bruised || h.g

Ch. 1 "I dont want to talk about it"

I had finally landed after my nine hour flight from Oregon to North Carolina. Words could not explain how happy I was to not have to sit by two 8 year old brats fighting over an IPad.

I grabbed my carry on and headed down the plane stairs then headed into the airport. I grabbed the rest of my bags and headed to the down to the escalator. When I Stepped on I began to look left and right for my mother whom I haven't seen in 3 years.

When I was 11 she got this boyfriend and went out every night, She decided she couldn't take care of me and shipped me out to my dads. Not knowing how much of an alcoholic he was.

As I got further down the escalator I saw her smiling widely with happy tears forming in the corners of her eyes. I forced a smile.

I stepped off the steep escalator and made my way towards my mother whom I haven't seen in a long time.

I dropped my bags and ran to her, faster than I've ever run before. She opened her arms and gladly took me in. Squeezing me, Holding me, loving me.

A few tears slipped down my cheek as she released her grip of me.

She looked so different. Different from the last time I saw her. Her hair was longer, Darker & She grew a little.

"I've missed you Tess" She winced.

"I've missed you too Mom" I cried.

"I'm so sorry, I had no idea he-" I cut her off mid in her sentence.

"Stop.. I don't want to talk about it" I said firmly.

She nodded and took one of my bags and led me to the car. I sat shotgun as she packed all my bags in the backseat making an attempt to get them all to fit.

"So, How are you? Do you have a boyfriend? What are you into?" She asked as if we've never met before.

"I'm doing okay.. No, I don't have a boyfriend. I'm into the same stuff Mom. I played volleyball year round while I was gone. I like Shawn Mendes and I love to read" I laughed.

"You like to read?" She asked.

"Yes, I always have loved reading" I answered.

I haven't seen my mom for a long time but she's acting so different around me. Like I'm some foreign exchange student.

"That's wonderful, what book are you reading right now?" Mom questioned.

"... dad didn't let me read. He said that it made me look nerdy and nobody likes a shy nerdy girl only for them to do their homework" I said sadly.

"Tessa... I'm so sorry.. I thought you'd be okay, I-" I interrupted her.

"Let's not talk about it?" I forced a smile.

Whenever someone tried to bring up my dad I would shut them down and never fully talk about it. I would totally shut everyone out and jut break down. I didn't know how to talk about it. I mean who could? After everything he's done to me? How do you talk about something that horrific and don't cry?

"You're right! Borders is right by the house, Let me take you there to get you some books?" She smiled.

I nodded excitedly. "Okay!"

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A/N

Sorry It's short! There's more to come😇

-Arcelia