Dead Roses

Goodbye

Chapter Fourteen

London's P.O.V

Violent shakes wake me up from my sleep abruptly, ending my dream of dunking Oreos in chocolate milk. Followed by loud grunts and series of banging against the fragile drywall by my bed.

"Wake the fuck up," Dad's loud booming voice bellows into my ear, sending ringing throughout it. I rub my eyes, removing any crusted sleep and stand up. I begin to tuck my sheets into the bed and fluffing my pillows as Mom had taught me. "You're wasting time London."

"No Dad I'm not. Mom told me that if I don't make my bed right after I get out of it-"

I am given no chance to finish my sentence as a stinging sensation burns my cheek. Tears pool in my eyes as the pain kicks in. I wince, earning another strike to the face which knocks some air from my lungs. "Your whore of a mother isn't fucking here anymore London! It's my house now! Marlene has no rights to you anymore, that bitch left me! She kills my son and fucking leaves! So don't try and tell me any bullshit about your surrogate teaching you how to make a bed!" Dad yells in my face, spitting and cussing, scaring my poor eleven-year-old self. My eyes widen in shock and fright.

Mom is gone? She never even said goodbye.

"I'm sorry Dad," I barely whisper. Looking down to the ground, focusing on any imperfect loose fray on the carpet.

"As long as you don't reflect your mother I forgive you."

My head spins as I gather the words I wish to say to Nyke, to at least explain why I am broken. "Jaxon left, by the way, he just dropped me off," he breaks the silence after he took in my truthful words. I nod in understanding, inhaling and exhaling deeply.

"Nyke," I begin, "my story is too long and painful for me to share fully in one day, but I will try and share as much as I can."

He looks at me with understanding eyes, "Lonnie I don't want you to tell me anything if you aren't ready."