Please Let Me Be

Chapter 2

The feeling of emptiness ran through my body. Why was I even still here? I didn't want to be. I was better off dead.

The smell of beer and liquor hit my nose as I pried my eyes open. My mother was perched over me smoking a cigarette. She blew the smoke up into the air and ran a hand through her hair out of frustration. I tried to sit up but I felt a sharp pain shoot up my spine. 

"Don't sit up sweetheart your father did quite a number on you after school yesterday. If I were you don't look at your stomach it will just hurt your already low self esteem." My mother sarcastically said.

Lifting up my tattered T-Shirt I stared down at my stomach. In giant raging letter the word "SLUT" ran across the pale skin of my stomach. I was branded. He branded me with the word slut. Sitting up not caring about the pain coursing through my body I went over to the nearest mirror. Seeing the horror of fresh bruises,new cuts on my neck and face my eyes started to water. Rearing my fist back I punched the mirror and broke down as I fell to my knees. Picking up a shard of broken glass I ran it across my thighs as sobs escaped my throat. I couldn't do it anymore, I didn't want to do it anymore.

Gathering my thoughts I wiped my hands on my shirt and got up from the floor. Heading out the door I saw my mother sitting where she was a few moments ago. I wanted to say goodbye to her. She wasn't the best mother but she did keep me safe from my father on multiple occasions. She kept me a virgin till I was 18. My father tried to sooner and my mother always took my place because she didn't want me to feel that pain yet.The nightmares every night haunt me. I wake up screaming and thrashing in my bed tryign to get away from him. I feel some sympathy for her but hopefully she would be smart enough one day to leave too.

 Creeping up the stairs I see him passed out on the couch inside of his room. Heading to my room I take a small backpack and some money just in case. Packing a few extra hoodies, shirts with a pair of jeans and shorts I head down the stairs. I knew I wouldn't make it far before something killed me but at least I would be dead.  

I froze once I saw a curvy figure in the doorway.

"Leave. You need to leave before he wakes up."

She wanted me to go?

"Brooke there isn't much time to explain but you are stronger than this and you will understand later. I'm sorry for the hell you went through but go. I love you." she said pulling me into a hug. I couldn't help but bit into her shoulder trying to suppress my sobs as she brushed my hair. She hasn't comforted me like this since I was a little girl. I didn't care about the shit she gave me she was helping me escape this hell.

Slipping down the stairs and through the front door I took off running the best I could in the direction out of town.