Shattered

Chapter 3

I want to go to Lily so bad, but I just cant tell her about my mom. So, I go to the place I go when it gets bad enough that I need to get away: the meadow. I run as fast as my legs can carry me through the long grass. My lungs burn, and my head is pounding. Finally, I enter the meadow and collapse on the soft ground. Before I know it, Im sobbing harder than I ever have before. My mom has hit me, whipped me, kicked me, and terrified me many times before, but shes never threatened my father. I hope he had managed to fend her off. I hope he is safe. After what seems like days, I pick myself up off the ground and head over to the cover of some trees. I pull out a small water bottle that has been in my bag so long it probably isn't healthy to drink anymore, and an old t-shirt. I grab my phone and flip the camera around. It looks bad. There's a gash in my forehead and its already turning purple around the edges. I wet the t-shirt and start dabbing at my head. It hurts like hell, but Ive got to clean it. When the blood is finally wiped away, the gash doesnt look nearly as bad. Itll probably leave a small scar, but nothing terrible. The big thing is hiding it while it heals. I find that if my hair is down, it covers up the injury. That'll have to be enough. I wince as I pull a blanket out of my bag. I forgot about my side. I pull my shirt up slowly and gasp. My side is purple and blue, and swollen. I pull my shirt back down and sigh. There's not much I can do about it. I carefully lie down on my back and cover myself with the blanket. I breathe in and out evenly to calm myself down, and within a few minutes the stars start to dance, the wind starts to sing, and I drift to sleep.

I wake up just as the sun starts to come up on the horizon. My head aches and my ribs feel broken, but I have to go to school. Lily comes back today. I smile at the thought and I start packing my things. I put the stuff I dont need for school in a small crook in the bottom of a tree and put the rest in the bag. I change my shirt and comb through my hair with my fingers. I hate going to school with my hair down. Its plain brown and doesnt stand out, not to mention it is never quite straight. I head to school slowly, because every step I take sends pain shooting through my side. When I get to my locker Lily is already there, waiting for me.

"Emma!" She squeals when she sees me. She wraps me in a tight hug and it takes every ounce of self-control I have not to scream.

"Hey Lils," I say, "How was camping?" She rolls her eyes.

"It rained practically the whole time we were there, so it was a huge bust," she looks at my hair, "your hair is down. Why?" I laugh.

"I just felt like changing things up a little bit, I guess," I say. She looks at me skeptically.

"You hate change," Lily points out, "especially when it comes to your hair." She's right, I haven't changed my same hair cut since I was seven. I shrug.

"What can I say?" I ask, "I lose my mind when you aren't here." She smiles and puts her arm through mine.

"Lets go to class, dork," Lily says, "You can tell me about your last few days on the way." I try my best to smile, but I don't know what to tell her about the last few days. Certainly not that I met a guy that I really like, I have a secret penpal, and my mom beat me out of the house. Im just going to have to stretch the truth. A lot.

I'm able to distract Lily with talk about her trip and the work she missed. It turns out the trip wasn't a complete bust. They were still able to go hiking and swimming a couple times. And of course, Lily managed to get all of her school work done while she was there. Thank goodness I hand wrote my essay, because I left my computer at home. I'm going to need to go back tonight and get it. I think I'm going to get away without talking about myself until were walking to my third period. Lily always walks with me because its on the way to her third period.

"So did you make friends like I told you to?" she asks me. I sigh, thinking about Max.

"Nope." I answer. She gives me a long look.