Back To December

{ Chapter 2 }

The dimmed light up sign catches my immediate attention but makes me second guess myself when the flashing stops. Very faint noises echo around me. I'm practically alone. The other street walkers must have left when I wasn't looking. A nearby diner and some small houses with their lights on signal that I'm truly not alone, but no one would even think twice about helping me. They'd just turn the other cheek and pretend like nothing's happening, the treatment I've always gotten and always will get.

I approach the entrance with quiet strides. Second thoughts come to mind when I open the door and peer inside. The center is much bigger than the outside looks, high vaulted ceilings with luxurious furniture against the walls. A front desk sits directly in front of me, about one hundred feet away, but no one behind it.

"Hello?" I call out. My voice returns with a bounce off the walls. Again with quiet strides, I seek out the other rooms in the facility. The cafeteria, bathrooms and a small gym. Even smaller sectioned off areas show signs of what seems to be a hospital, private rooms with reclining beds, medical equipment and stashes of food.

My instincts tell me to leave but I can't bare to step foot back out on the streets in this weather. Faint footsteps grow closer to my position but I am not quite sure what or who they are coming from.

"Hello? Who's there?" A voice yells from an unknown area of the facility.

I try to respond but a tickle in the back of my throat triggers me to start coughing like crazy. Fighting through the pain to release words for attention is impossible at this point. I fall to my knees, coughing profusely. When I stand, cold shivers run up and down my spine, goosebumps pop up all over my body and I sway on my feet.

"Help," I choke out.

"Nurse! I think there's someone here!" The footsteps rush in my direction.

Still fighting the urge to give up, my vision blurs along with a violent growl of my stomach. The lights become brighter by the second. Hanging onto my consciousness reminds me of the abuse from my parents. I held on for the longest time before I just felt like giving it all away for good.

"Nurse! She's in the south hallway!" A figure spots me and dashes to my aid.

With slowed breathing, I collapse to the tile. My brain powers down and I'm sent into a sea of black.

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When I open my eyes, I'm blinded by the bright lights shining down on me. A warm hand touches over mine, and I'm immediately set off guard.

My jaw drops. "Dad?"

"H-Hi sweetie. How you feeling?" he asks, stuttering.

"Why are you here? Get away from me!" I throw the covers off my bed and shuffle to the opposite side of the room. My hands latch onto the chair handles.

"Daria, it's okay. I'm not here to hurt you. I just want to make sure you're okay."

He steps towards me, his face showing a threatening look other than what he sounds like.

"Dad.... DAD STOP!" I yell at the top of my lungs. "NURSE HELP!!!"

My father abruptly grabs my wrist with a tight grip, digging his nails into my flesh, tugging me off the chair to the middle of the room. He refuses to let go, no matter how many times I beg him.

"AH! Dad please stop!" I continue hollering. A nurse runs in just in time to shove him away from me, followed by three armed police officers. My dad stumbles backwards and collides into the corner of the wall. This time, his face beams red with fury like he's ready to go on a killing spree.

"Hey back off Marcus, leave the girl alone!" the nurse persists sharply.

The cops swiftly swoop past us and throw my dad to his feet, locking both hands behind his back in tazer cuffs. He jerks his body to break the hold but a bolt of electricity stuns him.

My hand flies to cover my mouth in shock. Seeing him struggle is painful, but he deserves it more than anything in the world.

"We'll take it from here," one of the cops blurts out.

"You can't take me away!! She's my daughter, you son of a bitch!" My dad cries. "You can't do this to me!"

"Are you okay sweetie? Did he hurt you?" the nurse worries.

Tears flow down my cheeks as I glance down at my wrist.

She gently examines my entire lower arm where he grabbed onto me. Bright red scratches from his fingernails dug deep into my skin, leaving peeling and a scar, another to add to the collection.

"Yeah it's okay. I'm just glad he's gone. Do you know where the cops are taking him?" I question.

"Back to the station. The judge put him on parole to come see you but I'm sue you won't be seeing him for a while...."

A feeling of relief overcomes me. I missed the chance to say something to him about the suffering he caused, not that it would do either of us any justice.

"Come on baby, let's get you back in bed," she forces an unconcerned smile.

I couldn't disagree with her knowing the risk of my own health. The fuzziness in my vision still leaves me unable to stand properly without falling over and a pounding in my head causes strange visions of things that aren't there and nightmares about my past. All of the hurting I used to live through, has come back to haunt me.