Concrete Angel

Chapter 4 - Bearing The Burden

I wake up the next moring feeling the pain from yesterday, my stomach is grumbling and hurting, the pain in my back everytime I move is torture, my head is pounding. I wish I was never born. It's 7am, I like to get up early so I don't bump into Matt. I try and cover up my bruises but nothing seems to work, I look a mess and to make it worse I have to wear the same clothes as yesterday. I feel worn out, tired, hurt I have no idea what to do with myself.

I grab something to eat and rush out the door. I take a slow walk to school, every move I take pain shooting through my body, how long could I last living this way before I give up.

"April, April, wait up" I hear Deano shouting me asking me to stop, is he wanting to walk with me again? I hope so.

"can I walk with you" pants inbetween each word. "sure, we'll stop for a bit untill you catch your breath back" I giggle, Deano seems to bring the confidence out of me, which I like.

Where walking to school chatting about books - I found out he loves reading, just like me - Deano notices I have a small limp. "April, are you okay? It's just you're limping" I can hear the concern in his voice, but I can't tell him. "yeah I'm fine, just slept abit funny on my leg" I mentally slap myself 'slept funny really? best you could do' I look at Deano I know he doesn't believe me, he looks like he wants to say something but is debating on whether he should or not. "April, can I ask you something? I know it's none of my business but last night I heard shouting and crying" What can I say to Deano, I'm just having to deny it, if Matt found out I told someone he'd kill me ane my mother. " it was nothing, we were playing pretend, nothing serious" God I hope he believes me and doesn't push on. Deano just looks at me and changes the subject.

As we're walking Deano gets called a few names for walking with me, but it doesn't seem to faze him the slightest bit. Would you clasa Deano as a friend, I duno I've never had a friend so I don't know what it's like or what you do with them. Is having Deano in my life a sign that things might be looking up for me, that might life might get better, maybe he could help me and my mum escape from the nightmare we both are involved in, could I trust Deano that much to tell him?