Daylight

Chapter 1

We all have our problems. For some, it's school. Long days of learning, when some don't have many friends/like learning, is not a walk in the park. Tests and projects are also a lot to handle, especially when you have other fun things to do like sports. But then there's Bryn. She loves school! She is popular and gets amazing grades. It was her parents who were the problem. Her relationship with them is awful. No, they weren't divorced, they were just very controlling and abusive. Her only escape was school, that's why she loved it so much. She was safe and protected there, she felt free from everyone and everything.            

Knock Knock Knock

It was the first day of 10th grade for Brynley and Emerleigh. "I'll get it mom," said Bryn as she ran down the stairs, knowing it would be Emmy. Emmy was one of Bryn's best friends. She needed to get to her before her mother did. She didn't like it when her mom talked to her friends because it was all an act. She had to lie about everything to them and it hurt her. She was coming so close to telling her friends about her parents, but something was holding her back.

"Get back upstairs now. You know the rules, me and your father are the only ones allowed to answer the door no matter who it is. Your such an idiot! I wish you weren't alive," her mom yelled. Bryn rolled her eyes as she ran back up the stairs. Her mother had very strict rules, even about going to school. Her mom always reminded her to not go anywhere but school, and to not tell anyone about what happens at home. If she did, there would be consequences. She didn't want to risk anything, that's why she kept her mouth shut all 15 years of her life.

Honestly, it wasn't that Bryn was scared of her parents, well she was, it was just she didn't know what would happen to her if she did tell anyone. Where would she go? What would happen to her? Would she be able to stay here for school with her friends? These were all questions Bryn never liked asking herself because she didn't like the answers she was giving. She just went with the flow just so she could stay with her friends and be as normal as she could be. It was the only way, she thought.

Her mother opened the door, "Oh hello Emerleigh dear, how are you doing today?" she asked in a nice cheery voice. "I am doing great!  I am so excited for school today! Bryn and I were going to go get breakfast real quick before school with some others, that's why I am so early, it was her idea." Bryn's mom quickly wiped the smile off her face. She didn't like her daughters' friends because they always wanted to go somewhere. "I am so sorry but Bryn won't be able to go out for breakfast. She is still getting ready! You know her, everything has to be perfect, I would have woken her up earlier if I had known. Can you come back in about 30 minutes? She will be ready by then for sure!" Emmy was confused, "Um okay I guess? I wonder why she didn't tell you," she said with a shrug as she turned around and walked away. Bryn's mom was furious.

Brynley knew what was coming. She could feel her mother's footsteps as they shook the floor. Bryn ran to her door and locked it shut. She was trembling in fear knowing her mother would hurt her. It happened all the time. Her mom was at the door, trying to shake it open. "Open this damn door now you dumb ass! You know I am coming in one way or another!" Unfortunately, her room had no windows to escape from, so there was nowhere to go. Bryn tried to yell for her father, who was downstairs making breakfast. "Father help! Mom is trying to hurt me!" Her mom was so mad, the door broke in half from her kick. "I can not believe you! First, you disobey me, then you try and get your father to help you? I told you that you can not go ANYWHERE except for school! No one can help you now." She walked over to Bryn who was on the wooden floor, shaking. Before her mother could do anything, her dad walked in. "What is the problem in here Julia?" He could see the look in Julia's eyes. They were like fire pits, filled with anger. Even he was scared for Bryn. "Ummm whatever your mother says goes." Bryn started crying, this happened every time. Her dad never helped her in these types of situations. "I just want to live a normal life where I can hang out with my friends! Is that too much to ask?" Bryn had thought she had changed her mother's mind. All of a sudden, she raised her hand and slapped Bryn across the face. Her father came over and kicked her in the stomach, mad that she talked back to his wife. "Hopefully you will finally learn your lesson, there will be more coming when you get home. Do not go anywhere after school or else. Oh yeah, Emmy will be back in 30 minutes so be ready. Don't come down until I get you. Also, cover up the mark on your face, we don't want anyone suspecting anything," she said with a wink. Her mother left the room. "Dad, why do you always do what mom does? You can have different thoughts and opinions from her!" He came over next to Bryn. "Oh sweetie, I do have my own opinions. Even though I never know what you do, I know your mother is right. She always is and will be. Now, don't you dare talk to me like that ever again! Your so disrespectful." He kicked her once again and slammed her door. Bryn was left on the ground with tears streaming down her face.

After a few minutes, she finally got up. It hurt to move but she had to so no one would suspect anything. She put on a nice "first-day" outfit and went into the bathroom. Bryn looked at herself in the mirror, "I am more then what my family thinks of me." She didn't believe herself. Tears started falling onto her nice crop top. Many thoughts went through her mind. Her parents had made her think so poorly of herself, she was only hanging on by a thread. She finally wiped the tears off of her red face and started applying makeup to cover up the handprint across it, given to her by her horrific mother.

She often thought about how much different her life would be with loving parents. No bruises, no bruises, no bruises. In her dreams, her mom loved her and let her go to concerts and the mall. Her dad played video games and helped her with homework. But in reality, they made her do everything around the house, and then she was locked in her room.

Once she got everything ready, including packing her bag, she yelled down to her mom to let her know she was ready. Her mother barged into her room. "What the hell are you wearing? Change that god damn rag covering you! Stop acting like such a whore!" Bryn couldn't take this. "What do you mean? This is a shirt and I am wearing it! This is my life and not yours so you can take your ugly self and leave my room!" Bryn was prepared for anything her mother threw her way. There was something different though, Julia's anger was nothing she had ever seen before. She just stood there, shocked. Julia had never heard Brynley talk or use that tone with her. Her anger boiled from the bottom to the top of her body until it exploded like a volcano. "Your dead!" Julia screamed as she punched Bryn directly in the nose. As she fell to the floor, like a lifeless body, Julia kicked her until she stopped moving. Gerald walked into Bryn's room after hearing all the screaming, once again. He saw his daughter's lifeless body on the floor. "Julia what did you do! We are going to be sent to jail for this!" Julia sighed, "Oh relax, look she started breathing again. She just won't be able to go to school today that's all. I mean, it has happened before. No biggie. Just leave her locked in here. No one will know." As her parents walked out of the room, Bryn was left on the cold hard ground with no one to help her.