broken

Alex

Pain is all I felt in this hell hole I called my home. I knew something didn’t feel right after my mother left. She hasn’t been here since I was nine years old.

I can remember that day so vividly.

I ran inside the house and saw my mommy. She was knitting on the couch with the radio playing. I ran up to her and held out the flowers from behind my back to her.

“I picked these just for you,” I said.

Mommy looked pleased and kissed my forehead. She took the flowers and smelled them. She put one of the flowers and tucked it behind my ear. She smoothed down my hair and smiled at me.

“I have to go away for a few days, your uncle is going to take care of you,” She said

I trusted where she was going and just smiled and nodded at her.

But what I didn’t know is that she was going to be gone forever. I was stuck with Uncle John. He was nice for a couple of days but his real nature came out.

John hits me almost every day when he is not drunk out of his mind. He doesn’t trust me enough to go to school. He made me do an online school but I finished it when I was 17. Now I am 21. He limits how much I leave the house. I only for getting food or to kick me out for his own enjoyment. But I surprisingly convinced him to let me leave for a job. I work at a little bakery in town.

I am in my room, which is the attic. It was really dusty but it was a good size for me. I had a mattress, a lamp, one window, and a dresser. This was my only safe haven away from John. I was sitting down on my mattress drawing some random doodles in my sketchbook. I heard his heavy footsteps stomp up the stairs to my room. He slammed open the door and looked at me with a sick smirk.

“Go buy some shit to cook,” John said. He tossed some money at me and walked out. I let out a sigh of relief that he didn’t hit me this time. I know he is going to hit me later on in the day.

I put on my new converses I bought with my money from my job and head down the stairs. I walked past one of the many men who live in this house. I don’t understand why there are so many men living here. They all eat like savages. He bumped my shoulder hard and I fell to the floor. They were also pretty strong so the bruises are huge and painful.

I got to the ground floor of the house and grabbed the car keys of my beat-up truck. This truck has always been here and I feel some sort of connection with it. I don’t know what but I feel that if I give it away it will destroy a part of me started up the truck and it made some weird noises before it started. I hope the truck doesn’t shut down on me

I finished up my shopping and I was piling up all the groceries in the backseat. I felt a car pull up next to me but I paid it no mind. I shut the door and was about to get back into my car. An Asian man was standing right in front of me.

“Hello,” The man said. I smiled at him and tried to pass him but he blocked my way.

“I haven’t seen you around this town,” He said while holding out his hand.

“I’m Jake” I shook his hand.

“Alex,” I said silently. I rarely talk so my voice is quiet as a mouse.

“Well nice to meet you, I hope to see you around,” Jake said and walked into the grocery store.

I looked around to make sure none of my uncle’s men were watching me. It seems like John knows if I just smile at someone. I know the men in the house watch me too. I started up my truck and it didn’t have that weird noise.

As I drove towards the house, I thought of my life. I am a slave in that house. Just a punching bag to let out all the frustrations of those men. I felt the tears start to build up but I sniffled it up. I am not going to let them have the satisfaction of my tears.

I am going to get out of that place even if I am broken to the core.