Today is a Gift

From the very beginning there was always a woman in my life. Never my mother and never a friend. I have been through my dad's dalliances and still come out stronger. In the past there were allot of kids, allot of animals, and allot of chores. I never truly wanted for anything. As a child I had friends, siblings, toys, pets, and plenty of fun. With each year things changed. The one thing that never changed. His wife was always right. I was always a nuisance. Daniel had lost his temper again the night before reminding me that i had no way to escape, and that i will never forget my place. I can hear him in the next room. The night before still invading my memory like a bad dream, but it wasn't a dream. I pull my sleeves down and focus on keeping quiet. All I can do is hope that he is still passed out, and was drunk enough to keep him that way. I held my breath quietly as I snuck down the hall towards the kitchen. Ten more feet, and I would get out. I make it out of the house and ran quickly towards the corner to wait for my rescue. You would expect a night in shining armor, or perhaps a kind person with a big heart. This hero was a hideous yellow rectangle with four wheels and windows down the length. The school bus. As it arrives I feel relief flood through me. Here, I am safe. I am 14 years old riding the bus glad to have some safety from the drunk and drugged rampages of my step-brother. He wasn't a bad person, however when the say drugs and alcohol influence you they never quite explain how bad it can get. My father wouldn't be back for another two weeks. Not that it mattered in his mind I'm a liar, a narcissist, and a drama seeker. His wife has made sure that my father has seen me as nothing more than a problem child. I long for the days where it was just my dad and I, but those days are long gone. The bus rides smoothly along the road as I feel the cool glass against my cheek and remember distant memories of fishing as a child. Once upon a time he was my best friend. We would camp together, fish together, and I would even help him at work. Nothing less than the perfect daddy's girl. We were partners in crime and nothing made me happier. As the memories of my first big salmon catch faded away the bus came to a halt. School... a faded concrete building filled with raging hormones, and the drama of the most recent movies floating in the air. On one side the jocks talked and joked about the last game or the newest babes and on the other side the girls were flipping their hair and talking about the hottest new fashions. There is a calming effect to knowing that even though I didn't belong i could be safe and as I shook myself from my thought I saw a blur of black curly hair fly at me. " Where were you? You were supposed to call me!". Gabe flew out of no where as per usual my hyper-active friend was concerned. More than anybody he knew the sadness behind my eyes. " Hey, sorry I had to get chores done and Judy was being her usual self". He frowned as he noticed me trying to keep my arms hidden. He didn't need to know how bad it had gotten. " You need to talk to someone. This can't keep happening. I'm worried about you Kayla." I could see in his eyes the mixture of fury and protective nature fighting to keep quiet as he tried not to push me too far. To him I was a porcelain doll. Sweet, kind, and close to shattering at the slightest tap. Before he could prod me further the bell rang to get to class and I happily used it as an excuse to avoid further prompting. " I have to get to class I'll see you layer Gabe... I promise I'm fine just meet me at lunch okay?". The uncertainty in his eyes told me he would much rather stay and pry the information our of me but before he could argue I gave him a quick hug and ran off, after all it wouldn't help to have him hurt too.