The Price Of Freedom

Chapter 1: The Day Everything Changed

I walk along the old, cracked sidewalk dreadng the second I step foot in the hell I call home.

I just got off work and I wish I hadn't agreed to stay and clean up but I knew I might get fired if I didnt. I know he'll be mad when I walk through the door late. He seems to always find a reason to be mad at me whether I did something wrong or he just needs to release his rage from work.

What a lovely father i have, dont you think? Nothe the sarcasm.

He's been abusing me ever since my mom died 10 years ago in a robbery gone wrong.

The only reason my father blames me is because it was my fault mom was home that day.

It was my 7th brithday and my mom and I were playing a game to celebrate when we heard the front door slam open and unfamiliar voices. My mom told me to hide behind the couch while she went to see what was wrong.

The next thing I know I heard gun shots and someone yelling 'let's get out of here.' I waited a few minutes before leaving the saftey of my hiding spot to go look for my mom.

I didn't have to go very far because she was right outside the living room with blood coming out of the multiple holes in her chest.

I ran to her and screamed for her to get up. All she did was move her head side to side slowly, like she was falling asleep. Her last words were "I love you Chloe, don't ever forget." Then she closed her eyes and fell into the eternal arms of death.

I screamed for her to wake up but it was no use, she was already gone.

And little did i know that, that would be the day everything changed. My father started drinking to cope with her death and now he cant go more than 10 minutes with out downing a can of booz.

He then started abusing me when hed come home drunk, not even remembering his name, and now it seems like he just does it for fun. He must of finally realized that it was all my fault because he never missed a chance to blame me for it .

But it's okay I geuss. I balme myself to. If I just told her to hide with me or told her she didnt have to stay home that day or something. Anything. She might still be alive.

After that i fell into a state of deep deppresion and lost all my friends because they didnt want to be friends with the freak who naver hanged out with them anymore.

I was broken out of my thoughts when I walked up the steps to my house and took out my keys, opening the door. My house isn't anything special. It's just a run down 1 story house with 2 small bedrooms.

When I walk in I'm overwhelmed by the stench of beer and cigarettes. I walk farther down the hallway and notice the TV is on and curse myself for staying late.

I try to go to my room quietly without being noticed but it seems like luck isn't on my side, as always.

I cringe when I hear my father voice boom from the living room.

"CHLOE! GET YOUR ASS IN HERE NOW!"I put my head down and walked slowly into the living room. When I got there he looks away from the TV and glares at me. "Where we're you!" He shouts.

I cower away and speak quietly. "I was at work." He just glares even harder, if thats even possible, and gets,walking slowly towards me. I don't try to run away because I know it'll only be worse for me if i make him angrier.

"That's no excuse. Your home before I get home to cook me dinner from now on, got it!" He booms. I nod quickly hoping he'll let me go. Apparently the guy up stares ignores me because my father raises his fist and punches me in the stomach.

He punches and kicks me for another 10 minutes before he picks me up by my collar and throw me on the ground outside the kitchen making be hit my head painfully hard on the tiled floor, no doibt giving me a concussion.

"Go make me dinner." he spits before kicking me one last time.

I slowly get up after he leaves to go back to the living room and head into the kitchen ignoring the aching pain throughout my body. I quickly cook him a steak and put it in front of him with a bottle of Heineken beer before I rush down the hall to my 'room', if you can even call it that.

All my 'room' consists of is old, scratched up, wood flooring, off white walls caused by neglect, and a beat up mattress on the floor. I don't even have a dresser or a closet. I have to keep my few articles of clothing in the corner.

I walk over to my mattress and lie down just thinking about what my life would be like if i was normal.

Normal where I have both of my parents and they both love.

Normal where I have friends.

Normal where I'd just fit in.

I wish it was me instead of my mom that day. Maybe then everyone would be happy and wouldn't have to deal with a disappointment like me.

Those were my last thoughts as Iet the darkness consume me, like so many times before, and drifted into a restless sleep.