True Love Hurts

A New Day...

Warning ⚠️
This story contains abuse, foul language, depression, and alcoholism. If any of these upset you, I would not read on. This story focuses on the life of Jessica and how it can quickly turn upside down.

I sat up, my alarm clock blaring in my ear."Okay, I'll get up." I moan as I roll over and hit snooze. I look at the clock, 5:45. Today, the first day of Junior year. Goodbye summer, hello prison. I slid out of bed, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. I walked over to the mirror and stared at the hideous monster glaring back at me. I let out a sigh, as I trudged to the bathroom to get ready for the day. I turn on the shower, as I hear my phone ding. Today's the big day, Jess. I'll be there to pick you up at 7:30. I smile, and giggle at the stupid nickname Lucas gave me, when we first met. 10 years ago, in 2nd grade. Lucas spilled his juice box on my favorite shirt. He felt so bad that everyday he brought me a flower from the playground. We've been best friends ever since. Lucas knows everything about me, and I know everything about him. He's sweet and supportive. He's been there for me when I needed it most.

My mom passed away last month due to cancer. She had been in and out of the hospital for months, and was on another round of chemo, when they told us she had progressed to stage four cancer. She laid in that hospital bed for 2 weeks, before cancer took her away from me. My mom and I are, were close. My dad and I, not so much. He never wanted a daughter. He loves my older brother, but despised me. He never talks to me or cared about me. I ignore him, and focus more on my little brother. My father blames me and my little brother for killing my mom. He spends his nights drinking his life away at the bar. He's rarely ever home and when he is, he's too drunk to do anything. Sometimes he gets abusive. I have to raise my three year old brother by myself, because dad is too drunk to. I'm the new mom of the house, I have a job at Starbucks and I also help out around the school my brother goes to. He's in preschool right now, and he's never going to really know his mom.

My older brother, Josh also helps around the house. He's a Senior in high school, and he's 18. He has a job, an internship, for a sports company. I'm trying to get him to focus on school, and getting scholarships, but he refuses. "I'm not leaving you alone with dad. And I'm not leaving you to hold up this household by yourself." Josh always tells me. He says he's not going to college, that after high school he's going to move out and take me and our little brother, Johnny away from dad. I pushed away the thoughts as I texted Lucas back. Okay Luke, see you then :).

I hopped in the shower, and as I was rinsing the conditioner from my hair there was a loud bang on the door. "Jessica get your ass down here and clean up this mess." My father yells, causing me to shutter. The bruise on my arm stung as I wrapped a towel around my hair and body. His drinking caused him to become angry all the time and I was the one he took it out on. It started when mom got cancer, and has gotten worse since she passed. I slowly opened the bathroom door and quickly ran to my room.

After I was dressed, I walked downstairs to check on Johnny. When I came downstairs, I saw Josh in the kitchen making Johnny breakfast. "Morning." I say, smiling at the babbling Johnny in his high chair. "Hey, how are you?" Josh asks, as he sees my new bruise, and his face twisted in anger. That makes twelve. "I'm fine, Josh." I say, smiling and giving him a hug. "I promise I'm going to get you both out of here." Josh says, hugging me. Josh was very protective of me. Ever since I was little, he's always been there for me. I was lost in thought, when dad walked into the kitchen. Josh held me slightly behind his back, while he continued cooking breakfast. "Gooooods, morning." He says, his speech slurred. Drunk. "Dada." Johnny says, as my father glares at him. "Alright, breakfast is ready." Josh says, as I grabbed the plates.

Breakfast was awkward, as it always is. I sat next to Johnny, helping him by cutting up his food. We sat in silence as we watched our, drunk, father scarf down his plate. I stared at him in disgust. I finished my food and looked up the clock, 7:25. "I gotta go. I'll see you after school." I started to get up, as an arm tightens around mine. "Not sa fasts." My father says, as I let out a gasp. "Let her go!" My brother yells from the kitchen as he runs to me. My father continued to twist my arm, my arm going numb. "What, can't roughhouse with your old mans." He says, as Josh pulls me away from him. I clutch my arm, while the stinging feeling slowly started to fade.

As I looked up from my injured arm, I saw Josh and dad fighting. "Stop!" I yell, getting close to them. "Get out of here, bitch!" Dad yelled at me, as he flung me aside, as if I were some rag doll. I begged Josh to stop. "Josh! Josh! I'm fine, stop please." I say, pulling on his torso. Finally he releases his grip on my father, and turns around to face me. "Take Johnny and go." He says. "No, you're coming with." I say, using all my strength to pull him towards the door. I grabbed my bag, and Johnny, and pulled everyone outside.

The sun was shining and the sky was a nice blue. I sat in the grass in the front yard to wait for Lucas. Josh took Johnny to preschool, so I sat and enjoyed the peace and quiet. It reminded me of all the summer days I spent laying around, reading a book by the pool. Listening to the laughter of Mom, Josh, Johnny, Lucas, and, dad. The memories that filled my mind, quickly vanish when I heard a car horn. I look up and see Lucas. "Daydreaming again?" Lucas says, smiling. "You know it." I say, giggling, as I hop in the passenger seat.

We pull up to school, and the parking lot is full. Seniors partying in the parking lot, Freshman frantically running around, teachers yelling at kids. Oh, it was good to be home. Lucas pulls into his parking spot, 194, the spot that an elm tree perfectly shades all day. Lucas held my hand in his, his smile wide. "I'm so glad you are my best friend." I say, as I squeeze his hand. I opened the car door, and there stood my worst nightmare. Ashley.

She was the most popular girl in school and wanted to date Lucas. She tried to drop hints, but Lucas doesn't even acknowledge her existence. "How are you and your girlfriend, Lucas?" She says, smacking her gum like a cow chewing cud. "Ashley, for the one-millionth time. We are so close, we could be family. Let it go, and go find something better to do with your time." I say, as Lucas and I started to walk towards class. As we got to Biology, Lucas noticed my bruise. "Again." He says, frowning and anger showing in his face. I hate that Lucas knows about my father, and what he has done. One day, Lucas came to pick me up and saw my dad throwing me against the stairs. I ask him to not tell anyone, because it will only make it worse.

The final bell rang, signaling the end of the day. I let out a sigh of relief, as I climbed into Lucas's car. "So how was your first day?" Lucas says, starting up the car, and turning up the radio. "Good." I say, as my favorite song came on the radio.
Holding on, why is everything so heavy,
Holding on, so much more than I can carry.
I keep dragging around what's bringing me down and if I just let go I'd be set free.
Holding on, why is everything so heavy.
I looked over at Lucas driving, and smiled. I was thinking about how even through all of this, he has stuck with me. I leaned my head back, letting the music sink into my body. We pulled up to my house, and I let out a sigh. "Thanks for the ride. See you tomorrow?" I say opening the door. "Always." He says, as he flashes me a smile. I walk up the driveway towards the front door, when I realized today could have been worse. I might have spoken too soon.