Ten Days >> Douwe Bob | Wattys2016

Day 3

I left through the front door for the first time that morning, catching Douwe before he had even began to collect stones.

I had managed to convince her that I was headed to the library and since that seemed torturing enough for her, she let me go.

So when I spotted Douwe observing the floor for any sign of stones, I ran up to him from behind and jumped onto his back.

"Guess who?" I laughed, covering his eyes with my hands.

"If it's not Rosie I'm going to be very disappointed."

I rolled my eyes. What a dork. 

"It's Rosie." I told him, as if there was any need for me to do so.

"How did you get out?" He asked, letting me down and staring at me in confusion.

"She thinks I'm going to the library." I shrugged, walking over to the black car.

"Ooh." He answered, once again opening my door for me and then going round to come and join me inside.

"Your mother's pretty mean." He commented, not bothering to buckle his seatbelt just yet.

He wanted to talk.

"Yeah she is." I nodded, biting the side of my cheek.

"Is that why you want to uh."

"Die?"

"Yeah." He answered softly, barely daring to look into my eyes.

"Part of it." I said shortly.

"And you dad is-?"

"Gone." I cut him off, still biting my cheek.

"Oh. And is this the other part of the reason?" He asked, taking my arm and pulling up my sleeve.

We both stared at the purple bruises lining my arms.

I swallowed hard.

"Who did this to you?" He asked, daring to push this as far as he could.

"How did you even know they were there?" I asked. And I wasn't going to take any of that ten days no questions bullshit this time.

And he knew that.

"That day by the water. You uh. You pulled your sleeve up a bit too much." He told me.

"Oh." I said.

I looked out of my window, taken aback at Douwe's demanding tone. He was trying to save my life though. Didn't he deserve answers?

"People at school." I answered, pulling the sleeve back down.

"Huh?" He asked, forgetting that he had asked me the question already.

"They did this to me. People at school."

"No fucking way." He whispered, wiping his thumb across my am sleeve. "Does this hurt?" He asked.

"No." I lied.

"Any of uh. Any of my friends?" He stammered, eyes locked on his fingers.

I nodded softly.

"Goddamit." He muttered, starting the car.

"Where are we going?" I asked, looking up at him face.

He studied my eyes for a few seconds before lowing his gaze.

"Somewhere to calm down."

-

"Are you sure they're closed?" He asked me, referring to my eyes. His hand was at the small of my back, pushing me forwards.