The bell above the door dinged as I made my way inside the big store. I immediately rushed towards the feminine products, grabbing the first pregnancy test I could find. I walked slowly back to the registers, finding an empy one and throwing the package down.
"Oh!" The lady said as she ran the package across the scanner. "Good luck, and congratulations!"
She handed me the small bag, and I walked swiftly to the bathroom at the back of the store, ripping the small box open along the way.
I read the directions quickly, and did as I was told, sitting the light grey stick on the sink when I was done. I crouched against the wall, pulling my knees close to me and closing my eyes.
After the five minutes were up, I pulled myself from the wall, taking a deep breath before grabbing the test off the sink.
Positive.
I dropped the test into my bag and walked out, clenching my teeth together tightly. When I got outside, I sighed, the cool air calming me a little. I began walking down the familiar streets of my childhood, stopping when I saw my parent's house. I pulled out my phone and checked the time. Dad wasn't home yet.
I walked across the street and onto their porch, stopping for a second to breathe before knocking twice, hesitantly. My mother opened the door with a suprised expression.
"Coraline!" She said, smiling and hugging me. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to apologize. For the way I spoke to you on the phone a few months ago." I looked at the ground.
"Well, come in, come in!" She gently pulled me into the house and shut the door.
Everything looked exactly the same. The same blue and white wallpaper, the same curtains, the same pictures of me sitting up around the room. I sat down on the couch, my mother sitting down next to me.
"How have you been, sweetie?" She asked, still smiling.
"I've been fine. Mom, there's something else I'd like to tell you."
She looked at me expectantly.
"I'm.... I'm getting married."
She squeeled, clapping her hands like a teenage girl.
"Oh, goodness! You're really getting married? When did this happen?"
"Three days ago."
Before she could say anything, a car door slammed shut. She stood up quickly and looked out the window.
"That's your father."
I felt my eyes grow wide and my stomach drop. I knew I didn't have time to run up the stairs or out the back door. Facing him was my only option. I interlocked my fingers and tried to steady my breath.
The door swung open and he walked in, not seeing me at first.
"Hi, honey." Mom said, walking over to kiss his cheek.
He saw me as soon as he took his jacket off and sat it on the couch.
"What is she doing here? What the fuck is she doing here?"
"Now, honey. She had some news for us."
"I don't give a fuck!" He yanked me up by the front of my shirt, twisting it around his fist so I couldn't get loose. "Get your little bitch ass out of my God damn house!"
He shoved me away from him. I hit the wall, sliding down it and covering my face out of reflex. I felt his foot make contact with my stomach and I cried out. Not for myself, though. I couldn't hit him back. I knew that hitting him back would only make him angrier.
He pulled me up by my hair and knocked me against the wall, slapping me again.
"Please." I gasped, tasting blood inside my mouth.
"Get the fuck out of my house." He said through his teeth, ramming my head against the wall before walking slowly up the stairs.
I fell back to the floor, struggling for breath. I looked around, finding my mother sitting on the couch, shaking her head, looking straight ahead.
I scrambled across the floor as far as I could, until I was right in front of the door. Lifting myself up with a cry, I grabbed the door knob and nearly threw myself outside, running as fast as I could down the street until I was around the block.
I pulled my phone out of my back pocket, dialing Andy's number quickly.
"Hello?" His voice immediately made me feel better.
"I need you to come get me." I gasped, holding my side.
"Cora? Where are you?"
I closed my eyes. "About a block away from my parent's house."
"I'm on my way."
The line went silent, so I pressed the end call button before laying back on the grass, drifting off.
