Broken

Chapter 1

I wake breathless. Sweat trickling down the side of each of my temples and hair stuck to my face.

"It was just a nightmare," I mumble to myself as I catch my breath. The realization that he is no longer here sinking in. He couldn't hurt or threaten me any longer.

As I sit up in my bed, I look to my bedside table and the picture in a frame that stood upon it. Everyone's smiles wide. I missed my family so much but had moved to New York nearly a month ago to fulfill the dreams I'd had since I was in diapers running free with a microphone in my hand and to free myself from the hurt he caused.

I pushed my memories aside as I realized it was already three in the afternoon. My nap lasting longer than I'd expected. I stripped down, revealing my bare skin. My clothes scattered along my carpet, making its trail to my bathroom. I now faced my shower turning the handle until the water forced its way to the surface. I stuck my hand out feeling the temperature rise against my skin. I stepped in closing my curtain, letting the warm pleasure engulf my skin as it sent streams down my body.

Once I my skin was masked in the scent of my body wash and my hair was clean I shut the water off and pulled back my curtain. Goosebumps covered my skin as the warm air escaped from where I stood. As I stepped out of my shower I grabbed my towel that had been draped on its rack and wrapped it around my skin, twisting it into a knot slightly above my left breast preventing it from slipping off my body. I blow-dried my hair until the natural long dark waves formed. I applied my mascara spreading the black gunk evenly across my lashes. I opened my Chapstick and spread it across my lips as the mint scent captured my thoughts.

I heard my phone buzzing from my bed and a smile spread across my face already knowing who it had been.

"Hey," I answered.

"Where the hell are you?!" Charlie exclaimed

"I'm getting dressed right now and then I'll be on my way."

"Well hurry up, you've been bragging about my present to me all month and I'm a tad anxious," she said.

"Okay, okay. Let me get dressed then!" I giggled.

"Okay! Love you Ava!" she squealed.

"Love you too Charlie."

As I watched her name disappear from my screen I rushed over to my closet and grabbed my matching black lace underwear and bra. I put the undergarments on and grabbed my teal long sleeved baby doll dress with black crocheted sleeves and slipped it over my head and down my body. I took hold of my black combat boots and slipped them onto my feet as they stopped just above each ankle. Hanging on the picture frame next to my bed was the locket my dad had given me just before I moved to New York. I took the locket around my neck and clasped it into place. Just beside the picture frame was an envelope. The envelope that held Charlie's birthday present. I grabbed the small paper package and made my way out of my little city apartment.

* * *

The cab came to a stop in front of the extremely familiar building. I paid the cab driver and made my way to Charlie's place knowing the way all too well. Before I even had the opportunity to knock the door burst open and the card had found its way into Charlie's hands. I entered and closed the door laughing.

"Good to see you too Charlie," I said sarcastically.

"Hey, I've been dying to know what it is!" She exclaimed.

"I know, Happy Birthday," I said sincerely.

"Thanks Ava, can I open it now?" She smiled.

"Its all yours," I told her.