The Story Of Us

Chapter 12: Abused And Afraid

After we're all done hanging out, Josiah drops me off at my mom's house so he can go to his lessons. I walk into my room. As it was before, there's only one bed. My entire room feels bigger. I'm finally able to breathe in it after the time that Erica and Katie were sleeping in here.

I hang back up all my posters and put everything back to the way they were. My bed back in a corner that's on a wall that I swear wasn't supposed to be there and is really just an extra wall in my room. Firefly lights strung around my room. My mirror on the inside of my closet door. Its all back to the way it was.

Only now that I look at the wall on the left side of my bed, it seems a bit plain. I look through my phone for what selfies I have taken. A few with Josiah. Some with Bridget. A lot with Elizabeth and Melinda. And some photos with the group. I decide to print them all off and pin them to my wall.

Everything, is how I want it to be now. No more Aaron. No more Leo. I'm with Josiah. I'm better friends with Erica. Its all right here. Its all right in front of me. Everything I wanted in middle school is right in front of me.

I run into Katie's room. Which is right next to my room. Its exactly how it was before. Posters, random canvases with inspirational quote. Its all back to normal. She's standing right in front of her window. I walk up to her and put my arms around her. "Its the same again." Katie says in a small voice. Almost a whisper.

"It is. I'm happy though." I explain kissing the top of her head.

"It is the same, but better. No more Aaron to boss mom and us around."

"He bossed mom around?" I ask stepping in front of her.

"Yeah, the night you and Josiah hooked up, he smacked mom." Smacked mom? What?

"Katie, why didn't you tell me? I could've came and picked you up or ended the party. Why didn't you tell me?" I ask. Tears threaten my eyes. I could never imagine my mom being abused.

"Because, he said if I mentioned it to anyone, even you, he'd smack me. But harder than he did to mom." I'm not sure if I should feel angry or what. Angry Katie didn't tell me. But, the other part of me isn't sure how to feel about the whole not telling anyone for her own sake. "Do you think that's the reason Erica was a bitch at first?" I nod.

"At least now, he's no longer apart of our lives." I explain hugging her. He mentally abused me. But physically abused my little sister and my mother. What did either one of them do to deserve it? Nothing. Nothing at all.

I walk out of Katie's room, and into my mom's room. She stands by her bed, patting down every crease. Acting as if her next move, is to scream.

"Katie told me." I say softly.

"What did she tell you?" My mother asks in a soft yet harsh tone.

"He abused you both."

"I knew I should've listened to you, and I'm sorry I didn't believe you at first. If it wasn't for the fact I was so blind, I would've believed you. And I'm sorry Macy. Please forgive me." She begs. Drowning in her own tears.

"Its not your fault, mom." I say walking over to her.

"Yes it is, Macy. Its all my god damn fault."

"Calm down! It wasn't your fault! It was his fault! He's just another asshole who wants everyone to bow down to him."

"I'm sorry I'm sorry." My mom cries into my shoulder. I try to assure her and calm her down.

*

It took me a half an hour to get her to calm down. By this point, its five thirty. I tell my mom to get some rest and then I leave her room. I walk into Katie's room. She's staring at the ceiling and smiling. "Do you want to contact Michael and I'll talk to Josiah and see about going out for dinner tonight?" I ask her. She nods then pulls out her phone. I grab my phone out from my back pocket then text Josiah. 'Hey baby, hope you haven't eaten dinner yet, want to go out for dinner with Katie, Michael, and me?'