Wow

Seven people liked my last post. That may seem so small to other people, but it’s huge to me. I’m going to post another short story because the last got a pretty good reception for a blog as small as mine. I do have to warn you though, this story can be a little triggering to anyone who has experienced abuse or have someone close to them who has experienced it. I would absolutely love to hear from you guys, so leave a comment telling me what you think about my story. Here goes nothing and everything.

Sitting in my Chair

            I am the best at not flinching in my entire school. Kids on the playground clap in my face, but I don’t move. Older kids jump at me in the hallway, but nothing can make me step back, eyes closed, scared. It’s my favorite talent.

Another slaps goes across my face. I sit as still as silence. My talent is more useful than just being a cool trick.

“What did I tell you? You just have to disobey me, don’t you?” His big hand finds my face in the dark again. My face is red and wet like the spaghetti sauce on my white cotton shirt. I only made it pink and blotchy by scrubbing at it in the sink at Olive Garden. I thought I could fix it. I always think it’s that easy, but it never is.

“All I wanted was a nice, family dinner, and you embarrassed me like this? You think that’s okay? You can’t even eat without acting like a pig.” My hands grip the bottom of my chair. I’ve worn little bumps into my chair from holding it so hard.

Little bumps pop up on daddy’s face too. I connect them with the dots in my eyes and make pictures. A red horse, a red house, a red mouse. Mama keeps reminding me about daddy’s name. The one that we all carry. We have to keep his name clean. Mama always protects daddy; she really loves him.

I start humming the song we learned in school. I love school more than tv and ice cream. Mrs. Wilson looks like the teacher from Matilda. She’s pretty and sings lightly in class-

“Shut up!” Daddy doesn’t like when I make too much noise, but I keep humming. It’s a soft song, and I memorized it so easy because it rhymes. Mrs. Wilson taught us all about rhymes. Wrong and song, Stop and plop, and No and go.

“I’ll shut you up,” he says and mama looks at me. It’s the first time all night. She used to leave the room when I had to sit in my chair, but now she stands in the corner and traces the floor with her foot. She sees me for a second, just a second, before she turns and leaves the room, always protecting daddy.

He holds my shoulders. I shake back and forth and back and forth and back. My head bobs for apples in the air, and I come up with nothing. Nothing and no one is here. There’s no daddy or mama, and there’s no me.

I don’t open my eyes, but I feel my chest go up and down. I don’t even have to move. Mommy whispers for me to just rest. I see nothing again. The long beep doesn’t touch me because I am already gone. It’s almost like I was never here.

-AcuteAnimosity