Broken: Emily's Story

9

I pull away from Eric. I have to go, I say.

He nods. I grab my shirt and pull it back on. I pull my hoody on over it. I turn to look back at him. He's watching me.

Thank you, I say. What for? He asks.

Just listening, I tell him back. He smiles. No problem, he says. He stands up and hugs me. I stiffen at first, but then I relax.

Stay alive, please, he asks, pulling back. He has a serious look in his eyes. I nod. I know I can't promise him that.

I turn away and leave his room before he can see my uncertainty. I leave his house.

It's late afternoon. I have to be home before Drunk-As-Fuck Dad does if I want to avoid him. Otherwise I'm screwed. I don't know how much longer I can get beat up by him.

I run home. Once I get on our street, I slow down. Our driveway is empty. I sigh a breath of relief. I run to the front door, open it, and enter the house. I close the door and run to the kitchen. I open the pantry and pull out a can of stew. I throw it in a bowl and shove it in the microwave.

By the time Dad gets home, the bowl is on the counter and I'm sitting in my room. I listen to him move around in the kitchen. I hear one of the cupboard doors open, then slam and then another. Then a drawer creaking and slamming. Then I listen to his footsteps until they reach the carpeted living room floor where I can't hear them anymore.

After a bit, I hear the T.V. I let go of a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding the whole time. I lie back on my bed and close my eyes. But no matter how hard I try, I can't relax.

I don't know how long I've been lying like that, but I know I hear Drunk-As-Fuck Dad go into his room. I keep expecting to hear Mom's howling, even though she's been gone for a month now.

I sit up and look at my clock. It's midnight. I sigh. It's gonna be one of those nights again.

It's the third day in a row that I haven't slept. Maybe that's why my memories are so vivid.

I sit and stare across my room at the picture of me and Ellie. And I just stay that way.

I wake up to my alarm. I don't remember falling asleep. I pull myself out of bed. I pull on a new outfit and throw my black hoody on.

I hurry out the door and to my bus stop. When the bus comes, I get on and sit in my normal spot in the back. The bus lumbers to school.

When I get to school, I don't bother going into the school. In fact, I do something I've never done before in my life.

I skip school.