Save Me - clifford (a.u.)

21

Michael

I heard screaming; lots of screaming coming from downstairs, the shattering of glass, the thumps of something hitting against the wall repeatedly.  I tried to close my eyes and tune it out.  Should I go downstairs to try to help Dani’s mom?  Should I stay out in her room to protect her if he comes upstairs?  Michael what are you going to do?  I heard the distant sound of footsteps on the stairs and my heart started racing.  I heard Dani’s door open and slam the wall opposite to it.  I closed my eyes, and forced myself to generate a plan as quickly as possible.

“Do you know what happened?” He demanded.

“No.” Dani said in an assertive tone, like she was unafraid.

“Your bitch of a mother embarrassed me in front of my co-workers.  Mhmm.  My own fucking bitch of a wife embarrassed me in front of the people that keep this family rolling in money.”

“Is that so.” She said like she was bored.

“What do you think of that?” He asked.

“I think you’re drunk.” She spat.

“Oh is that so?” He asked, and I heard a slap.  Something inside of me snapped and I broke out of the closet.  The pudgy, red-faced man looked at at me.  He was about the same height as me.

“Don’t you dare fucking touch her.” I said.  The man looked at my confused.

“Who the fuck are you, and why the fuck are you in MY house?” He demanded.

I inhaled deeply bracing myself for what would come next.

“I’m someone who actually cares about your family, unlike you piece of shit.” I said firmly.

That was when he pushed me into her closet mirror, and it shattered into pieces.  I felt sharp pains along my neck and back and I could feel the warmth of my blood running down my back. I punched him back; hard and as he leaned over I looked to Dani, and nodded towards the door.  She looked at me with sorrowed eyes and I nodded.  Then she went downstairs.

“You son OF A BITCH!” He yelled kicking me in the leg, and then punching me in the face.  I felt a raw pain thump from below my eye, and then he pushed me onto the floor, and that’s when it all faded into black.

*

Beep, beep, beep.  I awoke to the sound of beeping.  I opened my eyes to find a clean ceiling over my head, and felt a smooth blanket of cotton over me.  I felt thumping coming from my head and eye.  I sat up and saw my mother and Dani, next to each other, talking in hushed tones.  I woke up and my mother covered her mouth and began to cry.

“Michael…” She began.

“Hi mom.” I said smiling, amidst recent events.

“Honey…” She began hugging me lightly being cautious of my injuries.

“Mom I’m sorry.” I admitted.

“I’m so proud of you.” She said with tears rolling down her face.

“Is your mom okay?” I asked looking at Dani.

She nodded. “She will be.”

“Where is he?  Where is that piece of shit?” I asked starting to feel the heat in my body increase.

“He’s arrested, he’s in custody, looks like we won’t be seeing him for a while.” My mom said nodding.

Dani forced a smile. “I’m sorry, Michael.” Coming up to my bedside opposite to my mom.

“Please don’t be.  I love you.  It was worth it.  You’re worth it, trust me.”

I looked up at her and she leaned down and softly kissed my forehead.

“I love you too.”

I smiled up at her and then looked straight to find a familiar Starbucks barista run past the door.

“Was that Holly?” I asked looking up at Dani.

She smiled and nodded.

“Yea Luke tried to do this whole romantic thing to ask her out…. Long story short he fell off of a table and broke his arm.” She said laughing and my mum smiled.

“What an idiot…” I began shaking my head.

“Wait, were the guys here?” I asked my mom.

She nodded. “Ashton and Calum, and Luke and his friend came in a little after your stitches.”

“I got stitches?” I asked.  Then I remembered the cuts I felt on my back and neck last night from Dani’s mirror.

“On your back, yes. 8 to be exact.”

“But you were out cold for a good 4 hours.  The doctors said that when you arrived, you were waking up but you would’ve been in a lot more pain than now, so they gave you some anesthetics and here we are.” Dani added in.

I nodded to myself.

“Well you look better, I’m going to go check on my mom, but I’ll be back.  Ms. Clifford would you like anything?” Ms. Clifford.  I almost laughed.

“Dani, dear, I told you to call me Karen, And no, we can go for a coffee run once you get back, thank you dear.”  She smiled and nodded and left the room.

I looked at my mum who sighed and looked at me.

“Quite the girl you got there…”

I smiled. “Yea, she’s a special one.”

“Michael, you have to be more careful.

I nodded. “I know.”

“No, Michael, I don’t think you do…” She began.

“What do you mean?”

She sighed and grabbed onto my hand. “I mean, this girl seems like trouble. Big trouble.” She nodded.

“She’s worth it mum, just..”

“I can’t let this happen to you again, Michael, and I just have this feeling with her, which it will.”  She sighed. “I want you to break up with her.” She finally said.

And at that moment my happiness in this world was being crushed by one of the people I love most.