Bruised But Not Broken

Chapter 8

I woke up the next morning, around 7:30. School was closed for the day, due to teacher conferences and meetings. One that my father would not be attending.

I was still in the same position, arms and head on Pike's chest. He's chest was rising and falling steadily, with his breaths. His eyes fluttered open, locking eyes with me.

"No school today!" He says cheerfully.

"Your so cute when your excited."

"I know, I know." His smile widened.

We crawled out of bed, and made pancakes from a mix Pike brought from home. Then we got ready for the day.

We walked around the blocks, talking about pretty much everything- celebrities, music, TV shows.

When we arrived back at my house, we listened too some of his favorite bands, All Time Low, Green Day, The Beatles, Bastille, Pierce The Veil, and so many more.

Your love is the barrel of a gun
so tell me am I on the right end
I could be nothing but a memory to you
Don't let this memory fade away

"All Time Low is greater than life." Pike says.

"Agreed." I answer.

Pike is laying on my bed, I am laying on his stomach. I am playing games on Pike's phone, while he rests his eyes.

"Do you want to watch a horror movie?" He asks me.

"NO!" I answer.

"Why not?"

"They scare me!"

"But that's good!"

"How is that good?"

"Than it gives me a reason to comfort you." He says, with the cutest expression on his face.

"There are unlimited reasons to comfort me" I smile, forgetting I haven't told him anything.

Even though I'm pretty sure he knows...

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I heard what she said, but I didn't question it. I already know she is abused but I'm waiting to tell her. Waiting until I can make her extremely emotional. I will tell her when her dad hurts her beyond repair, well not beyond physical repair, just enough for her to want to leave him. Than I will tell her that I know why she doesn't feel safe, and than that I know how to make and keep her safe. But I need her to feel three main emotions.

Trusting: since she knows I know about her abuse.

Fear: since her dad most likely hurt her.

Courageous: since she will want to be safe.

And maybe then, she will run away with me, to somewhere safe, somewhere that she will never be hurt, somewhere I can protect her without fail. Somewhere she will be loved, unconditionally, for the first time in forever.

Somewhere that I can be her hero.

"Can I show you something?" She asks.

I nod and she gets up. She starts walking towards the garage door. I am right behind her.

The door creaks open slowly, the lights flicker on after she flips the switch.

She stands on a stool and reaches behind her dad's tool box. She pulls out a piece of paper.

"Read this." She says, and hops down from the chair.

I look at the paper and start to read it to myself.

Dear Windsor,
You are the most beautiful child I have ever seen and the best daughter. But I cannot handle your father anymore. Your father is mean, although he doesn't show it to you. If you have found this note, you are old enough to understand. He is abusive, his abuse is how I got you though. I cannot take you with me, I have no idea where I will end up, for now you will stay with your dad where you will hopefully be safe. All I can do is pray that he won't hurt you, that I can get you back, that you find this note at an appropriate time and that you forgive me.
I love you,
Mom

I look up at her. How could her mom just leave her like that?

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"I was a mistake." Is all I say. "They didn't even want me."

"She left you." He says quietly.

"Pike-" I say.

"She didn't take you with her! She left you with him! How could she live with herself knowing that you would be with that monster! And she thinks you will forgive her! How could she? And now he hurts you because of her cowardness!"

He was visibly upset. And I was right, he did know.

"Pike she was scared."

"And so are you!"

I had no idea what to say. He thrust the letter back at me. He slammed his hand against the wall. I jumped.

"And to think I wanted to run away with you to find her! I wanted to bring you to safety but I can't do that anymore!"

He slams his hand against my father's work bench. I jump again.

"Pike?" I plead.

He instantly calms down and brings me closer to him.

"I'm sorry." He says.

We head back to the couch.

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I can't bring her to her mom anymore. But I can't leave her here with her dad. I can't stay here at her house, and she can't stay at my house. So where will I bring her?

Maybe her mom is our only choice. For all we know, she could be trying to find a time to get Windsor back.

"Were you really thinking about running away?" She asks me.

"Still am." I answer.

"Your brother will find us."

"He won't care."

"Well what are we going to do."

"Let's stick to me staying here on weekdays and you going on long walks on weekends. Then we'll see what comments we get on the English report."

"Sounds good." She answers.

We continue to talk about stupid little topics, like dogs, teachers that are dating other teachers in our school and if dogs could talk English.

She falls asleep, and I carry her upstairs to her room where we remain the rest of the night.