In The Arms of You

Two Months Ago “Lena Abigail Mercer, where the hell did you go?” Raina Mercer yelled through my phone. I gulped at the tone of her voice, she was angry. I hated being yelled at by my mom. Whenever she did yell at me, I always felt disappointed in myself and that I’ve failed her. “I was at the bonfire Katie Martin threw.” I said hesitantly scared of her response. She didn’t say anything for a solid minute. “Why did you go?” She asked calmly but I could tell she was hiding her anger. I threw my free hand in the cool and crisp air as I walked in the woods looking for a familiar spot to tell where I am at. So far all I’ve seen is trees and the occasional bird. “Because I’m tired of sitting at home on my birthday. I just wanted to have fun with my friends.” “You could have just asked instead of sneaking out.” Mom stated. “And what would you have said?” I questioned. Mom hesitated before she spoke. “That’s beside the point.” I sighed and like she ignored my question I ignored her answer. “Where are you?” She asked. I walked a bit further in the woods until I came upon a road. Looking around I saw the ‘Welcome to Stormy Brooks’ sign. “I’m at the welcome sign.” I told her. I heard mom sigh. “Stay right there Lena I’m coming to get you.” I nodded my head, but I knew she couldn’t see me. It was more out of habit. I hung up the phone and went to stand by the sign which was located on the other side of the road. I shivered as the night air whipped all around me. I clutched my coat tighter around my body for warmth. It was only September but in Stormy Brooks it had always been a bit cooler in September compared to other places. My medium brown hair flew behind me in the gentle breeze. I focused my hazel eyes upwards to the night sky. The stars shined brightly just like the moon in its third quarter phase. The air tasted like rain was coming and there were a few clouds in the sky. As I waited I thought about the situation at hand. I had wanted to the go the bonfire to hang out with my friends for my birthday but knowing my parents they would have said no. So, I didn’t ask, and I snuck out of the house. I walked a few houses down and saw that Katie, the one who threw the party, had come to get me much to my surprise. I had left the bonfire about twenty minutes ago because it had got a bit out of control and I really did not want to explain to my parents why I was at the police station and why had I snuck out of the house. I am not sure how many minutes had passed when I check my phone to see if mom had sent me a text or had called me. Nothing. I huffed and slipped my phone into my back pocket. Where is she? I thought. Not even thirty seconds later I heard my phone ring. Quickly slipping it out of my pocket I looked at the number. It wasn’t mom’s. Hesitantly I hit the answer button and put the phone to my ear. “Hello?” I asked. “Hello, is this Lena Mercer?” A voice said in a concerning tone. This got me worried, did something happen? “Yes, this is she.” I said. “I’m Lily Tanner a nurse at Stormy Brooks Medical Center and I’m calling you because your mother, Raina Mercer, was in an accident about ten minutes ago.” She said, her voice laced with pity. My heart hammered in my chest and I exhaled a deep breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “Is she okay?” I asked with a shaky breath. There was a static noise on the other side of the phone. “I can’t tell you anything right now. Where are you so I can send an escort to come and pick you up.” “I’m at the welcome sign at the edge of town.” I told her trying to keep calm. Tears were now streaming down my face, but I didn’t care. “Someone will be there as soon as possible Lena, just stay where you are at.” Nurse Tanner said before she hung up the phone. I didn’t remove my phone from my ear scared that if I do I’ll get another phone call saying someone else I care about is in the hospital. I leaned my body against the sign as a light mist of rain began to drop from the sky that is now filled with clouds. Perfect mood. I thought. I shut my eyes and tried to calm down by taking some deep breaths, but it didn’t help. Opening my eyes, I saw headlights lighting up the street heading my direction. I pushed off the sign and started walking down the side of the road where a police car came to a stop. A man got out of the car and came up to me. “Miss. Mercer?” He questioned now standing in front of me. He had sandy blonde hair and looked about six feet four inches with a lean build. “Y-yes that’s me.” My voice shook as I spoke, probably from the cold or the anticipation. Probably both. He gave me a sad smile, one full of pity. What happened to my mom? “My name is Officer David O’Connor and I’m here to take you to Stormy Brooks Medical Center.” He said formally. I nodded my head. We walked back to his car and he opened the door for me. I slipped in the back seat and buckled up. I pulled my legs to my chest and wrapped my arms around my knees. David settled himself in the driver’s seat before turning around and heading back into town towards the hospital. The whole ride was silent. The only think that played with the radio, which David changed several times before settling on some country music station I’d never heard of before. I was glad when he finally pulled up to the hospital entrance. I unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the car door. “Thank you, Officer O’Connor.” I said to him. “You’re welcome Miss. Mercer and good luck.” With those final words he drove off to wherever he originally came from, patrol possibly. I looked up at the huge red plus sign at the door of the hospital. “Please be alright.” I whispered to myself as I walked to the entrance. As soon as I entered the hospital I spotted Mack, my older brother, and my dad, Brian. My dad looked at me, his eyes sharp with hatred and sadness. “Why you—” He started but was interrupted by a someone clearing their throat. “Raina Mercer’s family?” The man standing in front of my father. We all looked at him waiting for an answer. A sad expression was on the doctor’s face. He sighed. “We are so sorry,” He said. “We did everything we could to keep her alive. The impact she took in the car accident should have killed her instantly, but she was holding on until we reached the hospital when her heart finally gave out.” I felt my knees buckle from under me and tears once more streamed down my face. “Once again we are so sorry for your loss. If you’d like to see her one last time you may.” The doctor said. He then turned on his heels and left the room. I would have too if I had to give that kind of news to others. Mack and our father stood up and began to head to her hospital room but not before our father marched over to me. He gripped my arm so tight I knew it would leave bruises. “You don’t get to see her. It’s your fault she is gone. If you hadn’t gone after you then she would still be alive.” With that he let go of me and followed Mack to her room. I dragged my body over to a seat and tucked my legs under my body. I wrapped my hands around my body and held myself as I shook with grief. She’s gone. I thought over and over again. If I hadn’t snuck out, mom would still be alive. If I hadn’t got lost, she wouldn’t have had to come and find me. She would still be at home watching TV or putting the dishes away from dinner. After what seemed like forever, I heard my father’s heavy footsteps approach me. He yanked my arm away from my body. “Let’s go.” He said in an angry voice. He pushed me out the door. Once at the car I climbed in the back seat while Mack got into the passenger seat and dad in the driver’s. Not one word was spoken on the way home. Tension was all in the air and if anyone dared speak the consequences weren’t going to be good. When we finally reached our house, I unbuckled and raced inside the house before they could. When I heard the front door slam I knew things weren’t going to end up pretty. I looked up from where I was curled up on the couch and saw my father and brother standing in front of me. I sat up and looked at the two of them waiting for one of them to speak. The first punch I received was in my stomach. I doubled over in pain and hit the ground hard with a thud. “Why did you have to sneak out? Because of what you did she is gone and is never coming back!” Dad shouted in my face as he and Mack towered over me. His hand came down and slapped me hard causing my cheek to sting. I squeezed my eyes shut as my head jerked to the side. Opening them I looked and saw that Mack had a smirk on his face. He was enjoying this? I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I was repeatedly hit and punched by my father and felt bruises forming all over my body. With one last growl he stomped off to who knows where leaving me on the floor with Mack standing over me. He smirked. “I think you have deserved enough pain for one night, but I’d watch you back if I were you.” He threatened. With that he left the room going upstairs. I didn’t get up off the floor that night. I didn’t have enough strength to move and not to mention that it hurt every time I moved any part of my body. I sighed and shut my eyes hoping I could get some sleep. Tears flowed freely down my face from the grief and the pain. Losing my mother and getting abused by my father isn’t something I planned to happen in the same day, not something that was ever planned. All of it is my fault. My entire fault.