Finding You

Chapter 2- In Which My Mother Yells And Screams

"Where have you been?" Mother asked, sounding grim. I gulped, and Juniper snuggled my leg. There was nothing she could do, for mother would try to snap her neck. It was tearing Juniper up inside not being able to defend me, but we both knew it was best she didn't. I didn't want to see blood. Not again.

"At the forest..." I replied, sounding scared, "I didn't look at the time, i'm sorry, Mother." I was terrified beyond belief. I knew what my mother could do, and I felt an anxiety attack coming on. I felt Juniper whimper, then snuggle her head against my shin. She knew she couldn't comfort me, and at the moment I didn't want her to.

"Well, how about since you love the dark so much, you spend a night in the closet, without your friend here!" My mother screamed, grabbing me by the shirt. Juniper growled, and I mentally begged him to stop. She couldn't attack mother, not when she was angry like this. Juniper would only get hurt, which was something we both didn't want.

My mother looked at Juniper in disgust, kicked her, then threw her in the closet with me. She hit the wall, hard.

Mother didn't close the door right away, but she stood there, looking victorious. "The next time you're here late again, i'll send you to the hospital, girl!" She screamed. She kicked me, then turned off the lights. She slammed the door, and locked it from the outside.

I had no idea how long i'd be in here for.

Juniper whimpered, and I picked her up. She was still my baby, and she had just gotten kicked and thrown at a wall. She licked my nose, comforting me. It saddened me that she values me being comforted rather than her own life. She was the best dog I could ever ask for, and she was all mine.

I laid down in the small storage closet, snuggling Juniper lightly to my side. I couldn't sleep at all. I was to scared that mother would come back, and beat me. She was always like that when she was upset enough. Which was all the time.

Tomorrow was Saturday. I didn't have friends to hang out with, or any event to go to. Like any weekend. I slumped down against the wall, and started to cry. Juniper moved slightly, then got on my lap. She curled up like a kitten, and fell asleep.

She looked like a little toasted marshmallow. To me, I didn't know how a dog so beautiful or kind could exist. She was definitely my best friend, even though she wasn't human. I couldn't fall asleep, because the anxiety was too strong. I was scared of the dark. I couldn't see anything, and i didn't know when something was hunting me. It terrified me to god-knows what end of the earth. I was crying so hard now that I couldn't see.

I pet Juniper lightly, her breathing calming me. She was smooth and steady, implying she was alright. I was scared she had broken a rib. She seemed to know that It was calming me, and eventually I felt drowsy.

Then I heard a crash. Goodbye sleep I guess. Mother was drunk again, and crashing wine bottles against each other. For some reason it "soothed" her. I thought nothing of it, and then she came downstairs. I could smell the alcohol, its stench coated on her. I heard more crashes, and then it was silent. She had most likely passed out.

Great. It's going to be real fun to deal with her in the morning. I was only 13, yet I was more responsible and mature than most adults. Juniper perked up, and licked my neck. I laughed, almost silent. Juniper moved a bit closer up, now laying her head on my stomach. Her tail brushed against my leg for a couple seconds, then went still. Her breathing slowed, and I went calm.

Juniper was a life saver.

I felt myself falling asleep, and the last night thing I remember was Juniper, her calmness and soft fur lulling me to sleep.

I wish I never even woke up.

I awoke to more crashes, and Junipers ears perked up. I didn't know where I was for a second, then remembered I was in the closet. It was lighter now, and I could see. It was all thanks to the convenient window on the wall. Juniper nestled her head into the crack of my arm, and whimpered. She was obviously scared of something, and trying to tell me that it's okay, and she'll protect me.

The door ripped open, and Mother laughed grimly. I put my hands on my head, and cowered. Juniper went behind me, hiding herself. I curled into a ball, and Juniper put her front paws on my back, trying to attack Mother. She laughed. "You think your dumb dog can beat me?!" She yelled, slapping me. Juniper bolted, biting Mother. I screamed.

Juniper was growling, and was in front of me. She was so tiny, yet she was so brave. Mother grabbed Juniper, and threw her outside. No one could protect me now. Mother was always like this. She said it was all because of me, but never told me why. Some of moms friends told me, though.

My mother loved my father a lot. Eventually they had... wait no, wrong story. My mother was excited to be pregnant with me, and she almost immediately told my father. My father, was not so excited. He yelled and screamed, and left my mother. She turned grim. She hated me, almost from the very beginning. She always yelled, and all her friends defended her in front of me.

"Tell me, where were you last night?" Mother asked, growing more impatient by the second, "I bet you were at your BOYFRIENDS house, huh?!" I already told her where I was, but I cringed at her comment. She just said it because I didn't know anyone at all. She knew that. The only thing she didn't know, was that I had online friends.

"i...in the woods..." I muttered, but i guess she didn't hear me, because then I felt her hands hit my head, and the world went dark.

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Please point out my mistakes! I need to improve my grammar! Thanks to ya my babes :3