It's You

1

"Mom, where are we going?" I asked mom since we already walked for two hours straight. It is a cloudy Saturday. My mother already woke me up since dawn and frantically packed some of my stuff in a duffle bag. I kept asking her about what are we going to do with those stuff but mom just keep trying to keep me quiet. She just said that everything is going to be alright.
"Oh honey. Hang on a bit, okay? We are almost there," she said as she kneel in front of me. Looking in my eyes. I can see fear, sadness, and panic in her eyes. I wonder what happened. All I know my mom and I are now far away from that hell. That once a warm house turned into hell about 5 months ago.
***
5 months ago, I was living there peacefully with my mom and dad. Until one day, my dad came home from work. I always run towards him whenever I heard him walk through the door and hugged him. But that day, he looked like an absolute mess. His hair was sticking out everywhere, dark circles under his eyes, messy clothes, and he walked wobbly. That day, I did the same. I approached him.
"Daddy! Welcome home!" I squeal in delight. I hugged him as I reach him. He smelled weird.
"Well, isn't it my only daughter, Hanna," he said in a funny way. It made me giggle how he talked.
"Daddy, you talk weird. Daddy, guess what I did today at school?" I asked excitedly and pulled out a paper with my drawing on it. It was my drawing of my parents. My teacher asked me to draw a role model in my life on a piece of paper. I instantly think about my mom and dad. They are the best people in the world and I adore them. I showed that piece of paper in front of him proudly. Usually he would ruffle my hair and said that I did a good job. But, what happened that day is beyond my expectation. He snatched that paper and ripped it into pieces. I gaped at him and my tears started to roll down my cheeks. I let out a loud cry, "Why did you do that daddy? It's my drawing. I hate you!"
Heard myself cry, my mom came out hurriedly.
"Oh my God, Hanna, why are you crying?" she asked me gently and hugged me.
"Daddy is mean. I hate daddy. He ripped my drawing," I said, burried myself in my mom's neck.
"Oh come on! It's just a f*cking piece of trash!" my dad yelled. I flinched instantly and cried louder, shocked at my dad's loud voice.
"Damien! Watch your language! You're drunk too!" my mom yelled back, angrily.
"Oh shut up woman! I can swear all I want! This is my f*cking house! I can do whatever I want! No one will take this house from me! Those money leech had already took all my company, my car, my pride. But not this house!" he ranted.
I feel my mom's body tensed. "What do you mean, Damien?"
My dad sighed loudly and let out a loud yell. "I am f*cking bankrupt! They took all my company and money! I don't have anything left in this world!" he said.
My mom went silent. "Honey, can you go to your room? I will talk to your dad for a while. I'll be with you soon, okay?" she said to me. I was confused and just nodded and went to my room. I sat on my bed. Listened to my parents shouting at each other. Soon, I heard a smacked and a thud against the floor. Not long after that, I heard another smack and my mom screamed in agony. Then everything went silent. I was too afraid to move or check outside. Next thing I remember, I heard hurried footsteps towards my room. Hide! I have to hide! a voice inside my head said. Soon, I scrambbled down my bed and went into a closet while trying to calm my sob and breath. Then a bang of my bedroom door. I squeaked. Fortunately, not screamed in shock.
"Hanna!! Where are you? Don't hide from me," my dad yelled. Then I heard he trashed around my room. I heard few things broken and all I could do is bit back my tears.
Suddenly, my closet door yanked open. Revealed my dad, stood angrily. "You f*cking little b*tch! I told you to not hide from me! You are stupid! I regretted to have you in my life! You are worthless! Why do you have to be a burden in my life?!" he yelled at me and dragged me out by my hair and throwed me on the floor. My head and my shoulder hurt as they landed on the floor first. After a second, my dad start to kick me everywhere he can. I cried out loud. Screamed for my mom. I curled into a ball to protect myself. My dad hit me countless times until all I could remember is black engulfing me and I remember to woke up a week later with pain all over my body. That is only the start of months of torture from my dad.
***
"Mom, I want to drink. can we stop for a while?" I asked my mom again. She glance around for a minute and then look at me.
"Sure, honey," she said. I smile of relieve and sit on the nearest park bench. Then I drink from a bottle that my mom had prepare for me. My mom still looks anxious which makes me the same. She glances around one more time and than look at me with sad eyes. "Now, Hanna. Listen to me. Whatever's gonna happen, remember this. I will always love you. Wait for me and I will come back. Do you understand?"
I stare at her for a few seconds and finally nodded my head. "Yes, mom," I answered reluctantly. She smiles but not her usual smile. It looks forced and sad. She engulfs me into a hug. "Now,sit here and be a good girl. Stay where you are. Don't ever come back home. I will be back for you. I have something to do. I have to leave you for a while, Hanna. Okay?" I nod once again and she smile weakly. "I love you, Hanna," she said with trembled voice.

"I love you too, mom. Come back soon okay?" I said with a hopeful voice.

"I will honey. Just be patient, okay? I love you more than anything in this world." I just nod. Confused. My mom act weirdly but I will just do as I told. She smile one more time before getting up and walk away. Half running. I sit there quietly and patiently. Waiting for mom to come back. Long time passed. One hour, two hour. Suddenly, I feel some raindrops fall to me. I look up to the sky and see grey clouds hanging low in the sky. Not long aftet that, the rain pour heavily. I'm soak instantly but I don't dare to move. My mom will come back. Just a little longer.

Just a little longer.

*****
Author's note

Now that's it! First chapter of this story!
I hope everyone enjoy this!!
This story is my original thinking. Every character, story, plot resemblance is purely coincidence. I have not publish this story anywhere except my personal blog.

Thanks for reading!

-WJ