The Hoodie Girl

Chapter 2: Time For Change

Pain.

Pain is all I feel. My head feels like it has been split in two. I force my eyes open, and I am in my room at home.

I try to sit up, but my head spins, and I fall back on the lumpy pillow. My stomach growls making me groan loudly. I didn't even get to eat lunch. After today, I'll be lucky if Grandma Ember gives me a slice of bread.

"Seelah, get your lazy, pathetic ass up," Grandma Ember yells.

How can an old lady be so mean? When Brodie and I moved with her after my mom and our father's deaths, I thought it wouldn't be so bad. I remember thinking 'it's not the worst thing in the world'. I was so wrong.

Grandma Ember treats me as less than shit. She has beaten me, starved me because, according to her, I'm too fat, and she talks down on me and my mom. A month after we got here, Brodie pushed me down the stairs.

She didn't reprimand him at all. She said that I needed to be knocked down a notch because I am nothing. Just like my mom.

I don't know why she hates my mom and me so much. I mean I'm her son's daughter. How could she hate me?

I sit up, and the bed squeaks, practically mocking me. My head is still spinning, but I know if I don't get up, she will be pissed. I try to avoid getting her mad at all cost.

I open the door, and she slaps me across the face hard. I stumble back and slip on a piece of clothing on the floor. I land on my ass with a loud thud.

"Don't pull no shit like that again. I don't have money to be paying hospital bills for your fat ass," she says while harshly glaring at me like I'm the worst kind of person in the world.

Her dark eyes hold no love or even like. They are filled with straight hatred for me.

"Get your ass up and clean this room up, then take a bath. I don't need you stinking up my house," she says with a sneer.

Tears flow freely from my eyes. I wish I was strong enough to endure all of this. I'm not, though. All I've ever been shown was love before I moved in with her. My mom and dad never raised a hand to me.

I get up and pick up the little mess in the room. I find a t-shirt, sweatpants, and underwear and head to the hallway bathroom. I softly close the bathroom door before stripping out of my clothes.

I stare at myself in the mirror. I let my eyes roam all over. From my face on down to my wide, out-of-shape hips.

My eyes start to sting. I turn away from the mirror, disgusted by my appearance. I feel like a failure. Everything my mother told me was all for nothing. I didn't follow any of her advice.

I turn on the cold water with very little hot. I know if I use up all the hot water from Brodie, he'll be pissed. The water is actually a bit relaxing.

I soak for a little bit, then I soap the towel and start washing my body. I make sure to get everywhere. I'm a big girl, and I definitely can't be walking around with stinky body odor.

Once I'm done bathing, I rinse off and get out of the tub feeling slightly better than I did a little while ago. I put on my clothes and trudge from the bathroom. My head still hurts, and I am exhausted and hungry.

I whimper at the thought of being hungry until lunch at school tomorrow. I know she won't let me have anything to eat, and I don't have any money to buy myself anything.

I lay back on my bed and wrap my arms around my growling stomach. I feel my eyes droop, and I welcome the peaceful sleep. Anything is better than lying awake hungry and alone.