pathetic excuse of a father coughing out blood. Serves him right. I proceeded upsatirs to her room and laid her under the black cotton sheets.

I couldnt think so I couldn’t act. So I did the next thing I could. I called my sister. Lex needed to get changed and bandaged up but I couldn’t do that. She might me angry and then I would be pushed away from her again. God so many thougths ran through my mind. Allie picked up in the second ring.

“Hey bro. Whats up?”  Her voice rung through the small device. “I need you here now” I seemed to have raised my voice alittle, ok fine, alot. “Here? Where?” she sounded confused and I wouldn’t blame her. “Lexi’s house” was all I said before I hung up.

I glanced back at her sleeping figure. Her breathing was even and deep. I ran a hand through my messy hair. God, I should have known. All those times. She was a beautiful girl. It didn’t occur to me that she might be wearing a hoodie for a reason.

I sat down at the edge of her bed. Looking at her, hoping that she would somehow open her beautiful eyes. I sound like a hopeless romantic.  My lips tilted into a smile. I reached out and stroked her hair out of her face. She stirred under my touch and grunted I n pain. I heard a car pull up I n the drive way.

Footsteps sounded up the stairs. Good, Allie is here. The footsteps quickened by the second. I guess she saw the unconscious man at the bottom of the stairs. The door flew open of Lexi’s bedroom. I was expecting a girl with red hair but I saw a guy with brown hair and green eyes. Will.