I Would Take A Beating For You

A shouder to cry on

Julius

I wonder if rich is okay. His dad looked really pissed earlier. I'll text him. Just to check on him.

Me: hey everything alright?

No answer. He usually answers within 2 seconds. I'll call him. It's ringing...still ringing...please pick up..He answered! "Julius! Please hel-!." He says frantically as he anwers. "Rich you okay?" I ask frantically. I hear richie and his dad yelling. He sounds far from the phone like he got dragged halfway across the room.

I just listen to the stuggling,the fighting, the hitting. Each punch lands really hard. Like hammering a nail into a wall. I can hear Richie begging for mercy.

And thats when it hits me..... Richie is being abused.

I hang up or the call drops. I can't tell. I'm in such a state of shock. I run downstairs looking for my mom. "Mom! Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom!" I say as I run up to my mom who is on the couch. "What is it, mijo?" She says pushing my hair out of my flushed face.

"Richie's dad or stepdad I don't know." I ramble in between my rapid breaths. "Julius breath." Mom says turning to face me completely. "Richie is being abused." I finally blurt out.

"What?!" Mom shouts jumping off the couch. My grandad was abusive so she understands the pain. "That's the thing. I just heard it happening while we were on the phone and I know Rich wouldn't wanna talk about it." I say grimly.

"Julius. Talk to him and if he wants help then offer it and if not let him know he has your support." Mom suggests in a calming voice. "Thanks Mom." I say hugging her before walking back to my room.

Richie

After a like 20 minute hitting session I stare at my reflection. I look absolutely terrible. Huge black eye, my face, neck, and chest are covered in cuts and bruises. I'm placing bandaids over every cut. Crap I have to go to school like this.

I glance at my Mom's makeup bag. I spot some Foundation. I'll just cover them with this. I climb into bed and try falling asleep but everything hurts. Everytime I roll over sharp pains shoot through my body. All I can do is toss and turn all night.

Monday

I have no idea how to use this foundation crap. I just rub it on to cover the abuse of your Mom's boyfriend. It's so weird how he acts like he's my dad. I wish my dad were still around. He let this shit stand. I come downstairs to my Mom sitting at our lonely kitchen table clasping a cup of tea.

"Hey Richie can we talk?" She says. I sit down reluctantly on the opposite side of the table to face her. She grabs both of my hands. "About last night." She begins. My eyes widen. Is this what I think it is? Did she found out about what's he's been doing to me for months now? Is my mom leaving steve?

"Steve proposed."

That'svwhen I see it Mom has on an engagement ring. "Mom. You didn't." I sigh disapointedly. "Look I know you two don't get along but I love him. Richie I haven't been this happy in a long time." Mom says.

I roll my eyes and leave without another word. "Richie! Wait! I didn't mean t-" I slam the door behind me silencing my mother's words. My Mom is marrying the asshole that beats me.

My mom is marrying an asshole.

Julius

Richie runs in the school building like he's being chased by a demon. Maybe he is. He comes straight to his locker which is only one down from mine. "Rich I know what happened on Saturday." I say sternly.