His reasons are always the same. One slap, because I was a mistake. Two kicks, because he's stuck with me. Three punches, because in his eyes I'm a disgrace, and lastly, the final knockout hit because I'm the reason why his life was destroyed.
• • •...
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" just when you think you've hit rock bottom, you realize you're standing on another trapdoor "
- Marisha Pessl, Night Film
∞
Everything was chillingly silent.
Robert stood motionlessly in the doorway, except for his slight swaying as he tried to keep his balance. Gemma was absolutely noiseless. Just like me, she could tell that my father was drunk - so drunk that it was a miracle he was still standing.
The pungent smell of a mix of booze and weed seeped through the air. I had to resist the urge to vomit when the stench attacked my senses, causing a slight sting in my head from how strong it was.
"Where's my food?" he slurred.
"In the kitchen" I lied calmly, trying to discreetly slide in between him and Gemma, just in case I couldn't manage to get her out of here before things inevitably escalated.
"Who is that?" He stepped closer to Gemma but abruptly stopped when he almost fell over. I watched as he struggled to grasp the half empty bottle of whiskey in his hand.
"My friend. But she's leaving now."
Suddenly Robert turned on me threateningly "Did I say you could have a friend over?"
"No... I'm sorry, I'll send her home if that's what you want..." my voice wavered from fear.
"What I want is for you to stop acting like an ungrateful brat and realize who your superior is!" his voice boomed across the room "You can't just do stuff like this without my permission!"
I hear Robert's empty stomach rumble, and his eyes flicker to the kitchen where he thinks food is waiting for him.
"We'll talk about this after I eat." he sends me a long, hard glare before stomping off into the kitchen.
"Quick, get out of here!" I harshly whisper to Gemma, who was standing a few feet away from me, frozen in fear with wide eyes. She made no move to run.
"Gemma go home, NOW!" I whisper firmly, shoving her forward. She snaps out of whatever trance she was in and rushes out the door.
I had no clue where she was going to go, but I hoped that it was home. Tomorrow I would tell her that my father was just drunk and nothing bad happened, and hopefully she wouldn't get suspicious.
"Where is my food?" Robert seethes, stalking back into the room with fury written across his face, seconds after the door clicked shut.
"There is none..." I whisper loud enough for him to hear, dropping my head so I'm looking at the floor. Nothing was said, It was completely and eerily silent. I was frightened to look up at Robert to see what he was going to do. Moments pass where Robert stays unmoving, until finally, he strikes.
A fist is launched into my stomach, knocking the air out of me instantaneously. As I struggle to catch my breath, Robert lifts his leg and kicks me. I go flying backwards, cracking my skull off the corner of a coffee table. An excruciating pain blooms in my head, and as I reach up to rub the sore spot I feel a sticky substance easily identifiable as blood.
"Since day one you've been an ungrateful, selfish brat. You never listen to anybody but yourself and can't follow a single goddamned order!" boomed Robert furiously.
He swung his arm, and his fist connected with my jaw.
"It's because of that fault that you killed my wife!" He screamed, landing multiple blows on my body "She's dead because of you!"
When everything around me began to spin, I knew I didn't have much longer before I passed out. Robert continued to land kick after kick and punch after punch onto my body, and yet even when he saw the insane amount of damage he was causing, he didn't stop. Robert was going to take it too far this time, he's too drunk to realize it. Then, a scary thought crossed my mind.
What if he kills me?
My vision began darkening, like I was falling into a tunnel that never ended.
Is this it? Is this when I die?
The noise around me sounded almost far away, as if I had been plunged underwater.
I'm not ready to die!
My body was turning numb, and eventually I couldn't feel the pain Robert was inflicting.
Even as I was fading away, I could hear the front door slamming open with a loud bang as it connected with the wall and muffled sirens. Gemma called the cops, I realized. How could I think she'd just run away and save her own ass? She knew I was in trouble, of course she'd call for help. She's my best friend.
Therewas only one thought on my mind as I finally let the darkness consume me.
