Broken

01.Perfect Family

Chapter 1: Perfect Family
Song: "Dollhouse" by Melanie Martinez
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Tears had already filled my dark brown eyes, now they were pouring onto the wood floor. My mom's screams made me cry even harder. I couldn't bare to see her in pain, even if she was drunk. The screams angered my dad, making him throw a punch at my mom.

Although he missed her because he, too, was drunk, it was still an awful thing to witness. My mom collapsed, realizing that she had no chance in fighting back. Her surrender pleased my dad, so he began to walk away.

To my horror, he turned around and stumbled back over to me. I stepped backward as he continued walking toward me. I reached the wall and couldn't back up any further; this was my dad's chance.

He raised his fist and punched me right below by left eye, leaving a burning pain in the left side of my face. The impact of his fist to my eye made me fall to the ground, making me even more vulnerable.

My dad slurred a few curse words before kicking me in my side and fumbling away. On his way to the backyard, he grabbed another bottle of beer from the fridge.

I sat in a puddle of my own tears and whispered repeatedly,

"Kill me. Please, let me die. Just take me away. Let me escape."

I looked over at my mom who was sprawled out on the floor with a bloody lip and tear filled eyes. It was in that moment that I decided I wouldn't take this anymore. It was also in that moment that I realized I could never stop what was going on; I was powerless.

I forced my body to stand up and go get some tissue for my mom's bleeding lip. Along with tissue, I got water for the both of us.

"Mom?" The drunk woman who I called my mother stared at me with sympathy. As I gently patted her lip with tissue, she said softly,

"Thank you." I nodded as I helped her sit up and gave her the bottle of water. She opened it and took a large sip before telling me,

"I'm sorry." I hugged her and held my breath, not wanting to smell the strong scent of vodka on her.

I helped her get up and assisted her to her bed, then slowly made my way to my own bed. I set my water on my bedside table then got in bed, almost immediately falling asleep. As usual, I dreamt of the perfect family I desired.

* * * * *

My phone beeped obnoxiously in my ear, telling me to wake up. I turned off my alarm then sat up in my bed, thinking. My thoughts instantly went to the night before.

I went into the washroom and splashed my face with cold water as an attempt to clear my mind. When my eyes wandered up to the mirror, I wasn't surprised to see a black eye. A tear slid down my face, but I wiped it away.

I splashed more water on my face and brushed my teeth before I left the washroom. I got undressed and got my school clothes out. After getting dressed, I got my makeup bag out and sat down.

I covered up the blackness around my eye before grabbing a pair of socks and my boots. Once I got my boots on, I went to the kitchen and grabbed an apple.

Cautiously, I walked down the hall to my parents' room where I had helped my mom to the night before. I opened the door slightly and checked to see if my dad was in there or not. I didn't see him, so I walked over to my mom and whispered,

"Mom. Mom." Her eyes fluttered open and she sat up.

"Yea-ah?" My mom hiccuped. She rubbed on her pounding head as I replied softly,

"I just wanted to tell you that I'm leaving for school now."

"Did, uh, did you get breakfast?" I waved the apple around in the air as a response. She then said,

"Okay." She let her head violently drop back onto her pillow. I put my backpack on then made my way to the front door. My head throbbed and my stomach was sore from last night. I ignored the pain and walked out the door because I desperately wanted to escape the hellhole I called home.

Once I shut the front door behind me and took in the fresh morning air, I felt some relief. Still, nothing could ever make me feel good.

I dreaded the walk to school, which ruined the feeling of relief that I got when I stepped outside. As I was walking, I felt a raindrop tap the tip of my nose. Another dropped onto the top of my head.

"Great." I said before pulling the hood of my sweatshirt over my head. I picked up my pace, but only so I could get out of the rain faster. I honestly didn't care if I made it to school that day.

As I was walking I felt something powdery dripping down my face. I reached my hand up to where I thought the powder started—my left eye. When I took my hand away and saw makeup on my fingertips, I realized my makeup was coming off.

If I didn't get out of the rain, everyone would see my black eye when I got to school. I got off the sidewalk and ran into the alleyway where the rain couldn't fall on me.

I stopped waking and pulled my makeup bag out of my backpack. I took my hood off and dried my face before putting concealer and powder under my eye.

I hope this doesn't look weird, I thought as I put my makeup bag away and started walking again. Luckily, the alleyway led to the street on the side of my school.

I dashed across the street to the side gate with my hood on and my hand over my left eye.

School was just as bad as being in that torture chamber of a house.

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A/N So..first chapter..yyaayy. Okay...so...I guess you can comment if you like the story so far—even though I doubt anybody will read this. Yeah...

If you're one of the very few people reading this story, then thank you so much!! Voting and commenting will give me motivation, so do that if you want to read more. Is that how this works..? I think so.

🐼Bye loves!🐼