SUNGLASSES

Chapter One

"No. STOP!" I cowered against the wall as yet another bottle smashed into my side.

"Shut up!" The man drowsily yelled, swigging another gulp of beer into his unshaven mouth, "I'll do what I want!"

I pushed even harder against the wall, hoping I could absorb through it.

I couldn't.

Two punches to my stomach, one punch to my head, and a kick to my side. You can't cry, Don't cry...

After a few moments of silence, I looked up slowly.

He had walked away.

I let out a deep breath, and carefully stood.
"That was fun," I sighed, shaking off the glass from my sweater. I stretched and recoiled almost instantly--a shard of glass was in my side. I slowly pulled it out, watching as blood spread through my shirt like an old piece of film burning. I quickly ran up the steps and into the bathroom, taking off my shirt. A huge gash was across my side, and I slowly bandaged it up--I can't keep it open for too long.

I fell into bed and fell asleep almost instantly.

"Where's my mommy and daddy?" I reached up and yanked on the nurse's smock. She looked down with water in her eyes.

"They're not here, sweetie," she strained, "they're with the Lord now."

I furrowed my brow. "When will they be back?"
She shook her head. "They won't."

My eyes widened. "They're...dead?"
She nodded and gave me a hug, although I couldn't feel it. My whole body was numb.

"You'll be living with your uncle from now on." She pulled me over to a tall man wearing a worn white tank top.

"Let's go, kid," he said, walking down the hall. I followed, and he took me to a house foreign to my knowledge.

Next thing I knew, he was gulping down a brown liquid in a bottle, and looked to be loopier by the second. He glanced over at me and smirked.

"This'll be fun," he breathed.

I woke up with a huge intake of breath, breathing heavily. I always had that flashback as a dream; it was like the universe forced it upon me. I looked over at my alarm clock: 6:15. Fifteen minutes before I had to wake up for school. I sighed and got up to get a shower. Luckily, Joe wasn't home--he was most likely out getting more STDs. I let out a silent scream as the hot water ran over my cuts and bruises from the last week. For some reason, beatings this week have been worse and worse. I tried to understand why, but I had no clue.

I got out of the shower and re-bandaged my gash, then threw on an oversized black and red sweater, black leggings, black booties, and round black sunglasses. I loved wearing those sunglasses--they helped me block out everyone at the school.

I threw my bag over my shoulder and started my walk to school. I lived about three blocks from it, so I didn't walk too far, which would be my excuse if someone asked why I walked every day.

I got to the building right when the bell rang, and I jogged to my first class.

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