UNEXPECTED | UNEDITED

01 | Flashing Lights

Carly swept up the bits of broken glass that was spread on the hardwood floor. The flashing police lights still shone through the windows only reminding the eighteen-year-old of the traumatic night that had unfolded. Outside the window, past the sheer curtains, she could make out the silhouettes of her father and the policemen that were speaking with.

Carly had already told Sarah and Adam, her younger siblings,  to go to sleep but she knew they were probably just as restless as she was. They had been in the middle of dinner when their estranged mother had shown up out of nowhere with her new boyfriend. The woman expected that her ex-husband and father of her three children, Victor, should have to pay her child support for letting him keep his two youngest children. He obviously refused and when he asked the drunken couple to leave they let their tempers get the best of them.

There had been a fight between the members of the broken family which ended with Carly stepping between their mother and her brother and sister. Cynthia, Carly's mom, decided that Adam and Sarah should be with their mother if their father didn't want to pay up. Cynthia had struck Carly across the face, leaving a nasty forming bruise and a painful busted lip. 

It wasn't long before one of the neighbors called the local police department who picked up the drunken duo. They were shoved into the back of a cop car and taken to the local police station much to everyone's relief. Her father went out to speak to the remaining officers and Carly stayed behind to comfort her siblings and send them off to their beds. Carly had been so caught up with her thoughts and collecting the broken glass into a dustpan she hadn't noticed that one of the cops had entered the small kitchen behind her.

"Miss?" Carly jumped, the small hand broom falling from her hand and hitting the wooden floor. One of the policemen stood in the doorway, his hands on his utility belt. His eyes widened when he realized he scared the young girl, "Oh, I didn't mean to scare you."He laughed at the flustered Carly, who in turn tried to stutter an excuse for her jumping. He assured her that there was no reason to apologize and that it was his fault for scaring her. 

"I just have a few questions..." he started but he paused when he saw the forming bruise on Carly's cheekbone. "And by the looks of it, I should document that." He pointed to the dark mark on her pale face.

"Oh," Her hand flew up to her face to cover the bruise, it wasn't the first time that her mother had hit her in anger or the first time it had left a mark. She just hadn't expected anyone to see her this late at night. "This Isn't- It's not- You don't-" Carly's mind raced as jumbled sentences left her mouth while she tried coming up with a cover story. Usually, she had a few hours to come up with an excuse and being newly eighteen she still hadn't realized she shouldn't have to live in fear of Cynthia's rage.  

"Your dad already told us what happened." He took her chin in his hand, tilting her cheek towards the light to get a better look. A deep blush formed on her cheeks, the officer didn't blink an eye at her obvious discomfort as he studied her face.  "I'm Officer Milver by the way." He said softly, his minty breath fanning over flushed cheeks.

The cop's eyes scanned her face as his thumb traced over her busted lip, a dark look taking over in his blue eyes. Carly hadn't talked to many cops in her life but she was pretty sure that this was pretty uncommon. She only stared back at him in silence and surprise as if his ocean colored eyes captured her in a trance. the pad of his thumb pressed on her bottom lip, careful to not pain her farther, he applied the smallest amount of pressure. Carly's lips parted much to his satisfaction allowing him access to her mouth if he had wanted to. A small smirk appeared on his face as his other hand wrapped around the back of her neck to inspect her closer. 

"I'm going to have to get some pictures of that." He pulled away, both of his hands dropping from her body. He exited the shared kitchen and living room space only to reappear a moment later with a digital camera in hand. He took photos, angling her face into better lighting and into different positions to show off her beaten face.

Once Milver backed away, he glanced her over before looking around the house. Taking a few pictures of the disheveled room.

"Goodnight...?" He waited for her name, she hadn't introduced herself yet and she silently cursed her bad manners. Even though it would be hard to introduce one's self while someone basically has their finger in her mouth.

"Carly. My name is Carly Walters."

"Well, Carly Walters, I'll let you know if we have any more questions. You take care of yourself." He gave her a warm smile as he said his goodbyes and Carly returned the favor.

"You too, Officer Milver." Carly shut the front door before watching the cop walk down the front steps and pathway to his patrol car. She held her breath as she watched him drive away into the night.