Maybe it knows your dirty little secrets.” He picks up the offending sack and dumps the contents on the table. He paws furiously through the mess he’s created, and my heart stops when I see the small piece of paper with Carson’s number written on it.
“Dad, I…” But I’m too late to distract him. His eyes have landed on the paper and he’s picking it up, squinting at the small writing on it through the haze of alcohol and anger.
“WHO THE FUCK IS CARSON ? Is he the guy you’ve been fucking? Do you think being a whore is a good reason to leave your father at home starving and alone? You want to use my phone to call some asshole? Why? So he can put a baby inside you with his fat, dirty dick? I put a roof over your head and clothes on your back and you’re out taking them off for some little asswipe named Carson? And then what? What happens when he’s had enough of your dirty cunt and he leaves you alone with his bastard? I’m already sick of raising you and I am NOT going to raise your goddamn bastard child!”
I don’t even have time to protect myself before the first blow hits. His fist hits my stomach with what feels like the force of ten men and the wind is knocked out of me. “That’s what I think of your bastard! You wanna go get knocked up, well, no fucking way am I letting that happen!” Another blow hits me, this time a bit lower. I fall to my knees, trying to get a breath in, and throw up all over the kitchen floor. There are streaks of blood in the vomit but it’s not the first time I’ve thrown up blood and it probably won’t be the last. I’ll be alright if he just leaves me alone now, but I’m not that lucky. Hank grabs my hair and pushes my face down close to the pool of my own stomach contents screaming, “Well, who the hell do you think is going to clean that up? Get up, you miserable slut!”
I try to get to my feet, but I struggle to catch my balance and Hank gets even more furious at my inability to follow his instructions. With his hand still in my hair, he yanks me to my feet and shoves me backward. I hit the kitchen table and grab the edge, trying to keep from falling over again. Hank is still screaming at me but I can no longer hear the words. It’s like this is happening to someone else and I’m just stuck here as a witness. I feel a couple more blows to my abdomen and pain flows through my ribs from yet another. I’m dizzy and can’t take in a deep breath. Hank shoves me back again but there is nowhere to go. I lose my balance and hit the floor.
“Just lay there, skank. Maybe you’ll think about this the next time you want to get fucked.” I see his boot heading for my face but I can’t react. The pain in my head is incredible and I feel myself ready to vomit again. He kicks me again and then, nothing…
Chapter Six
Brielle
My throat is dry and I can’t seem to open my eyes. I hear a beeping sound and it just won’t stop. Sometimes I hear voices and at other times it’s quiet. Right now there is someone in the room with me. It’s a woman and she’s talking to me, saying something about her son’s basketball game. She’s touching me, but I’m not sure why. She lifts my hand and sets it back down. She gently pulls one eye open and shines a light in it. I want to flinch but it’s like I’m not really awake, like I have no control over my body. The light goes away and so does the woman’s chattering. It’s quiet again now. I liked her voice. I’m just so tired.
***
I can hear voices again. The beeping is still steady and I now realize I must be in the hospital. One of the voices definitely belongs to my father. It’s odd that he doesn’t sound angry. I’m so used to his anger. Anything else just seems wrong. In fact, the last thing I remember before the beeping started was his anger. And Carson. Oh God, Carson. My purse. I know why I’m here. If
“Dad, I…” But I’m too late to distract him. His eyes have landed on the paper and he’s picking it up, squinting at the small writing on it through the haze of alcohol and anger.
“WHO THE FUCK IS CARSON ? Is he the guy you’ve been fucking? Do you think being a whore is a good reason to leave your father at home starving and alone? You want to use my phone to call some asshole? Why? So he can put a baby inside you with his fat, dirty dick? I put a roof over your head and clothes on your back and you’re out taking them off for some little asswipe named Carson? And then what? What happens when he’s had enough of your dirty cunt and he leaves you alone with his bastard? I’m already sick of raising you and I am NOT going to raise your goddamn bastard child!”
I don’t even have time to protect myself before the first blow hits. His fist hits my stomach with what feels like the force of ten men and the wind is knocked out of me. “That’s what I think of your bastard! You wanna go get knocked up, well, no fucking way am I letting that happen!” Another blow hits me, this time a bit lower. I fall to my knees, trying to get a breath in, and throw up all over the kitchen floor. There are streaks of blood in the vomit but it’s not the first time I’ve thrown up blood and it probably won’t be the last. I’ll be alright if he just leaves me alone now, but I’m not that lucky. Hank grabs my hair and pushes my face down close to the pool of my own stomach contents screaming, “Well, who the hell do you think is going to clean that up? Get up, you miserable slut!”
I try to get to my feet, but I struggle to catch my balance and Hank gets even more furious at my inability to follow his instructions. With his hand still in my hair, he yanks me to my feet and shoves me backward. I hit the kitchen table and grab the edge, trying to keep from falling over again. Hank is still screaming at me but I can no longer hear the words. It’s like this is happening to someone else and I’m just stuck here as a witness. I feel a couple more blows to my abdomen and pain flows through my ribs from yet another. I’m dizzy and can’t take in a deep breath. Hank shoves me back again but there is nowhere to go. I lose my balance and hit the floor.
“Just lay there, skank. Maybe you’ll think about this the next time you want to get fucked.” I see his boot heading for my face but I can’t react. The pain in my head is incredible and I feel myself ready to vomit again. He kicks me again and then, nothing…
Chapter Six
Brielle
My throat is dry and I can’t seem to open my eyes. I hear a beeping sound and it just won’t stop. Sometimes I hear voices and at other times it’s quiet. Right now there is someone in the room with me. It’s a woman and she’s talking to me, saying something about her son’s basketball game. She’s touching me, but I’m not sure why. She lifts my hand and sets it back down. She gently pulls one eye open and shines a light in it. I want to flinch but it’s like I’m not really awake, like I have no control over my body. The light goes away and so does the woman’s chattering. It’s quiet again now. I liked her voice. I’m just so tired.
***
I can hear voices again. The beeping is still steady and I now realize I must be in the hospital. One of the voices definitely belongs to my father. It’s odd that he doesn’t sound angry. I’m so used to his anger. Anything else just seems wrong. In fact, the last thing I remember before the beeping started was his anger. And Carson. Oh God, Carson. My purse. I know why I’m here. If
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