Thank you, Kelley

Chapter 23

Meghan's POV:

Three months later

It's now mid-September. The summer was ok. I spent most of it on the pitch or at the diner. As usual Kelley, Sonnett, and a few others on the team and I talk constantly. We have been back at school for a couple of weeks now and it's going ok. The soccer girls and I have gotten a lot closer which is nice. We go out to eat after practice together sometimes which is really fun. I also think it has really helped the chemistry of the team and thus our play on the field. We are currently on track to go to the state championships if we can keep up our winning streak. Kelley said that if we do make it she is flying out no matter what I say. But little did we both know she would see me sooner than that.

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I have just finished up an away game with our high school team. Thankfully we had won and I even scored one of the goals. We were all in a fantastic mood as we boarded the bus and started to make our way home. It was a long ride out originally and now that it was rush hour we expected the traffic to be even worse.

By the time we arrived back in the school parking lot, it was almost 8 pm. It had definitely been a long but good day. I walk to my car saying goodbye to my teammates. As I climb in I realize that I have to go home. It's later than I would normally be on a Friday night because it took us so long to get back. This is not going to bode well for me when I get home.

Recently Greg hasn't even been needing an excuse to hurt me. Although I know now that he "has" one it will be worse. I really want to just stall and drive around town for a while to put off my punishment but I know that will only make it worse.

I miss my old life. The one where my perfect family was still alive. I miss them so much. I start my drive home with my music blaring way too loud. Thoughts of my parents and brother swim through my mind.

Way sooner than I want I pull into the driveway. I've made it to the point where I am no longer scared of what awaits me. I'm just angry. Angry at the world. At Greg. At my parents for dying and leaving me all alone. Angry at the drunk who hit us. My anger propels me through our front door.

As soon as I pass through the door frame everything goes wrong.

I see something flying towards my face but I'm not fast enough.

I hit the ground in pain. I feel blood drip down my forehead from the beer bottle that just collided with it. I can feel my head spinning. My vision is blurred. I can see Greg's form stalking towards my position on the floor. I'm too disoriented to even try and fight back.

Blow after blow collides with me. My brain trying to comprehend my surroundings. Memories flashed across my mind. All the times Greg has hurt me. My ex trying to kill me. Then happier ones. My family. Kelley holding me tight in a hug.

I'm brought back to reality as another beer bottle collides with my scull. There are now glass shards covering the floor around me. They dig and claw their way into my skin. My body burns with contact. I can feel myself starting to pass out. Blackness is starting to overpower my will.

Then he walks away. He just changes his mind and leaves. Right out the front door. I have to get out of here before he comes back. Come on, get off the ground. But I have no strength. I remember that I had my phone in my pocket earlier. I try to move my arm to reach and grab it. Pain shoots through me. Ahhhhh.... Fuck. I just have to get my phone.

I'm done with this shit. I'm getting out of this hell hole if it's the last thing I do. I don't know where I'm going to go but it's not going to be here.

Somehow I manage to get it from my pocket. I try to turn it on but I can barely see. My left eye swollen shut and my right on its way there.

By the grace of god I dial 9-1-1.