Hariana Imagines

Everything and More

I ran out, frantically picking up my heavy sweater and throwing it over my head. He had left me a note with the dinner he wanted tonight, and it was already 4 pm, and he would be here in exactly two hours. My father, who didn't deserve the title as one even the slightest bit. If the food wasn't served and the table wasn't set once he walked through that door—a shiver ran down my spine when I thought about the consequences. I remember the one time I hadn't taken his words seriously, and I did not want that night to repeat itself.

I quickly set up the utensils aside by the plate omg don't of his seat when I heard footsteps approaching me. With a final touch, I placed his drink onto the table and pushed the chair out ready for him.

I let out a squeak when I felt my hair being pulled from behind, my face contorting in pain when my eyes fell onto his cold brown ones. He shook his head at me, scoffing at my whimpering as he tugged onto it harder.

"You're late. You know I like things on time." His teeth gritted, spitting the words out as he pushed me forward, making me lose my balance and have to hold onto the chair for support.

"I-I was only a second away from finishing.." my head fell down, nervously gripping onto the chair next to me.

"What the hell did you just say, pet?" I gulped down the cry that was forming in my throat, knowing what was coming next.

I don't know why I spoke out of order like that, but I knew it wasn't going to be pretty.

"Say that again." I quickly shook my head, muttering out an apology in hopes he would let it go.

"I SAID SAY IT AGAIN." He screamed, walking forward until he was only a few inches away from me and towering over like a skyscraper.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. Please-" my mumbling was stopped with a hard slap to my face, and it only got worse after that.

I snapped out of it, telling myself if I stalked any longer that I would have to endure it all over again. My feet carried me down the steps of my house and guided me towards the bicycle that laid by the bush.

Hauling myself over it, I quickly sped peddled to the grocery store not too far from my house. After gathering the list of food items I needed to prepare the dish tonight, I paid for it all and thanked the cashier lady, Gia. She was a nice lady who always smiled at me. I appreciated the gesture, even though I could never return it.

On the way back, I was so engrossed in the lyrics of my favorite song that eased my nerves the slightest bit that I had lost any focus on the road. The music stopped as the earphones fell out of my ears and pulled down onto the ground, along with my bicycle as I bumped into a tree.

I prepared for impact, until the branches somehow caught me from falling and balanced me onto my feet. I eased my pained expression and opened my eyes, looking up to see—what wasn't a tree, but a very tall figure that replicated one.

It was Harry, my neighbor.

I looked up to see his face, his face full of concern as he tried to detect any injury on me.

"You alright?" His raspy-like voice I haven't heard in years stunned me, the last time I heard him being when he was 14 and playing with his friends out in his front yard. I couldn't help but envy him every time he had friends over, finding myself glued to my window as I watched them laugh and joke around like any group of teenagers. While I hid from the alcoholic that my father was, his laughter could be heard from miles away. His happiness somewhat calmed me, and had got me to wipe the tears from my puffy red eyes each time. As weird as it sounds.