The beauty of being alone was no one could get close enough to hurt you.
I thought I understood that when Maya died.
I'd barely known Avery. I couldn't understand why him despising me hurt so much.
I shrugged those thoughts off, shaking my head. I had been a few days since our arguement and we hadn't made eye contact since.
I knew I needed to apologize to win him back as my friend. Part of me said my pride was in the way. Part of me-the part I chose to ignore- was afraid of rejection.
It's not like I was trying to make friends, anyways. I'd get over it.
I stepped into my house and immediately, something felt off. I quietly padded inside, but all was quiet.
"Hello?" I called, dropping my bag.
"Abigail, that you?" I cringed at the sound of my father's voice.
"Y-yeah." I stuttered. "I'm uhm going to go to my room."
"Stay down here, please."
I stiffened as he entered the room. I hadn't spoken to him at all since the last time he'd hit me.
I sniffed. There was no smell of alchohol. That didn't reassure me at all- I was on edge.
"We need to talk."
"There's nothing to talk about." I replied, brushing passed him. His fingers gripped onto my arm. I winced.
"Yes there is." his voice was angry. I swallowed, keeping my eyes down. "You cannot say a word about me hitting you. Abigail."
I narrowed my eyes, a small amount of defiancy beginning to surface.
"Why the hell not?"
His eyes bore into me like daggers.
"I am your father. You'll do as I say."
"Why? Don't want to look bad? Are you afraid of losing your title of world's best dad?" my voice was feirce. He jerked me back, shaking me.
"Shut your damn mouth. You really think you adn your mother could survive without me? Huh?"
His face was inches from mine and I had the urge to spit.
"I'm going to tell mom." I hissed. He jerked me back slamming me into the wall. I yelped in pain.
" You really want to fuck this family up more? Huh? You're such a selfish bitch. You're just like Maya."
"Get off me!" I tried yanking away, but he pinned my arms down. He slammed me back into the wall several times. Finally he threw me to the ground, kneeling over me. He leaned down and I could feel his hot breath in my ear.
"You will not tell."
With that, he sauntered away.
I sat there for several seconds, staring at the wall blankly. My back throbbed.
I had to get out of there. Fast.
I stood quickly and my head began pounding, making me stumble. I crashed out the door. The snowy air whooshed through me, sending a chill down my spine.
I ran.
I didn't know where I was going, I just ran. My lungs burned from the frigid air and my legs pounded, slamming onto the icy sidewalk. I ran and ran.
In a blink, my knee went out underneath me and I crashed onto the icy concrete, my head connecting with the walk. Slowly I sat up.
It was then that I began crying. Heavy sobs that came from all the pain I'd hidden. My whole body shook.
