No One But Myself

PART ONE-6

                 Daniel and I can be considered closer than my friendship with Lena. Daniel's always been soft-spoken and understanding, for the most part. The outburst from class, honestly, shocked me. It had been expected, but not from Daniel. Lena, perhaps, but definitely not Daniel. The fact it had happened made something unfamiliar form in the pit of my stomach.

          Daniel walked me to my next few classes, even with me not saying a word. But with how long we have been friends, years and years and many years after that, talking sometimes wasn't necessary. Daniel knew my life before it turned into something out of a horror movie. He knew it longer than Lena has, and he- at one time- knew my father. He had came over to play when we were younger, came to my birthday parties, came just to say hi when he wanted to, until my father changed and I told him to stop coming around. He didn't question it as much as he was now, he respected my wishes and stayed away and fed into the lie that my father was simply just sick and that things were changing and company wasn't needed. But now things were changing and he wasn't listening too well anymore.

        "Call me when you get home, okay?" he pressed when we reached the door of my last period class, meeting my eyes again. "wait, I'll just drive you home. It's been a while and I'm sure your feet could use a break from all the walking-"

        "That won't be necessary." I interrupted, swallowing a new found lump in my throat. "Thank you, but I have legs and they work just fine."

        He pressed his lips together and fidgeted with the strap of his bag. "Is there something at your house you don't want me to see, Sam?" he asks me finally.

       Chills take over my body for whatever reason, and my mouth goes dry as I try to fight for a reply. I've used all the excuses I can manifest, anything at this point is rendered useless. "I'm okay." I lie, "I promise. Just don't worry. I'll call you, alright?"

      He sighs, something he seems to be doing a lot of now days and gives a small smile that I know isn't genuine. "Fine. Just make sure you don't forget to call me. I'll be waiting." He stares at me for one last lingering second before he pulls me close into a hug. And although we have hugged many times before, this time it feels different somehow. I let myself settle into his arms and hear his steady heart beneath my ear. Then, after one last glance, he gives a small wave of his hand before I enter my class.

                                                     *******************************************

        My father lashes out at me as soon as I return home, of course, over leaving my room door slightly ajar while I was gone instead of closing it. His alcohol clad breath aims my way for the millionth time and I would be lying if I said it didn't feel familiar. As he hits me, I clench my teeth and bare with the hot sting each smack leaves behind. My bones ache, my body urges to fight back, but I never will. He spits colorful words at me, degrades me, his usual banter as he makes me feel the pain I'm sure he feels somewhere deep down inside.

       "You're such a whore." he slurs, as a tear races its way down my cheek. "such a whore. I'm embarrassed to be a father to such a stupid whore. Why don't you do what your mother did? You two fucking cowards, just kill yourself." his hand strikes my cheek and I  bite against the impact and taste the blood that follows it. Tears, angry scared tears, find their way down my burning cheeks and I dream of the day I can push back. "Pathetic." he acknowledges my tears. "why are you fucking crying, coward?"

    I desperately want this to end, desperately want a way out and far away from this hell that my own father creates for me. The sting of his hands and the sour spit of his words accompany me in a horror one could only dream about. My heart pounds feverishly in my chest, and the world spins as he strikes me again. I flinch against his touch and feel tears angrily choking me. Pain, pain is all I will ever feel in this house and I cry for the cruelty I receive from a man who is supposed to love me. I cry for the loss of my mother and I cry for the realization she never got away in the way she had hoped for.

       "Ugly." he breaths in my face, and I'm repulsed by the smell of his breath. He grabs my face forcefully in his hands and I meet the cold eyes that stare back at me. His pupils are so large and frantic, that it's clear alcohol is not his only influence anymore. I choke on another sob because I've lost my father who had once been a great man.

      "Please" is all I can cry out before he hits me again, and I feel hopeless. "Please stop." I beg, choking on a sob that stutters its way out of my lips. My lips tremble and the tears don't stop. I feel pathetic, just as his words had said.

      "If I were you, I'd stop right now."

       click.

     I catch a breath and look over and feel my heart stop when I meet eyes with Daniel, who holds a gun in his trembling hands. A gun pointed right at my father.