The Fighter

Chapter 32

7am came and I was still awake staring at the ceiling. The tears had stopped, but I did not sleep at all. That was like the third night in a row. I didn't want to sleep, I didn't want to talk, and I didn't want to leave the house. Here we go again. I'm drowning. The events from yesterday, and even 4 hours ago, still haunted me. My phone was blowing up with texts and calls. I didn't even care enough to check and see who it was. This was honestly ridiculous and trust me I felt it. I would never have ever let a guy bring me down so far, so why I right now?

I decided that I should at least get up and do something. I sat up on the edge of my bed. And looked at my phone. My brother had text me five times, Kyle had called me thirteen times and text me seven times. I called Gavin to check on Avery. While it was ringing I decided what I should do today. "Hey, about time you answered! Are you okay?" Gavin answered his phone. "Yeah, I'll be fine. How's my girl?" I asked. "Oh she's good." "Good. You want to go with me for a little bit today?" "Sure where?" "Our old house." I sighed. I was afraid to ask him. He stayed quiet for a minute and then answered. "Yeah, I've been meaning to go. So, let's go."

Gavin picked me up and we went to our old house. Gavin and I sat in the car and just stared at the house. "Do we get out now?" I asked. "Yeah, I think so." He looked over at me. "Are you okay Gav?" "Yeah, it's just been a long time since I've been here." "Me too." I got out first, and he followed. I took out my key as we walked up the front door. I looked up to put the key in the lock and froze. "I can't do it Gavin. I just can't." I spoke softly. "Mickie, you have to. You're the strongest one out of the two of us. I honestly would have never came here again if it wasn't for you." "I know, that's why I invited you to come with me. You're the one that actually had a relationship with Dad. You're the one who had hope in him. I was the one who took myself and Avery away from him. I didn't want her to be hurt the way I was. "What do you mean by that?" he looked at me confused. "Remember when you and your friends went on that college visit? When you were seventeen?" "Yeah, it was the middle of my senior year. I was gone all weekend and when I came home Sunday, you and Avery had left and moved in with Grandma and Papa." "Yeah, do you know why I left then?" "Because of Dad's drinking?" "Well, that was part of it. He went out got drunk that Friday night with his friends and then he and his friends came back to the house and did some drugs. He got mad because Avery was crying and she wouldn't stop. He started yelling at her and I took her and screamed back. I put her in my room and then dad grabbed me by the back of my shirt and pulled me out into the hall. I hit him, in the face and he threw me down the basement stairs. I woke up about three or four hours later and they were all gone, but Avery was still in my room safe and sound." I sighed and told him everything I remembered.

He stared at me for a minute and then spoke. "Wow, I never knew that." "That's because I never wanted you to. I knew how much you loved dad." "I honestly don't know what to say, but I'm so sorry." "Don't be, it was a long time ago." I sighed and looked back at the door. I put the key in and unlocked the door. "Come on Gavin, it's now or never." I changed the subject and walked in the house for the first time in over three years.

"Holy shit." I gasped. "Oh my God." Gavin followed me inside. The house was the same way we had left it. We went through the kitchen and over to Gavin's room. His bed was still made and everything was still on his desk. I went to my room and went in. I looked through my night stand went through all the pictures that I had there. There were mostly me, Gavin, and mom. There were some of mom and all of us after she had Avery. I took the pictures and put them in my sweatshirt pocket. "Hey, did you find something good?" Gavin asked. "Yeah, actually. I found pictures. Let's go get some of mom's things." I showed him and wanted to move on. "Yeah, there are a few things in there that mom wanted you and Avery to have before she died." "What?" "Yeah, she told me to make sure you two got them, but then everything with Dad happened and time got away from me. Not to mention we thought for the past few years that the house was taken by the bank and gone from us." "Yeah, I know it." I smiled. We went to mom and dad's old room and grabbed mom's jewelry box.

We were at the house for an hour and a half before we left. I was glad to leave, the place gave me the creeps. "I'm going to have the jewelry cleaned before I give it to you and Avery." Gavin smiled on the way home. "Okay, I'll have copies of the pictures made for you too." I smiled back. We were getting along again and that's all I wanted. Gavin has Avery for another few days so I can go home and maybe get some sleep. My phone rang, I looked down and it was Kyle.

"Hey what's up?" I answered. "Hey, I've been trying to get a hold of you all day. How are you doing?" "Just peachy Ky. I went to my old house with Gavin today and found some old stuff. Oh and we have to talk later." I sighed remembering everything from yesterday and early this morning. "Oh yeah? Want to hang out later?" "Yeah, I'll call you when I get home and we can figure out where to hang." "Okay, I'll talk to you then. Behave yourself." "I'll try. Bye Ky." I hung up. "How was he?" Gavin asked. "He's fine, just worried that I didn't answer him all day." I laughed. "Yeah, I was worried this morning too. Are you okay?" he asked pulling over into a parking lot. I felt the tears in my eyes. "No, I'm not. Greg came back and I almost killed him, and then he came to see me before he left again and I was fine until he told me that he still loved me." I cried. "What?" he was confused. I told him the whole story from the beginning. I cried and he hugged me.