Short Stories/Poems

What I Should've Said pt. 3

I lead Riley into my house. My dad is in the bedroom, my mom is sitting on the floor holding something. "Mom?" I'm shaking as I reach out to grab her shoulder. She slowly turns around, and I see her face. Her nose is bleeding, her lip is blue and purple, and there is glass in her chin. "WHAT DID HE DO TO YOU?!" I scream as I fall to my knees holding my mother's face in my hands. She's crying and hands me a broken picture. It's a picture of me and my dad in an ice cream shop. The only happy memory I have of him. The rest are horrid and blood filled.
Riley runs up the stairs and I hear pounding on the door of my parents room. "HEY JACKASS! WHY DON'T YOU COME OUT AND SMACK MORE WOMEN AROUND?!" Riley screams at my dad. I run after her, but I'm too late. My parents room door is open, and I hear choking coming from inside. I look in, and my dad has Riley pinned against the wall, hands around her neck. Her face is turning red. I stand frozen in fear. Then, I snap.
The next few minutes are blurry to me. I remember jumping onto my dad's back. Then my mom yelling my name. Then holding Riley in my arms as police sirens play in the background. Their tune making me come back to the moment. Riley's face is still red, and her body is pale. I can hear her making small breaths trying to stay awake.
A few hours pass, I pace around the waiting room at the ER. My mother and my best friend are being checked. I can't remember what happened. The police told me that my dad was laying unconscious behind me when they showed up. I can't make myself remember the events that took place at 9: 30am Tuesday September 5. I can't.
Days go by, my mother is home and well. My dad is in jail. And Riley is in a coma in the hospital. It's all my fault. I shouldn't of asked her to come. If she would have stayed home she would be okay and it would be me in that hospital bed. It would be me in pain because of my abusive father.

I'm visiting Riley tonight. It's been one month since the incident. "Hey Riley. So... It's been one month. School is as boring as ever. I'm really lonely without you. Macy started bullying me again. Word got out that I was bi, now people are leaving pictures of half naked girls in my locker. It's not that bad but... I wish you were there to laugh at it with me." I pause to wipe a tear from my cheek. "My dads in jail. Finally, after 15 years of abuse and confusion. Now we can start staying t my house. Since he's not blowing our money on beer and strip clubs my mom can finally see a therapist. She's a lot better." I can't hold back the flood of fears that pour down my face. I notice one tear fall on to her shirt. I look a little closer and see two letters "VE". Curiosity killed the cat. I lift up her shirt a little bit and see three bold words. The bigger and bolder the words, the more you wanted to say them. " I Love you." My heart skips a beat. Then I see her hand move.

That all happened three years ago. Now, we live together happily. We talk about what happened all the time. Riley has permanent scars on her neck, and my mom is getting better everyday. We...got lucky.