Separated

Feeling incomplete is something everybody has experienced in their life. But in Tracey’s life, she was sure something was missing and living in this depressing house with her depressing family didn’t feel right.

Silence filled the room as her green eyes scan the pages of the book in her hands. She always seemed to get lost in the world of literature, until a knock on the door interrupted her reading session. She sighed and got up from her bed and opened the door tiredly. It was Jared; her older brother.

“What?” she asked monotonously, looking at him with a blank look.

“Can’t I just visit you in your room without you giving me those dead eyes? I mean come on, I missed you.” He said smugly. His words are a bit slurred, and he smells of alcohol.

What is he gonna do this time?

“Get out of my room, you’re drunk again.” She said trying to push him out of her room. But he was too heavy to be pushed by someone who’s as petite as Tracey. Jared closed the door behind him and locked it as he gave Tracey his evil smirk.

“Jared I am tired of this, get out of my fucking room.” Her voice was sharp but Jared’s too drunk to care.

“Oh come on, just let me vent as always and I will be on my way.” He smirked.

Tracey took a step backwards but Jared kept taking a step forward. He raised his hand, balled his fists, and hit Tracey on her stomach. The hit left Tracey balled up on the floor her face scrunching in pain. Tracey was used to it but it didn’t mean that his punches didn’t hurt.

“That old man is still forcing me to get a job, and he said if I don’t he’s gonna kick me out.” He said as he pulled Tracey’s hair back to force her to look at him. He curled his fists once again and punched the long haired brunette in front of him. He found joy and relief in hurting Tracey, he didn’t know why. He never really liked her.

Tracey started coughing and gagging from the pain. She kneeled in front of him hugging herself, mentally begging for someone to make this stop.

“Remember, if you tell dad about this, you will get more than just a punch, ya hear me?” he whispered to her ear. He then got up and left her room like nothing happened.

Tracey then got up after a few deep breaths as she was curled on the floor. She washed her face, picked up her backpack, and left the house as quickly as she can without being detected by her brother or parents.

She headed to her usual hang out place at The Lucky Bar with her best friend Morgan, hoping she’d find an ounce of good luck. But before getting there she went to the grocery store to get some snacks. While scanning the shelves, some guy walked up to her reluctantly.

“Hey I-I need some help, do you know where this stuff is?” the random guy asked. Tracey didn’t look at the guy but she looked at the list he showed her. She scanned it and pointed at the aisle where it was placed.

“Oh thank you!” he cheerfully said and ran towards where she pointed like a kid.

Weirdo.

Tracey finally got into the bar and texted her friend to meet up. While she waited, she noticed a guy in a grey hoodie next to her. She couldn’t see his face but she thinks he’s having a bad time just like her. The random guy then got up and left a wad of cash on the counter that the bartender happily received, the guy was wobbling on his feet and tripped on his own foot spilling a bit of alcohol on Tracey.

“What the hell man?!” Tracey got up from her seat and tried to clean off the spill with a few napkins from the counter.

“Whatever, get out of my way.” He said in a deep voice and left the place.

“Jerk...” she mumbled.

After a few minutes, Tracey’s friend Morgan finally entered the bar and ordered drinks for the both of them, showing the bartender their fake IDs. “So what’s up? Why the sudden invitation? And why do you already smell like alcohol?” she asked.

“Well it’s another Jared situation and some asshole earlier spilled beer on me.” She said as she took a swig from her beer bottle.

“Aaaah, you know you should really tell the police about that guy.” Morgan said.

“I would but that will most likely break my mom’s heart and he’s had enough of that.” Tracey said casually. She was so used to her situation that she could talk about it like she was talking about the weather, which bothered Morgan.

“Well then enough about Jared, let’s just have some fun!” Morgan said with a smile on her face, doing her best to give her a friend a good time so she can forget about her abuser.