Save me, Dally

Chapter 7: I Don't Need Anyone

The next morning I woke up in an unfamiliar place, but yet, I knew where I was. I was in the hospital. My mother and my father were by my side and my sister was glowering at me behind her tired eyes.

"What...?" I asked, my head feeling as heavy as a rock.

"They had to flush your stomach." My father said emotionlessly.

"How much alcohol did you consume?" My mother asked, completely exasperated.

"I told you." My sister stated matter-of-factly. "She needs help. Send her to a psych ward or something." She cried. "She doesn't belong here." She finished heartlessly.

"Robin." My mother scolded.

"She's right," I stated. "I don't belong here."

It was completely silent until we got home.

·

Once we pulled into the driveway, my father started rattling off restrictions, and responsibilities. Same old 'to and from work and school only, no after school activities, no friends', which was never a problem for me, and most importantly, no alcohol.

As soon as we walked into the door I headed to the kitchen. Since I attracted my family like bees to honey, they followed me. I walked straight up to my 'slip-up' chart and put one big red dash under the month. Both of my parents gasped as I ripped the sheet off of the refrigerator, and tore it into tiny pieces.

"Now Tina," my mother chastised "What the hell has gotten into you? Your sister made that for you, to help you." She cried, throwing her head into my father's shoulders.

"Look what you've done." He reprimanded.

"It's always what I've done!" I screamed. "Do you know how many guys Robin has slept with, how many cigarettes she's smoked, how many times she's been drunk?" I cried. I couldn't take it anymore. I was absolutely done. "I'm the only one who ever gets caught because I never do it!" I screeched, ripping the family portrait off of the wall and throwing it to the ground. "I'm leaving this damn place before I inflict any more damage upon myself." I said as I stormed up the stairs.

"You need us!" My mother called after me. "Where will you stay?" she asked as I flung a leather jacket over my dirty work dress.

"You don't need to know." I said coldly.

I slipped on my motorcycle boots, and yanked my backpack off of the door.

"I forbid you from leaving this house Tina Farah Jackson." My father warned as I pushed past him and out the door.

"You'll be sorry!" My sister called after me as I flipped them the bird.

They'll never understand. I don't need anyone.