cuffed • g.d

11.

  I walk into the room where a man was waiting for me. He sat at the end of the long silver table with a clipboard and a pen. The light bulb made the room look cold. There was a mirror to the left of me and I've seen enough cops shows to know it was 2 way glass. I knew my dad or Lani was behind it waiting for me to spill.

I sat on the cold blue chair and waiting for him to throw the questions at me.
"Hello Taya. I'm Mr. Garland and I'm with the CPS and I wanted to ask you a couple questions about your father and your living environment."

I don't know why but my body began to shake. My palms were cold but the rest of my hands burned. I felt the tip of my ears go red as he looked deep into my eyes and kept talking.
"I understand your father is an abusive alcoholic and he seems to have a history of domestic violence. Has he ever hurt you?" He asked clicking his pen to write my words. I licked my dry lips and spoke.

"Mentally, Yes. He says things that hurts me but I know that he only says those out of anger of my mom leaving us and with me and Lani reminded him so much of her he lashed put a d says things he doesn't mean. I understand." I respond. I run the sweat of my hands on my pants relieved I got those words out.

"What about physically?"
I froze. This was the moment. Who would win the war in my head, lie or truth. Fuck it. "Yes. but only once and it was because I said something I shouldn't have and he lashed out, it wasn't as hard as my bruise might have looked. It was the first time he has ever hit me." I spill. My heart was beating so loud I thought Mr. Garland would cover his ears.

"Was he sober or drunk?"

"It was kind of hard to tell, his eyes said drunk but his movement and words said sober."

"Do you feel safe under his guardianship?"

"I-I-... he's trying his best. He is under a lot of pressure trying to maintain two dysfunctional teenage girls." I respond quick hoping he wouldn't want me to elaborate more.

"Thank you for your time Taya." He says unclicking his pen and heading towards the door. I follow behind him and see Grayson heading towards the exit.