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Pistol Whipped

Chapter 3 – Pistol Whipped

Winter looked back at the house with a sombre expression. She’d lived there all her life. She sighed, one part relief and one part fear. This was all she knew. That house…the abuse… but no more.

“The part of him that loved you wouldn’t want you to mope around here all day when you finally moved out…” Winter laid her head on her best friend’s shoulder. “He’d be proud of you, you know.”

“He never took the time to know if he could be proud of me.” Winter sighed and wiped away the tear that slid down her cheek.

“Well, that’s all behind you now. We’re gonna be fantastic!” Lacey hugged Winter tightly. “C’mon, let’s go home.”

Winter smiled a little, sighing as she watched the new owners of her old house moving in. ‘At least someone can make happy memories here.’ She thought to herself as she walked towards Lacey’s car, now filled with all her worldly possessions…which didn’t really amount to much, but it was all she needed.

As she clicked her seatbelt and Lacey drove off, Winter thought back over the past few weeks as the town drifted by outside the car window.

~Flashback~

Winter groaned as the phone’s high-pitched ringing brought her back to the realm of consciousness…her dad had actually knocked her out this time it seemed. Picking herself up off the cold tiles, Winter reached for the phone with a shaking hand.

“H-hello?” she asked hesitantly, half expecting her dad to yell at her down the phone.

“Ah, hello, is this Winter Meadows?” an unfamiliar voice asked.

“Yes, why?” Winter asked as she held her free hand to her head.

“I’m doctor Avery, from the Saint George Private Hospital…” he paused. “I’m so sorry to have to tell you this, but we believe your father had a car crash this evening. He’d been driving under the influence, I’m afraid… he was announced dead on arrival…I’m so sorry…but we need you to come in and identify him for us…”

Winter couldn’t move. “O-okay…when should I come in?”

“Now would be good…” Doctor Avery replied sadly.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Winter hung up and dialled her friend Lacey’s number.

She picked up on the third ring. “I’ve been calling you all night! Are you okay? Did he hurt you again?! I’ll kill him!” she shouted down the phone.

“Lacey…can… can you come round please?” Winter asked, her breathing becoming uneven. “I need to go to the hospital…”

There was silence and then the sound of her front door slamming shut. “I’m on my way…”

***

Winter felt a very small part of her die as Doctor Avery pulled back the sheet covering the body…it really was her father.

Winter nodded solemnly. “Yes, that’s my father… Hank Avery Meadows.”

The doctor nodded and covered her father’s body again. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“You wouldn’t be if you knew what he did to her.” Winter glared at her friend Lacey. It was true though…

Doctor Avery blanched slightly. “I’ll…” he composed himself. “I’ll leave you two alone for a moment then…”