Limp

Chapter Two

Chapter 2

When I got done with all my homework it was almost dark out. The sun had just set and the sky was a light pink and purple color. All the apartment windows were lit up and I could see the faint glow of fireflies in the distance. It was nice and peaceful. Reminds me when I was a kid. I didn't have any worries back than.

Mom was sober and loving, like a mother should be. And my dad was in the picture still. We were the perfect little family. Well, perfect until my dad died. I was ten years old, driving around in the car with my dad. I can't remember what I was doing, but it was enough to distract dad from seeing the deer that was right in front of us until he hit it head on.

After the accident I got away with a broken arm, a broken leg and a broken heart. The broken heart hurt way more then all the physical stuff. It felt like my whole world was ending when I lost my dad. Mom got meaner, started going out more and leaving me all alone at night. A year later Mike moves in, and that year was the year that I became friends with Kali.

She was there for me when I lost my dad, she was there as I was adjusting to my mean mom and Mike. She was the one who told me to be strong, to keep fighting. She would always say ' if you give up now, what was the purpose of fighting in the first place?'

I realized that I was starting to silently cry. Man! This is the second time today that I cried. What is wrong with me? I was getting emotional every time I think of the old days. Of how my life used to be, or how it could have been.

I laid back, counting the fireflies and searching for the first star of the night when reality hit. I wish I could just stay outside all night, but if I did I know I would be punished for not having dinner on the table. Sexist much? I think yes. I also have to do their damn laundry and clean the apartment. Lucky me, right? Its like the freaking eighteen twenties when the women ran the household and the big strong men had to work and get the daily income.

I headed into the lobby of my apartment building. I hated being in the lobby. It smelled like stale cigarette smoke and stinky gym socks. There were also older guys that hung out in the lobby, checking out the younger girls.

Creeps.

I went up the worn down and stained carpet on the stairs till I reached my apartment. I went to put the key in the door when I noticed it was already unlocked. Hopefully it was mom inside. Please, please be mom inside. I opened the door.

The first thing I saw was the living room with its worn blue carpet and brown plaid couch. As I shut the door behind me and take a couple steps into the living room I notice that the water stain on the ceiling are getting worse. I also notice the empty beer bottles on the end table. Shit, mom doesn't touch beer.

"Lena!" My step dads gruff voice shouted from the back bedroom. I heard the box springs squeak as he got up from the bed and the loud thump of his footsteps as he headed into the living room.

I looked around for a weapon, my heart was pounding in my chest. Did he find out about the money I stole? Probably. No it's more like an absolutely or a duh.

I grabbed a bear bottle for a weapon and backed up to the door trying to open it. Damn, it felt like one of those scary movies when the dumb blonde always can't get the stupid door open even though its unlocked. On about my third try it opened with its usual creek of the hinges. To me that was one of the best sounds in the world right now. Whew. I made it!

Just as I was opening the door to flee, he entered the room. He was around six foot seven, big beer belly, and nasty yellow brown teeth. His eyes were as black as his greasy hair and he was coming right at me.

I got the door opened and made it about three steps out when his huge hand grabbed my arm and yanked me back. Damn! I celebrated too soon.

"Where in the hell do you think your going, huh? Think you can steal from me and not get punished, huh?" I could smell the alcohol and stale cigarettes on his breath as I struggled to get out of his iron grip.

"Let me go!" I yelled as I tried to get out of his grasp. I swung the beer bottle and it smashed against his face. But the only thing that did was make him angrier. He threw me against the couch and yelled in my face until his face went red.

"You ungrateful little bitch! I raised you like you were one of my own and this is how you behave? I teach you manners and how to be polite and you steal from me?" He's breathing hard now and his face is turning a purplish color.

While he's giving his little speech all I can think of is 'raise me like his own'? He doesn't have any children first of all and second of all he treats me like shit. He beats on me all the time and he never does anything for me. Oh, and he supposedly 'taught me manners and how to be polite' which is total shit also because he is one of the most rude hicks that I know.

"I think your actions need to have punishment. I think you need boundaries and rules to abide by. But you stole from me so I'm going to have to do something about it. I'm going to have to punish you for your actions." He says with a horribly twisted grin.

I was wondering when he would start hitting me. Beating me till I was battered and bruised. Painting me until I was purple and blue. Then he did the totally unexpected. He unbuckled his belt and I froze.