True Colours

Chapter 2

My parents, who hate me that much left me starved till I woke up with my heart thumping under my skin. Nightmares. 10 to 12, I sit here wondering whether like this, they’d leave me to die. ‘YOU FUCKING BITCH ROSA’, well that’s my mother’s call. I briskly brush the warm tears off my face. Why do I cry over people who don’t give two FUCKING shits about me? I slowly open my bedroom door and stand still as I hear the creaks of the floor boards. ‘Yes mum’ I stutter, ‘OUT NOW’ she bellows, ‘WERE OUT OF MILK’. No not a daughter but a slave is what I should be classed as.

Still in my uniform I tie my light hair back and brush it off my face. As I open the door the warm summer’s night wind sweeps against my face. I briskly walk over to the news agents and grab a pint of milk; I hand over the money, my own money, and hurry back home before my parents grow too impatient and develop more hate towards me. As I lightly lift my hand to tap a knock on the door my father opens the door, I picture what happened hours ago after school. A shiver runs down my spine. ‘Hello there darling’, and he places his lips on mine and grips onto my hips. I know I have never had a close relationship with my father, but I know this is completely and utterly strange. I fly across the hallway as he tugs my hair and pushes me onto the floor. ‘Little useless shit’. I burst into tears yet again as he walks away looking down at me as if I’m crap.

I charge to my bedroom and lock the door. I scrawl around on the floor for the pair of scissors I use to anguish my pain. I hesitate, and then let out a high pitched shriek as the sharpness plunges into my skin causing fresh, red blood to trickle down my skin. I can see the raw redness of my skin. I feel relieved. I tear off my uniform and fall into a deep sleep right on the hard bedroom floor.

I jolt awake to a booming thump on my door. ‘I’m awake’ I say, not even bothering to ask who it is. The sound then stops. My eyes strain as I try and open them. I see a pool of red on my vest, great I declare, more clothes to bin. I quickly get dressed from school and rush downstairs, skipping breakfast as usual. ‘Wait there darling’ my father says from across the kitchen counter winking at me, ‘I’ll give you a lift as I’m on my way to work’. Oh and he thinks about this today. I preview the recent events ‘No thanks, I’m meeting Katy on the way’. My mother then steps in and gives me a piercing glare. ‘You ungrateful piece of shit, GET OUT AND WAIT FOR YOUR FATHER AT THE CAR’, I try my best to hide my fear and stroll outside.

My father comes out the front door and unlocks the car. I open the door and actually sit right at the front. I look in the mirror; yes my tiredness under my eyes is covered up by a light coat of foundation. There’s an awkward silence till I’m across the road to school. I see happy faces walk swiftly passed the car; I silently wish I could be one of them. If only I could swap my life with theirs just for one day. I’m about to reach for the door handle when my Father jolts my hand back, brushes my hair from my face and holds my chin up. ‘You’re a very special girl Rosa dear’ he whispers into my ear’, I’m confused, should I be happy? He then gives me a hard shove and I sense that someday soon something horrible and disastrous is going to happen. Fat beads of tears roll down my cheeks as I step out of the car, I quiver in pain and watch the car drive into the distance. That’s when my eyes meet Jay’s. I quickly look away hoping he hasn’t witnessed anything. Did I not see him last night before my father slammed the door after my journey to the shops? Why does he seem suspicious? Has he sussed anything?