I'll Never Say Goodbye

Chapter 4

Sqaishey's POV

I ended up with what I think is a fracture in my arm and countless scratches and bruises. My mother found me in my room about two hours later, then bandaged up and mended my arm. It still hurts a bit when I make sudden movements, but other than that, it doesn't hurt. I can't believe my own father would do this to me.

My mother is kinder than my father. She does all the things mothers should do to look after their children; she feeds me, listens to my feelings...

But the one thing she doesn't do is protect me. A few months ago, my dad was hitting me, and my mother just stood, leaning up against my bedroom door, just watching as I squealed in pain.

My mother told me there was a time when he was happy, not shut up in his room, depressed.

Well, that must have been a very long time ago, because I don't think my father was ever happy when I was alive.

Now I stand at my small window, looking out to the horizon, wondering where I am and where Stampy is.

I hear a knock at the door. It unlocks and opens to reveal my mother bringing me my dinner. A grilled sandwich.

"Sorry, it's not much. We hardly have any food." She apologises.

I eat in silence, occasionally passing my hand over the bandage on my arm. "It's broken." my mother says after I touch it a third time.

When I have finished my sandwich, I ask my mother a question.

"Why are you so nice to me?" I ask. "Father is never nice. All he does is yell at me."

"Well, you are my little sqaish!" She says, using my pet's nickname. "But you're the only one I've got left. I lost your dad to depression a long time ago."

I simply nod my head. I wish she had told me more, but I can't ask too much. Depression. Strong word. What made my father depressed?

"I want you to do more than just sit around moping the whole day. You need exercise!" she says, and I nod to agree with her.

"It's a little risky, but when your father goes to the pub for a few hours every evening, we could go out and just walk, or do some sporty activity. Just for you to keep fit."

I brighten up. Outside? Maybe I could run away while I'm out one day.

"No, Beth. If you ran, both you and I would get in deep water with your father. I wouldn't be surprised of he grabbed a knife and killed you on the spot."

Did I say my thoughts out loud? I guess my facial expression is easy to read.

"6:30pm tonight." my mother says before she walks out the door and locks it again.

A few things came out of the conversation, but one thing that was very important to me.

My mother isn't keeping me away from Stampy by free will.

My father is the cause of this.

Why is he keeping me away from Stampy? Is it something he thinks will happen, or something that has happened?

I just don't know any more. I need Stampy. Anything to do with him.

Let's hope my mother goes along with the plan I'm thinking in my head.