Strike Me Down

chapter 3: secrets

after me and Jackson finished our study session as he calls it I was heading out the door. I had stayed later and had dinner and met his brother and now was going home. my house was a short walk away from his so I got there in about ten minutes, I approached my small house and cringed to see the lights still on. I silently opened the back door and saw my dad sitting at the dining room table with a glass and bottle of jack. "where the hell have you been? where have you been? huh?" I could taste the alcohol in the air and heard his voice slur and cut short with anger. "I was studying with my friend," I answered quietly. "Friend? who in the hell would be your friend you crazy bitch? now tell me where you were, I know you're lying." he stood up and slammed his glass on the table. "I'm not lying." I said, trying to hide my shaking voice. "you giving me lip? show some respect." he chucked his class at my head and I ducked down and covered mt face, the glass shattered like nothing on the door and shards of glass were shot outwards hitting me and falling to the floor. I tried to walk away and my father grabbed my wrist to stop me, "you ain't going anywhere until you tell me where the fuck you were." I looked away, "I told you already." he shoved me to the ground and kicked me in the ribs. I felt the blood come up my throat and coughed it onto the floor. "stupid girl making the carpet dirty-you'll clean that up tomorrow. and ill teach you not to lie to me." he kicked me again and again,hitting my face and arm and stomach until I was shaking and was sure I was going to die. but then he walked off, leaving me on the floor.

I limped upstairs and into the bathroom, just in time to spit up blood into the sink. I looked into the mirror to see my eyeliner and mascara streaming down mt cheeks. I wiped my face and it was smeared all over my cheeks. my hands shook as I looked down at them and inhaled heavily, I walked to my room and looked out the window. I opened the window and lit a cigarette. I was looking at the stars and smiled, mom... I miss you so much... my thoughts were interrupted by a whisper of my name. I looked down and there stood Jackson, a story below. "you forgot your glasses..." he said hesitantly. I climbed down the side of my house on the window sills and old garden walls that were now overgrown with vines. "thanks." I said. "is..is that blood?" he touched lip and forehead, "no I was painting." I laughed, he looked alarmed and I turned away from him. "I fell on the way home, I have to go clean up so.." I started to climb up my house and he grabbed my wrist, I jerked away from him as all I could think was the same grip my father had had several times before. he had a hurt and surprised look on his face and I climbed away from him and stumbled into my room. my dad barged into my room and started yelling at me, why's your window open. whats that smell, clean up your mess, you're grounded, all of his words morphed into one as my vision became blurry and the last thing I saw was my dad's fist coming for my face and Jackson coming into my room.