Gods, Love, Abuse and Her

Chap. 1: Eric

Brooklyn, New York City. I just got home after a boring day at Cedarwood High. No one gives a damn to the fact that I'm there, patiently listening every pointless conversations about their personal lives. I just stay still, like a statue, without moving a muscle and trying to ignore the frowning brows staring at me. I get the keys and enter my home prepared for my mother's screaming, but no one's home. Maybe she is spending all my step-father's money on dresses and purses again. I'm not hungry, so I go upstairs leaving my shoes next to the stairs. I throw my bag on the wooden floor and lie down on my bed, making a loud bang that would cause my mother to spit bees and quickly falling asleep.

"Eric... Eric!" My mother screams in my face, her long catlike nails digging into my side. I didn't have to open my eyes to see who it was, her sharp nails were enough. 

"What?" I ask a little too harshly. "Shit..." I think to myself. I was sure going to get a beating for that. She narrows her eyes and grabs a handful of my shirt, her warm breath making the hairs on my neck rise "Listen here, Eric." She hisses in my face, her nails digging into my chest. I try not to wince in pain, not wanting to show weakness. "You will listen to every damn word I say and you will like it. No attitude or anything boy. Got it?" She tightens her grip on my chest. I nod and try not to roll my blue eyes. "Yes ma'am." I say politely. 

"Thanks honey!" She smiles as if she was a sweet mother of all boys. "Now come downstairs and help me with the laundry." My eyes graze over to the door and see my step-dad, leaning on the door. She always acted like a sweetheart in front of him, knowing he wouldn't put up with the abuse. 

"How's it going, kid?" He asks, looking away. I keep on walking towards the laundry room without saying a word. It's like one of my nightmares: stained clothes, pants and underwear lying on the white floor, begging to be cleaned and not be used by my parents again. I stare at the pile of jeans, wondering if life will go on like this, being treated as a slave, everyone hating me, especially in the school. 

"Stop drooling and get going!" My mother knocks on the glass door, making an annoying noise. My step-dad walks away and I grab the brush and the nearest piece of clothing, shove everything in the washer and turn it on. I sigh and shake my head, starting to fold the laundry in the dryer. 

"Yes mom." I say, biting my tongue in order to stop a harsh word to escape my mouth. If only I was allowed to call her so many names...

"Eric! Are you done?" after five minutes, she calls through the door, knocking rapidly. I finish the last purple towel, sloppily throwing it in a pile. 

"Yes!" I yell, shoving my way out, ignoring the glares from my father and walking out, my navy blue backpack slung over my back.

"Where are you going?!" She plays innocent, while I cross the front door, stomping on the floor. I'm sick of this. I did nothing bad to them, but looks like my very birth gave them motive to hate me. I'm tired of this. I'm tired of classmates frowning at me, tired of the useless psychologist I visit every Monday, tired of the abusive teachers calling me blind because when I try to read something, I scramble the letters. I'm tired of this life. I'm a freak with ADHD. I cross the street avoiding the looks of the other people while my mother clucks on the doorstep, thinking about heading to Manhattan or maybe somewhere out of this city. I can't think exactly. Everything is colored, I am the only black and white in this scenario. I think about jump in front of a car, no one will miss me anyway. But this would bring problems to the driver, and the last thing I want right now is to cause more problems. 

 I change my mind and take a taxi to Long Island, stopping at a strange place. I storm off towards the only place I know my mother isn't going to find me: the woods. I cautiously walk in, my backpack feeling heavy against my back. I look around, only to see a small light, up ahead. Before I even think, I feel my body being drawn towards it. After about an hour of walking, I stop in my tracks, my body covered in mud, to see a golden blonde haired girl by a campfire.