Bedroom Boom

Chapter 1

13 year old Telay poked her head out from underneath the cabinet to determine if it was safe to come out. The sun peeked through the windows casting tiny beams of light throughout the house. Soft music played softly in the distance. The house seemed peaceful. She crawled out from her hiding spot and headed straight to the refrigerator. She quickly guzzled down some Juicy Juice, then the rest of some water her mother had in a glass pitcher. "Ahh!!" She sighed at the comfort of the fluids soothing her sore throat.

"Mama?" Telay called out as she walked through the tiny one bedroom apartment. She hummed along to the music, following it toward the room. "Mama?" She gently pushed the door open.

Marie lay quietly on the piss stained mattress with her back facing Telay. A small sense of relief flushed over Telay when she saw her mother sleeping alone, without Flip.

She climbed onto the old dirty mattress and cuddled up next to her. "Mom?" Telay shook Marie to wake her.

Marie's lifeless hand dangled from the side of the bed. Her skin had turned a pale blue color. Her body was cold.

When Telay stood up to place a cover over her mother's freezing body she noticed that Marie's eyes were open. "Ma...Mama?" Telay stuttered in fear, slowly realizing Marie wasn't breathing. "Mama?" She started to panic. "Please get up." She wrapped her arms around her mother, hoping to bring some part of life back to her as she stared into Marie's big blue eyes with regret.

"I'm so sorry. I should've helped you." She rubbed her mother's cold hand. A tear slid down her face as she gently placed a kiss on her mother's forehead. "I will get him back one day. I promise." More tears began to fall. She took the diamond ring her mother had on her finger and placed it on her own. "I love you mama," Telay said in between tears. She slowly brushed her hand over Marie's eyes, closing them forever.

Telay went through the dirty room packing a few things to take with her. She had nowhere to go or no one to call but she knew staying home was not an option. She looked back at Marie, still hoping she would get up. She could not bring herself to fully believing it. Her mother was dead! Telay was on her own.

"I know you're not leaving me too, Baby!" Flip said in an overbearing tone when Telay opened the door to leave.

She froze at the sight of him. The thought of what he had done to her mother paralyzed her. He could do the same thing to her and she knew it. She began to feel faint. She closed her eyes, hoping that would make him go away. She was so scared. She began to pee on herself.

"Telay! You're a little too big for that!" He was still there. He stepped closer to her. She shook nervously. Recognizing her fear, he pretended to comfort her. It was obvious that she had found Marie. "Telay?" He placed an arm around her shoulders. "Do you think I would hurt you? Do you think I did that to your mom?" She began to sob uncontrollably. He scooped Telay up into his arms. "I'm gonna take care of you." He said grabbing her trembling hand before scooping her up into his arms. "Let's get you cleaned up."