The Mindless Man's Paradise

Chapter eleven

I was surprised to see the door open almost immediately after I had fallen. The lights clicked on, and I was almost scared that I would see Jensen stomping down the stairs.

 When I looked up from my fetal-like position, I saw that it was Cyrus.

 He thundered down the stairs. When he got close enough, he took one look at my leg and said, “Oh my god.”

 I refused to look at it, and instead looked at Cyrus, not even attempting to hide my pain.

 “I’ll get my mom.” was all he said before he rushed back up the stairs.

 I waited, my eyes squeezed tightly closed, and my jaw clenched. I couldn’t cry. I just couldn’t.

 I had cried too much in the past few days.

 I had hated that feeling of weakness. The utter uselessness and the sensation of nothing ever going my way. That was the moment I vowed I would stay strong.

 There was always a way. You can always find your way; nothing can decide your fate if you can help it.

 Finally, I had the courage to look at my leg. It wasn’t broken at a joint, but near my shin area, where I could see white bone sticking out, and blood everywhere. It was already swelling up, and I was surprised it didn’t hurt as badly as it looked. Although just looking at it made me want to hurl, I sat up and examined it properly.

 After much internal debate, I realized it would be a long time before I would be walking again. Especially in the conditions I was in, there wouldn’t be anything close to the medical care I would need for such a wound.

 When Cyrus and Aurora entered, I was probing at it.

 “Holy crap! Don’t touch that, dear.” Aurora screeched upon arrival.

 Kneeling down, she examined the wound. “The bone is fractured and it’s poking out of her flesh. This will be difficult to heal… perhaps painful as well.”

 She sighed heavily, almost as if she was irritated. She directed her lightly lined eyes at Cyrus whose face was in his hands.

 “Your father did this?” Aurora squeaked out.

 Not looking up from his hands, he nodded. “I can’t believe him…” Cyrus’s voice was muffled through his palms.

 Aurora shook her head and redirected her attention to me. “Sweetie, can you tell me exactly what happened?”

 Before answering, I looked to Cyrus for back up, but he had sat down and now had his head rested between his knees with his arms wrapped around him.

 “Well Cyrus and I went upstairs to get me a pillow, some blankets, and some hygienic things.” I began.

 I didn’t want to make Jensen sound bad. As much as I desired not to be there, and as much as I despised Jensen, I didn’t want my presence to be a burden on this family.

 As much as I hated to admit it, Cyrus had grown on me, as well as Aurora.

 “When we were ready to head back downstairs, we passed through the living space and Jensen- er- Cyrus’s Father, was there, and he got angry at Cyrus…” I paused. “It was my fault, though. I shouldn’t have attacked Cyrus… I shouldn’t have threatened him. I got what I deserved. He slapped me a couple times, and then took me by the hair and threw be down the stairs.”

 Aurora’s eyebrows rose and her brown eyes looked shocked. She turned to Cyrus who was now paying full attention, glaring at me.

 “She attacked you?” Aurora asked him.