Surviving

Chapter 1

Chapter 1: First Sight

I never thought my life would be like this.  When I was little I imagined shopping with my mom and playing with my dad, but no.  My life consist of school, work, and everything at home.  I barely sleep or eat now, but my body has gotten used to it.  I do my best to make A’s in school so I can get some kind of scholarship to get me and Emily out of here, but it keeps getting harder. I don’t know how much longer I can go, but I can’t give up and I won’t.  This 17 year old body has to last.

Speaking of school and other things, I need to get ready.  I wake up at 6AM everyday to make Emily breakfast and walk to school, although she rides the buss.  I had trouble getting out of bed due to last nights injuries. When I got to the bathroom that’s connected to my room I looked in the mirror.  My small and boney frame was pale, the skin on my torso black and blue, a hand print on my left wrist, and to top it off the corner of my lip was busted and bruised.  Most  times he tried to not hit my face so he would cause suspicion, but sometimes he lost control.  I looked at myself while his words kept repeating in my head.  Useless, ugly, bitch, whore, anything he could say to hurt my feelings he would. A single tear fell from my eye, but I quickly wiped it away and walked out of the bathroom.  I can’t feel sorry for myself right now. 

My dresser was directly across from my bed.  I had a closet too, but it was just for show, I couldn’t actually wear any of it.  All of the clothes was in my dresser and it wasn’t much.  I grabbed some underwear and a bra, some dark gray sweat pants and a black hoodie with BMTH on the front of it.  For all of you who don’t know it stands for Bring Me The Horizon.  They’re a band, a really awesome one at that.  After I got dressed I packed my school bag with all the things I would need for work, which was just my uniform.  I got the box from under my bed that held all my valuables.  I grabbed my ancient ipod and headphones and dropped it in the side pocket of my bag.  I proceeded to put on my worn out black vans and walked down the hall to wake Emily up. 

Her room was a lot messier than mine and I would have to clean it later so she wouldn’t get in trouble.  “Emily, wake up for school.”  I said softly while nudging her shoulder.  She opened her eyes and smiled at me.  “Allison, I missed you.” She said.  “Aw, I missed you too baby girl. Now come on and get dressed, and when you finish come downstairs for breakfast” I told her.  She simply nodded her head and got out of bead.  I walked out of her room and down the stairs to the kitchen. 

This was the time I only got to have a good meal because Jenni and Rus didn’t wake up till about 8 to get ready for work.  I was too tired to cook anything spectacular so I settled on toast and orange juice.  Right when I was finished cooking Emily came into the kitchen.  “Right in time.” I smiled at her while putting her plate on the counter accompanied with a glass of juice.  “Thanks Allison.” She said with a mouth full of toast. I just laughed at her.  “You’re welcome baby.” When I was finished eating my half of toast, I washed the plate and glass and picked it up.  The clock read 7:02.  Emily’s BUS passed at 7:10 so I got her school bag for her while she cleaned her dishes. 

I waited for her to finish by the door and when she finally came I got down on my knees, shes very small for her age.  “Alright, you be good at school today okay?” “Okay, Allison.” She said while I kissed her forehead and hugged her.  Right when we broke apart the BUS pulled up by the stop sign in front of our house.  She ran out the door and climbed the stairs while looking for a seat.  She looked at me once and waved.  I blew her a kiss and closed the door.

 I had to be at school for 8 o’clock so I fetched my  bag, got out my ipod and plugged in the ear phones.  Before I left I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and locked the door on my way out.  The cool autumn wind pushed my long black locks out of my face as I began the 30 minute walk to school.