Just another Day in High school

The Crow and The Butterfly

"I'm home!" A voice yelled from the foyer. I was sitting on the couch. River next to me and his arm around my shoulder. Slowly I was eating the pizza momma had made.

"Daddy!" I yelled smiling when he came into the living room.

"Hey El bear. How was your day?" He asked ruffling my hair.

"Tiring," I said softly while yawning.

"Well we have some important things to talk about okay?" He asked as he set all of his things down and sat on the couch.

"Okay," I said gulping.

"For starters, your father," he grumbled putting his hands together in front of him.

I looked down, "He wants me back. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I mean he's my dad and I'm not eighteen yet. I-I know whats gonna happen if I go back," I said wrapping my arms around my body.

"Do you have documentation of any of the abuse? Other than the last time?" He asked softly. He had gotten up and was sitting on the table in front of me.

"B-baby?" I asked looking at River.

His sapphire orbs looked at me and shined. "Yes angel?"

"Can you hand me my backpack?" He leaned over and grabbed it handing it to me. "Thank you." I dumped the contents onto my lap and organized them quickly. "I, um, made this so I could keep these close if I ever needed them," I said as I pulled the near invisible zipper located at the bottom of the bag. I pulled out the envelope and handed it to dad. "There's more just not with me."

"Where?" Momma asked as she sat next to Daddy looking through the photos in the envelope.

"Dad's in the closet. Hidden," I said looking away from them all. Those photos were not just of me. There were some of Ethan too. Ones of me laying in puddles of blood and puke. Ones that Ethan took of me and vice versa.

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me," Daddy said softly. Stopping at a photo. "Did-did he really do this to you?" He asked turning it around. My stomach flipped remembering that photo.

It was me, strapped to a table, gag in my mouth. It was one I stole from Dad's collection. He had just finished carving words into my flesh. He had just finished bashing my head into the wood furnace. Blood poured down my head and face, collecting on the stainless steel. My back facing up. The words "whore," "cunt," and "worthless" smiled up at the camera. My eyes still open and lifeless as I looked into the lens. I looked away and quickly wiped my eyes. "Almost everyday," I whispered. It was barely audible but, I didn't care.

"I'm taking these to Dale," Daddy said getting up and getting his phone. "Did your Mom know about this?"

"She did. When I begged for help she ignored me. Sometimes even helped him," I said playing with my lip ring. Rivers arms wrapped around me tightly. A growl ripped from his chest.

"Your parents are going to jail Shelby," Daddy said the phone pressed to his ear. "Dale, I need some help," he said going into the kitchen. "Shelby and Ethan yes. She just gave me photos. She says there's more. Yes. Yes. We'll be there soon. Thank you." He walked back over. I felt numb. I should be happy. I should be relieved but, part of me wasn't.

I didn't wanna have to talk about this again. I relived it every day. I didn't wanna face him again. "D-Daddy?" I asked quietly.

"Yes baby?"

"I-I don't wanna see him again," I whispered. My body tucked into River's chest as he tried to make me feel better.

"I know but, we've gotta get the rest of the evidence. Dale is gonna be there. I'm gonna be there. You'll be safe," he said walking over and opening the gun safe.