I'm Fine (#Wattys2015)

31

It is night. Specifically 9:21 pm. I am hopeful because the doctor said Mom should wake up tonight. That was two hours ago but still.

"You should sleep." Dad says from the other side of the room. I frown but he cannot see it because the lights are off.

"What if I said no?" I ask daringly.

"If you were to say no, then I would medically make you sleep. We are in a hospital with stuff like that all around us. Possibly for good." He whispered the last part but I still heard it.

I scoff. "Ha. You could get sued."

"By who?" He challenges.

"By Mom."

"She is asleep and could be for a while."

"When she wakes up and finds out that you forced me to sleep..."

"Ugh. Just sleep."

"No." I say quietly, slightly scared because he ends up doing whatever he says.

"What did you say?"

"I said no." With my voice a little louder. "If Mom were to wake up when I was sleeping, I would not forgive myself because there is so much i have to say."

"Girl, you will sleep."

"Who will make me?"

"I will." I hear footsteps coming towards me. I stand up and wait.

"No again. No one is going to make me sleep." He is right in front of me by now. I can feel his Breath.

Then a hand is raised and slapped against my face.

All I feel is a real bad sting.

I am numb, not realizing what had happened.

Then, suddenly, I am furious. "You could get arrested. That was child abuse."

"You deserved it. You would not do what I said. Still won't."

Then, the dark world is spinning. I am falling to my knees. My breath is heavy. I feel a warm liquid run down my face. He must've hit my with the hand his ring is on.

"No." I say.

All I see is red in the dark room. I have no idea what is happening. I am throwing punch after ouch to my dad.

Wait.

A dad does not slap his daughter. A dad does not make his daughter bleed. A dad does not leave his daughter and wife alone for six months with no communication and then randomly show up on the doorstep. A dad does not do such things.

I continue to throw punches at this man who I thought cared. I still see red. I still do not know what exactly is happening. All I know is that I am furious.

A voice brings me back. A voice I had come to miss. A voice that belongs to my Mom.

"What is going on? Where am I? Why am I hearing these groans of pain? When is this going to stop? I hurt." The voice says.

"Mom!" I scream. Pure joy is in my voice.

"Sweets? That you?"

"Yes, mom. I love you!" I get off my dad and run to my mother. I wrap my arms around her.

I feel her arms gingerly wrap around my too skinny torso. "Why are you so skinny, Sweets?"

"Uhh..." I trail off not entirely wanting to answer that question.

"Never mind." She says realizing I do not want to talk about it. "Why is it so dark?"

I laugh. My eyes had grown accustomed to the darkness so I hadn't really noticed I. "Because Dad turned them off. I was supposed to sleep but I had to stay up. I had to know you were gonna be alright."

Tears come to my eyes again. Damn! Why have I been crying so often? Oh... Right... Because you have been having a sad life lately.

"Ohh." Mom says.

"Do.you want me to turn them on?"

"Yes please."

"Okay. Also, I have to get the doctor."

"Ohh." I hear disappointment in her quiet voice.

"Dad... Can you get the doc?" I ask walking to flip the light switch.

"Sure." He says probably still mad that I beat him at his own game.

I flip the switch and dad walks out the room.

"We need to talk."

*****

Hey y'all!!!

So this is a long one today. Hope you are happy. (:

So I just want to thank someone. Someone who has been with me from the start. Someone who has always voted and left nice comments. Someone who cares. Someone who I can trust.

This someone is @RachelSears

I love you girl!! <3

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- Batman <3