Never Enough

The beging of the End

Gracie's p.o.v

The morning light broke through Gracie's bedroom window dancing across her face as a reminder it was time to start the day. She sighed and rolled over in bed, she cringed when a sharp pain shot through her side. She had almost forgotten about last night. The beautiful dream about happily ever after was almost enough to make her forget the events of the night before. But as the pain set in and reality came back, it wasn't enough ... It was never enough.

She looked at the long burn on her arm. Tears welled up in her eyes. I'm so stupid she though, I should have kept my mouth shut. The last 5 years of beating should have been enough to learn her lesson but it wasn't, she always said too much and ended up like this. She laid there a few minutes longer, but glancing at the time 10:20 she decided she better get moving. Before Her brother came and made her get moving Slowly she climbed out of bed, her body aching from head to toe. She grabbed hold of her dresser to keep from falling as the room began to spin.

Finally regaining balance the lifted her eyes to the mirror in front of her. She nearly screamed when she saw the image in front of her. She touched the mirror just to be sure and then slowly brought her hand to her face. The whole side of her face was one big bruse. Her lip was busted. Dried blood stained the whole front of her dress she was still wearing from the night before. She didn't even look like herself, the strong willed girl who smiled and laughed was gone. Replaced by the broken beat down one she was today.

She sunk to her knees the tears finally escaping. This was the worst time yet. The pain in her ribs was intense but still she cryed.The tears streaming down her face falling to the woden floor beneath her. Would this ever end? What was she supposed to do? Get up and clean up the mess Ryan had made beating her and make his sorry ass breakfast? She could hardly stand let alone cook or clean. But if she didn't the beating would only be worse... This time it might just kill her.

The thought lingered on her mind. The thought of death appealed to her. She could be with her mother, and escape her drunken brother forever. But should wouldn't give him the satisfaction of doing it. If she died it would be at her own hands. Her revenge would be leaving him to cook his own food and and wash his own clothes. He would be with out anyone to abuse like he had her for so long.

It now seemed like the perfect solution, but how? She looked up at the window. The sunshine pooring across the room created a rainbow on the glass of her mother's picture on the bed side table. She carefully stood up wincing in pain as she paded over to the bed side table picking up her mother's picture. She placed a kiss on the small frame and turned to face the window.

She held the frame agaist her chest. Stepping close to the window she looked at all the cars and people 6 stories down. She tried to open the window but it wouldn't budge. It been years since it had been opened, it was against Ryan's rules to open windows because he said the noise bothered him. She pryed at the window but still it wouldnt budge. She leaned her head against the glass in defeat. There had to be away out of this misserable exsiatence.Then suddenly it came to her. "The roof" she whispered

She set her mothers picture back down and crossed the room quietly opening her door and peaking around. Ryan was no where to be seen. She quietly Made her way down the hall. Every step made her wince, Evey breath felt like a kick in the ribbs. The tears Silently began to fall down her face again. She looked around the apartment. She wouldn't miss this palace, empty beer bottles from the night before were thrown across the floor waiting for her to clean them. Cigarettes littered the floor where Ryan had knocked the ash tray over. Furniture was flipped and there were spots of blood on the carpet... Her blood.

She shivered as the Scenes from the night before re played in her head. "Never again" she thought to herself. Her bare feet quietly walked across the wooden floor. One step in front of the other now unable to stop. She had to get out of this. The tears were staining her cheeks again as she reached the door. Carefully she turned the squeeky lock, ever click seemed louder amd She silently prayed the noise wouldn't wake Ryan. Finally the door quietly opened.

She peared out the door looking both ways before stepping out and slowly pulling the door close behind her. The hall was empty this quiet Saturday morning. Gracie thought of her life before. Saturday mornings spent. cuddled up on the couch watching cartoons while her mother made breakfast. The memories came back like a flood. Drowning Gracie in the sorrow for what once was, and would now never be again.slowly Gracie was able to make her way to the stair well with out being seen.

She struggled to open the heavy metal door. Finally opening it enough to just slip through. She slowly made her way up the stairs. Looking at her feet with each step. With in less than. 20 steps she was to the top. She lifted the latch and the door to the roof opened quite easily. She walked slowly and carefully to the edge of the roof. She had always had a terrible fear if heights. But what she had always feared was the objective now.

Finally she looked over the edge. Fear shot through her body as she looked at the pavement so far down. "I'm sorry mom" she said softly through the tears. " but I can't live like this anymore, I'm coming to be with you." A small smile graced her lips as she thought about her mom. Her mother was so beautiful and happy all the time. How had Ryan ended up so rotten? Even if he had been raised by his fathers parents, surely he carried that same love in him his mother had.

She thought about the first day she came to stay with Ryan. She was so excited to meet her brother. She had grown up a only child. At 12 years old thoughts of fun days with her big brother danced through her head, till she arrived. The cigarette smoke was so thick she could barely breath and His nasty disposition was hard to miss. Yet the social worker had dropped her bags off and huried away. Leaving her to the miserable life she now lived.

The memories of her mother came back clearer and clearer. Her smile, her eyes, the way she called Gracies name. She was now crying and shaking in pain and fear. Something inside of her truly wanted to live, and believe this would get better. But her heart was breaking by the second and she felt the pain would never truly end. " it's the only way" she said aloud.

"Wait, No its not" a voice answered her. Grace gasped in shock stumbling forward. She screamed trying to regain her balance. Finally steddying her self she turned to look at the source of the voice. A tall muscular man in a suit standing just feet from her. "What to you want"she yelled at him tears streaking down her face.
"I only want for you to be okay." He answered softly.

She stood quietly studying him. He seemed to be in his late 40's. He was rather nice looking for a man of his age, muscular with a chiseled jaw. She had certainly never seen him before, yet he seemed so familiar. But why was he here ? How was he here! No one had seen her. She hadn't heard the roof door open again. Yet there he was looking at her so kindly. Worry creased his brow and his eyes showed genuine concern. But why?her life was so pointless ,she was so broken. The questions swirled in her head making her feel dizzy. Yet she couldn't speak, only sob.

Finally he broke the silence " what ever it is its not that bad hun, I can fix it." Grace laughed through her tears. "look at me, you can't fix this." She said motioning to her face. " Death is my only way out." He took a small step forward and then responded
" I can take you away from who ever is hurting you. I'll make sure you're safe. Please you don't want to do this." She stepped closer to the edge to get away from him "yes I do, and why should I believe you? Why would you hep me ?" The words came out pained and she felt she might collaps if she talked much more, it was getting harder and harder to breath.

He was quiet for a few minutes then he slowly started walking towards her. She froze in fear. Finally when he was only inches away he spoke " please trust me, I'm not like the people that have hurt you I only want to help...." He reached for her hand and immediately Grace jerked away nearly slipping. She screamed and he grabbed her pulling her safely into his arms and away from the edge. Finally she gave up and collapsed into his arms. "Everything will be okay, I'll make sure your safe" he whispered softly as he held her close. She was sobbing uncontrollably and gasping for air as the pain in her side continued to get worse.

She looked up at him one last time and then,finally the pain won and eveything went dark.

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Thank you for reading! I'm open to any constructive criticism or comments! Thanks

-Grace  💋