Stars Falling from Above

✩ 3 ✩

Riley regrets hitting her head off of the wood. Her head is now pounding and it's not just because of the injury. She has been crying for hours which made her headache much worse. Now sitting on the bed, the soft blanket under her legs feels nice. Making her feel a bit calm. Her thoughts keep trailing back to what happened, but she keeps trying to push them away. Telling herself how dumb and stupid she was to just mindlessly help the man. She was just trying to help. Hair is knotted and messy like a bird's nest from rubbing her hands in it and moving them around it, being angry with herself. A mess. She was just a huge mess right now. A pillow is on the floor leaning against the wall in front of her. While crying she threw it at the wall.

Getting up now and picking it up, putting it back on the bed in the corner. It was getting dark out and she decided to turn on the desk light that was on her desk. The light spread across the room and beside the light was a chapter book resting. Picking it up and holding it to her chest. It reminded her of when things were easier. When she was younger and didn't have to worry about anything. Moving it away from her chest, the front cover had 'Time Travelling with a Hamster' along the top. To her it was now a childish book, but she didn't care. Her thoughts trailed back to when she was younger.

Her mother was kneeling beside her bed and her father sat down beside her. Riley was turned on her side looking at the two, all three of them smiling peacefully. He hummed as her mother sang softly. She may have been singing quietly but Riley listened so well that she heard every word perfectly. When the music stopped her father pulled out the book and her mother smiled grabbing the book into her hands. She opened to the page with a sticky note to keep track of where they were last. "Ready?" She would always ask her, always knowing the answer "yes." She started reading the story and pictures went through Riley's mind. Sometimes she was only listening to the tone of her mother's voice and sometimes it would be the story. They could read it all night, over and over, it would never bore her. Her mother's words stopped, and Riley felt more at peace with a mix of sadness from her stopping. The mother stood up and kissed her on the cheek and her father did the same except on her four head as always. She pulled the blanket to her chin and smiled widely at her parents as they closed the door and said their good nights. She fell asleep excited for tomorrow night when it would be her father's turn to read.

Riley has tears coming out again when she thought she even had no more to spare. The book was held against her tightly again. Those times were better. This book is proof that her parents were good to her once. Why did they have to change? It was nicer then. Is it because she's older now?

They've changed. Her mother drinks and doesn't care about Riley one bit. Her father is trying his best for her but it's hard for him. With her mother still around it's like she's in control. He just does what her mother says. She doesn't get it but doesn't want to ask. Thinking he's just going to make up some excuse saying that she's not what she seems or something.

Putting the book back down, she turns to her phone and checks the time. It's late, where's her father? She pulled out messages and is about to throw him a text when she hears the door slam open, almost dropping her phone from the sudden noise.

She turns around but her door isn't open so it must be downstairs. She puts her phone on the bed and shuffles over to the door taking her steps slow. Pressing her ear to the door, listening to what's going on. She hears a giggle from a woman and a hiccup from the other. She recognizes the woman's voice but who is the other? Did her mother bring home another man?

Riley opens the door and is scared to move. She hears her parent's bedroom door open and feels like it's true; her mother brought home another man. She walked to the top of the stairs and hears the males voice, "go to sleep sweetie, y-you need it."

Father?

Confusion fills Riley's head. What's going on? Why did he sound drunk? No, he can't be. He is Riley's father, he has never drunk in his life, at least that's what Riley knows. Something drops onto the ground and is lifted back up, being dragged across the floor a bit before being lifted back onto the table.

Riley takes a step down the stairs and hears him talk to himself. She keeps going down but slowly. She can't exactly hear what he is saying, he's mumbling random that doesn't make sense. He's laughing. He walks into the kitchen and is still laughing for almost no reason at all.

Riley has now made it down the stairs and is walking towards the kitchen. Her father opens the covert to find boxes that look smashed and broken. He keeps laughing but he stops at the sight. He turns around and sees Riley standing in the doorway.

"What's this?" He asks. Riley gulps at the sight of her father. "I-it's the crackers you asked for." She tries to say it as well as she can and is about to tilt her head down when she hears something slam onto the counter. Her head bolts backup and her fathers' hand is pressed against the counter.

"I didn't ask for this. I didn't ask for a broken box of.. what even are these? I don't eat this shit." He sounds calm but looks like he's about to explode. "Dad, you don't... you don't understand."

The box is thrown at the wall inches away from Riley. She flinches and starts to feel scared, she shouldn't be feeling this, especially around her father. He moves around the counter and starts towards Riley slowly. "I don't understand, do I?" He laughs hysterically and looks like he's burning into Riley's eyes. "Father please-" his foot stomps onto the floor. "no! Shut up and listen for once! I didn't fucking get the job today, that's the third time this week, Riley. Your mom and I finally have a good time and I come back to see..." he grabs another box and throws it on the ground. "This shit! I swear you are so fucking useless around here! All you had to do was buy food, it's not that hard. You do nothing around this house. Your mother comes home, and you just hide. You really think I want to take care of that mess? Of course not! But you don't even think to help, you just hide. Don't you think that maybe I'm a little tired of this too. Have you ever thought about that?"

Riley nodded slightly; her eyes started trailing to the floor. She is then on the floor from her father punching her shoulder. "It doesn't seem like it! You say you do but you don't! Can't you just do it for once! I am doing my best Riley." He starts to cry but it's not much. "I am the only one taking care of this household. Do you know how hard it is to take care of your dumb ass of a mother and your weak ass!"

He breathes deeply and Riley looks up at him. "Stand up." She moves only a bit trying to but is kicked. "I said to stand up!" She scrambles but gets up. "You will listen to me young lady. You will start being more mature around this house if you like it or not. You got that?"

Riley doesn't answer. Her father waits but she still doesn't answer. He pushes her harshly and her back hits against the wall, gasping at the pain and she falls to the floor.

"I said do you got that!?" Riley nods quickly and he looks up and sighs. "Good." He looks back down at her and she looks away not wanting to look at her father's face anymore. "You're pitiful."

He turns and walks back to his room leaving Riley speechless. She doesn't cry. Finally, she had dried out her eyes. At least that's what she thinks until another tear falls from her eyes hitting the ground. Her hand whips the water away from her eyes, but she keeps going and knows there is not stopping her.

She knows this is going to be a long sleepless night.