Save Me

Introduction

"No no no! Please stop! I'm sorry," I cried out to my mom. She was hitting me with a belt as punishment for dropping a dish.

"Seriously? You don't even know how to wash dishes right! What are you useful for?!" She screamed at me.

After hitting me a dozen more times, she gave she a dirty look while strutting out of the kitchen. She left me there on the ground crying. I limped over to the bathroom mirror and lifted up my shirt to see red slashes that had broken the skin. I can feel the tears starting to build up as I walk back to the kitchen to clean up the broken glass.

All I could think about right now was that I wish I had my dad. And my real mom. My mom died in a car crash when I was 7. She was side swiped and the impact of the two cars colliding killed her on sight. After that my dad became my best friend. We did everything together. I can feel my heart aching just thinking about how much I miss him.

When he found a girlfriend years later, I was ecstatic for him because ever since my mom past he's never been the same. He would always put on a brave face in front of me, but I knew he was hurting inside. His girlfriends name was Samantha and she has a daughter a little younger than me. When he proposed and they got married I didn't know what to expect. I was scared that my moms memory would fade but I that become the least of my concerns when my dad had a heart attack.

He just collapsed in front of my eyes. One minute, he was fine talking to me like normal the next he was on the ground. I can still remember the tears that falling out of my face. When I called the police, they were too late. My dads pulse had stopped and I was left alone. I still get nightmares about it to this day.

In my dreams, I would be laughing and having an amazing time with my mom and dad but seconds later they're ripped away from me and I'm left with a dark room, lost. I just sit there, paralyzed with fear. I always wake up crying but it's not like I have anyone to talk to about it.

I was 15 when he left me with Samantha.

Now I'm stuck with a shitty step mom who blames me for the death of my dad. She would yell at me and say "If you had called the police sooner, my husband would still be here." Usually after she yells at me she takes her anger out of me by beating with a belt.

I sleep in the attic with a dirty mattress and blanket. I use a sweater as a pillow and the sun for light. I don't have a phone or any friends to talk to if I even had one. School is where I try my best to blend in. I keep my head down and my mouth shut. I'm not bullied or anything but I don't want anyone to know what my stepmom does to me. Because I'm under the age of 18 I know I could be in the system. As much as I hate living with my step mom, living with strangers who only let you stay there for the money somehow seems worst. I'd rather stay as strong as I can for the next year.

My name's Claire Rogers and this is my story.