It's a Nightmare

Chapter Twenty Six

Lucas

It was the day my father found out that I was taking money from his bank to pay for my little brothers food.

It was about eleven o'clock at night. Isaac was in his crib sleeping. I was laying on my mattress, finishing up some schoolwork.

Earlier in the day, I had went up to the grocery store and bought four of the cheapest cans of baby food I could find.

It wasn't much, but it would get my brother through the rest of the week. I would've gotten more, but I would rather spend less more frequently than more less frequently.

Anyways, I was just finishing up homework when my door flew open, slamming against the thin wall with a loud slam!

"You've been taking money from my bank?" Father roared drunkenly, slamming me against the wall. "That's thievery, you worthless piece of ****! I work hard to earn that money and you're taking it for me!" He punched me across the face. "I did not raise any of my children to be thieves!"

The beating went on and on; the verbal beating was almost as bad as the physical. But the worst part, was when Father burned F-I-L-T-H-Y L-I-A-R into my shoulder. Those scars would never fade.

I had had this nightmare for months after that event had taken place, but no one knew about it. Not even Farkle, my best friend. And know Riley knew. She would think I was weak. I was. I knew that. But I wouldn't cut. I promised myself that I wouldn't.

Isaac was sleeping when I walked back into the room that we shared. I felt better now, not as panicked.

Curling up on my bed, I closed my eyes, but sleep wouldn't come. It was going to be another sleepless night. A lot of those had occurred too. Usually I just wrote in my journal, but I had left that at father's house.

"I need to get my journal," I thought aloud. "But I left it at Fathers house."

What to do? What to do?

I crept into Rileys room, "Riley." I whispered, shaking her gently. "I'm going to Father's house to get my journal. I forgot. I'll be back in about three hours. Before anyone wakes up."

With her eyes still closed, she nodded her head. Taking that as confirmation, I slipped out the door. At midnight. By myself.