Chapter 1
My name is Aella Smith and I’m 17, I live with my father who is... less than comforting since my mother took my brother and left me here with him.
And it’s definitely the reason why I’m sitting on one of the many tables in my high school library, almost an hour after dismissal. This is where I mostly do my homework or read some books to keep my mind at peace for awhile before worrying what’s to come when I get home. This is my hide away. A viable excuse to my father.
After finishing my homework I start my walk home, it’s only about a fifteen minute walk, but in the cold like this, it feels like forever. About five minutes later, I see a cafe and decide to get a warm drink before continuing my walk home.
It takes me five seconds to push open the heavy glass doors big enough for my petite frame to slide through, but when I do I’m bombarded with the smell of coffee and I love it. I join the line and look around while I wait. The white tiled floor and the worn fake leather booths gave the whole cafe a homey feel to it. Why have I never noticed this place?
When I get to the front of the line, a woman probably in her 40s with streaks of grey hair contrasting to her raven black hair, smiles warmly at me.
“What will you have, dear?” She asked, ready to take my order.
“Oh, um hot chocolate please.” I replied, my voice almost a whisper.
“What was that, dear?” She asks again, not getting what I was saying, so I repeat my order to her in a much louder voice.
“That’ll be 2 dollars fifty cents.” She says and I give her the money then step out of the line to wait for my drink.
While waiting I see the words ‘HELP WANTED’ on the flyers stacked at the counter. This sounds interesting. I take a flyer, fold it and put it in my pocket.
Once my drink is ready, I thank the woman and leave to continue my walk home, relishing in the feel of the warm drink in my hand and soon in my mouth and throat as I drink it.
When I get home his car isn’t there so i take my key out and unlock the front door. Walking into the kitchen and dropping the empty cup in the trash bin I then pull out the flyer and call the number, asking for the job.
They set an appointment for me tomorrow after school to interview me. If I did get the job I’d be partnered by someone named Riley who, apparently, goes to my school as well.
After talking about what to do tomorrow I make dinner then go up to my room and lock my door.
He gets home an hour later,I hear the front door slam shut and him move around. Then there are heavy footsteps up the stairs, slowly getting louder as he approaches my room. The footsteps stop immediately in front of my door. With my breath quickening every second, I hide under my bed. The door knob rattles as he tries to twist open the door but nothing happens. He tries this again before realizing that I locked the door. It felt silent for a movement. Only my breaths, heart beat and the sudden buzzing in my ears until
BANG, he hits the door.
“I know you’re in there! Come out bitch!”
BANG
BANG
“Hiding like your mother, eh? Ha! You worthless piece of shit!” He shouts.
The banging stops and I hear his footsteps retreating away from my room. crawling out from under my bed and I shakily walk to my bathroom and look at myself in the mirror, from my pale complexion , to my long dark brown hair and my hazel eyes and being 5′5 only makes it easier to be intimidated and overpowered.
I strip off my clothing and turn on my shower, waiting for the small tiled room to fill with steam before I hop in. I change into pajamas then check what time it is, 9pm.
Maybe he’s gone to sleep.
I slowly creep out of my room, heart beating fast, and head for the kitchen, getting a granola bar and a glass of water. Running back to my room as soon as I hear a noise, not caring for the aching in my side. Closing and locking the door behind me, I eat the bar, brush my teeth and go to bed, knowing that the days ahead are going to be better. Or I hoped they were.
