Changed

Chapter 2

Dead

Don't get me wrong, my family has always had money.

He's dead

My parents have good jobs with good salaries, and our lives have more or less been pretty perfect.

He's dead, Chelsea

Sure, it was hard when my mum's parents died, or annoying when we had no power for a week and the electricity company kept ignoring our calls, but life is pretty good.

Dead dead dead

I've got good grades at school, I have friends, and a great family.

He's dead, Chelsea. He's dead he's dead he's dead.

***

My dad once told me that life is like a person. That it is one crazy, unpredictable roller coaster of a ride, but we just have to roll with it. Sometimes it gives us a slap on the face, reminding us of our place. Sometimes it punches us, leaving us a bruise to deal with. Sometimes it leaves scars that never really go. But sometimes, just sometimes, we have to learn to hit it back. And harder.

***

I can't move. My legs are made of lead, rooting me into the tiles. I can't breathe. I can't swallow. I can't tear my eyes away the body that is lying so still, so so still. I can't.

Mum screams. The terrible sound hung in the air, as she ran to him, sobbing uncontrollably. There's a bloody patch on his business jacket, an angry red that is slowly spreading. Mum kneels beside him, cupping his face in shaking hands. Tears roll off her streaming face and onto his, a look of absolute shock and despair carved into that flawless face, a look that makes me want to crawl into a hole and cry with her. She is overcome by a racking fit of hiccuping sobs, at which she buries her face into his shoulder.

I can't. I can't stand it any longer.

Slowly walking over to mum, I wrap her into an assuring hug, the action telling her more than my words ever can. She tries to smile at me, but ends up crying. I love her more than ever at that moment. The tears haven't come yet.

I stare into my dad's lifeless eyes and attempt to memorise everything about them, those beautiful blue oceans that you can get lost in without trying. I bend down and kiss him lightly on the forehead. My eyes are still dry.

I remember the men that have broken into our house and made this happen. The men that have killed my father and shattered his life as well as ours with the pull of a trigger. I walk in front of the man who shot him and, in the rush of the moment, slap him firmly on the face. No tears have escaped yet.

The man widens his eyes in anger and touches a red cheek. Scowling, he brandishes a pistol out of a pocket, his eyes storming with hatred. Just as he points it at me, the leader puts his hand on the man's arm. He raises an eyebrow and shakes his head at the man who is still scowling. He looks almost-curious. Curious to see what I do, what I might ever I possibly do. My cheeks are free of tears.

I grit my teeth furiously. Who is he to be curious? He freaking killed my dad. Curious of what? Curious of what the daughter of the dead man will do? He shouldn't even be here. How dare he even be inside our house! How dare any of them to set foot inside the home of my family! My breathing becomes heavier every second, until my chest is heaving in pure rage. My eyes release only glares of utter loathing at these men.

Mum. I pause in my thoughts and glance at the broken woman behind me. I can't let anything like this happen to her a second time. "Mum. Go. Leave."

She stares at me in bewilderment and makes no move to leave.

"MUM.GO." I give her a look so forceful, she stumbles to her feet and takes a few steps towards the door. I nod encouragingly, and she slips behind it, closing it with a quiet click. No tears.

I return my attention at the men who are gaining more interest in me by the minute. One guy in particular actually cocks his head to side and narrows his eyes in curiosity. I feel my anger return at this and focus on the leader. He looks curious and...I don't believe it. He's smirking-actually smirking. The freaking nerve of these people. Who hell do they think they are? As I unintentionally start to fume, I receive more curious stares. Nowhere close to tears.

Well, damn, I'll give you curious.

I go walk straight up to the leader's face, watch his expression turn surprised, and give his jaw a punch that knocks the the wind right out of him.

***