Sweater Weather ~ Calum Hood

•8•Old Ways•

-Ebony-

••MEMORY••

The night was cold, and I awaited for him to return, drunk and most likely beaten up.
"Don't wait up for me I said" he smiled at my mother, and she pecked him on the cheek before tying her baby blue housecoat and heading upstairs. I wondered how anyone as sweet as my Mother could love such a monster of a man, but she didn't notice it, only I did. He waited until she went into their room, that's when he came.
"Well, well, seems like Mum isn't the only one who waited up" he chuckled. "GO TO SLEEP!" He bellowed at me, and I cowered into the corner of my childhood bedroom and covered my ears to stop the noise. John yanked me up by my wrist, hurting the bruises that were already there, and possibly making more.
"Ow, John you're hurting me" I cried out, but that didn't stop him.
"Shut up! You'll wake your mother" he whisper-yelled, slapping me.

I cried out for him to stop, but the beatings only got worse, until I eventually passed out.

•••

"Ebony? What's wrong?" Joy came rushing towards me as I let out uncontrollable sobs.
"J- I didn't- I don't drink and I-didn't- want to I-" was all I managed to get out. Calum's Mum pulled me in for a hug, and squeezed me like she was never going to let go.
"It's okay, shh you're safe now" she told me and I hugged the middle-aged lady back. "Why don't you tell me what happened huh?" She smiled and I nodded, calming down. I took a deep breath and began.
"We were at the show, and the boys played amazingly obviously" I smiled, and so did Joy at the mention of her son's band. "Once they were finished, Blake from our music class talked to us, he offered me a drink and I froze. I didn't know what to say Joy, I don't want to be like her" it wasn't long before tears covered my face once more, and Joy soothingly rubbed my back as I tried to slow my breathing.
"Be like who Ebony?" She asked me. This was it, the moment I actually was going to tell somebody about it. I let out a big sigh, and sat upright as I prepared to tell Joy about my mothers drinking problem.

I opened my mouth, and was cut off by the sound of music blaring through my phone speaker. I stared down at the object, as it repeatedly vibrated, my mothers name popping up on the screen in thick black letters.
"I have to take this" I accepted the call to hear my Mum's sober-sounding voice on the other line. This confused me as I thought she was having a party.
"Ebony, where are you?" She asked softly.
"I'm out Mum, like you asked me" I replied.
"Oh no no no you need to come home now, it's late" My Mum sounded concerned, an emotion she hadn't shown in a very long time.
"Of course Mum, I'll be home right away" I said, hanging up and gathering my things.
"I'll see you tomorrow Joy, goodbye" I left the store before she could even argue, leaving her with no explanation, and thinking about the conversation we never finished.

I trotted home, wondering what it was that could cause my mother not to drink on a Saturday night.
"Mum?" I called out as I entered the small house.
"Ebony!" I was instantly engulfed into a hug, and I pulled away from her quite quickly.
"What's going on? I thought you were having a party?" I asked, wanting to know what was with the 'touchy feely' act my Mother displayed.
"Oh that finished hours ago, why weren't you home?"
"You told me to stay out Mum" I argued, but she shook her head in disbelief. "Whatever, I'm going to bed" I announced.

Sometimes, on rare occasions my mother chose not to drink. She would deny anything mean she's ever said to me, and would forget thing's she'd asked me to do the day before because she was too wasted to even remember.

"Wait, there's someone I'd like you to meet" she smiled at me. I recognised that tone all too well, and prayed that it meant something good.
"This is Bradley" my mother gestured to a tall man that now entered the hallway.
"It's nice to meet you Ebony" the guy smiled.
"You've got to be kidding me?" I laughed. Was she actually going to introduce me to one of her new boyfriends?
"He's been wonderful, helping me get my job back and all" she smiled, playing with the zip of 'Bradley's' jacket.
"Him!? He's the reason you didn't drink today? OH MY GOD MOTHER!" I yelled out in frustration. I wasn't scared of this Mum; this Mum wouldn't say a word when I back chatted, For she wasn't used to a rebellious Ebony. It was like we were living two different lives, one was where I had a drunken mother, who was selfish and emotionless, I would often argue with her and then regret it as she'd come up with some horrible punishment for me if I did it again. Then there was the sober Mum, the one in the pointless relationship with a guy who had no idea what he was getting into, the one that hadn't showed once since we first moved to Australia.
"Ebony! What are you talking about?" She scowled, obviously embarrassed that I mentioned her drinking in front of Bradley.
"Doesn't matter Mum, enjoy being sober for once" I said, storming into my room and hitting the doorframe hard with the door.

I collapsed onto my bed and screamed into my pillow. Hugging it to muffle my cries and squeezing it to let all my anger out.

I could not believe that the woman that gave birth to me could do this. I was her daughter, yet she stayed sober for some guy she probably met on the street that day. I had never come across a being so selfish in my entire life, and I hoped I never turned out like the woman downstairs.

I must have fallen asleep, because I woke up to the faint sound of knocking on my bedroom door.
"Ebony, it's me. I- uh, want to talk" I rolled my eyes at the simple sound of my Mum's voice.
"Come in" I groaned. She stepped inside, and hastily took a seat next to me on my bed.
"I know I'm not a good person" she stared at the plain white wall while talking to me.
"Yeah no shit!" I bit back, finally having the courage to stand up to her. My Mother let out a large sigh, twiddling her thumbs before talking again.
"Look Ebony, the point is I'm sorry. I was an awful mother to you for 2 months, but I'm going to make up for it, I promise. Brad's going t-"
"There's nothing, nothing you could do to make up for those 2 months. And I couldn't care less about your stupid relationship with 'Bradley'. It's only a matter of time before he leaves you and you go back to your drink" I spat, not feeling one bit guilty for it. She deserved this, she deserved to know how I felt for 2 months of my life. My mother looked at me with such disbelief, disbelief that the daughter she gave birth to could speak to her in such a way, but she deserved it. I wasn't sorry, not one bit.

But when I saw my mother shed tears in front of me my opinion changed. She stood up slowly, brushed herself off, and silently walked out of my room, a part from the small sobs only I heard escape her mouth.

I suddenly got hit with all kinds of emotions, I was angry, and upset at my mother. But I was feeling guilty and horrible for saying those awful things, in such a way that made my Mum cry in front of me.

The thoughts in my head made me think harder than ever before, it was only a matter of time before my mother resorted to her old ways, and so I wasn't about to get my hopes up that some man could save her this time.

I decided the only way to brush these thoughts off were to sleep on them, and so I laid back onto my bed, and fell upon a deep slumber.

_____________
1441 Words.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!! Sorry if it was short :/

Comment what you thought!x