Will you catch me when I fall? (Shawn mendes)

Chapter 3: reaching out

"Okay cool, meet me back here in 10?" Shawn asks me. I nod my head quickly and scurry out of the convenience store in shame.

I open my front door cautiously, trembling, and trying to not awaken the beast. If I do, it's lights out for me. I tip toe across the shaggy, rough, stained carpet, to my bedroom, and close my boor behind me. A little too loudly.

I hear a grunt from the kitchen, followed by stumbling footsteps, heading In my direction.

I cower. This hasn't happened for 2 weeks, and I'm petrified. An angry, drunken, 40 year old man with a belt in his hands towers over a frail, weak, terrified 15 year old girl.

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An hour or so later, the last blow is delivered, and the last whip is given, and my father staggers out of my bedroom.

I pull myself up. I look at my body in the mirror. Bruises are forming, blood is drying, and whip marks stand out like the moon among the stars. There is no way I can live like this any longer. I grab the one bag I have, and shove every labs time of my belongings Into to it. I them change into a pair of worn out jeans and my brother old hoodie.

As i sneak out of my bedroom window, a sudden realization crashes over me.

Shawn.

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There was no way I could see him this way, but I had nowhere else to go. I hiked the tattered backpack onto my shoulders, and looked back at my childhood home for the last time.

With no emotion, I sprint to the 7/11 with little hope that he's still there. I need someone right now, even if the company is just working on a project.

I Burst through the doors of the store, and see a boy, hunched over in the cane isle.

Right where I left him.

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"Sorry I took so long" I mumbled to shawn. He gives me an annoyed look, but it is slowly washed away when he sees the various marks of abuse, that we're not there an hour ago.

"W-what happened to you?!" He stammers. Before I can respond, I am embraced by his strong arms.

"Everything is going to alright." He whispers in my ear.

I hope so.

A bit of a twist 😏

~B