Doctors Orders

daddy's home

Vanessa

I pour the milk into the bowl of the unflavored cereal as I look through the barred up window. Outside I see the neighbors playing on their swing.

Man, I wish I could go outside and swing with them. They seem to have so much fun. Playing all day with their parents, so happy and no worries in the world.

While I daydream, I unnoticeably pour the milk so much that it overflows out of the bowl.

Oh no! If he sees this, he will be worse than he usually is. Some people, normal people, always used to say, "It's just a spill! Don't worry and be so dramatic. He won't be mad!" If they only knew him like I do. All I know is that I can't downplay this. I can't downplay anything.

My life might depend on it.

I grab a washcloth from the sink and start cleaning up the mess. After filling up the cloth with milk, I ring it out and start again. Right when I start more of the cleaning process, I hear the garage doors opening.

My pace picks up as I race to clean as fast as I can. I can barely hear the sound of the car being locked over my heartbeat beating a million times per minute.

Just in time, I finish cleaning. Quickly, I put the bowl back into the dishwasher and run to the stairs. I climb up fast as I can. I'm about halfway up the stairs when I hear the door burst open.

"Vanessa! Where the hell are you?"

His voice booms through the house. I shriek as I hear his unforgettable voice and I run faster to my room. I close the door and lock it as fast as possible.

He is definitely not in a good mood today

I scramble myself to my bed and I fall to the ground. My hands claw at the ground as a struggle to get under my twin bed. I feel tears swell in my eyes and I take deep breaths that never help.

"Everything will be all right," I whisper to myself, "Everything will be all right."

Over and over, every day, I repeat this little phrase to myself, hoping that one day it will come true.

I hold the necklace that Mom gave me close to my chest, praying that she forgives me and he will understand. Praying that he won't hurt me.

I think about the neighbors and their happy families. Maybe one day I will have that again.

You know, I wonder if they have ever heard me scream. Have they? Or do they just ignore it?

"VANESSA! YOU SON OF A BITCH WHERE ARE YOU?"

I hear his footsteps fill the stairwell with every step he takes. Every step he takes is closer to my misery.

THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP

Closer and closer

THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP

Closer and closer

My body fills with sweat and I shiver in fear.

Click click click

He made it to my door.

BAM BAM CRASH! The door crashes open

"VANESSA! COME OUT COME OUT WHEREVER YOU ARE!" He says teasingly.

He made it to my room. Brace yourself, Vanessa.

I see his feet from under the bed walking closer and closer to me. I hold my breath and pray he will go away. My chest buries into the wall as I try to get away as far as possible.