I took a long, hot shower before I even considered crawling into bed. The scalding liquid felt nice on my exhausted and weary body. I let it run down my back as I sat down, trying to rein in my emotions. I felt like I'd been battered left and right, although the only visible bruise was a faint welt on my cheek from Brett's punch. My symptoms had abated but I could still feel the overwhelming heat lingering under the surface of my skin. Once my father woke up, I would ask him what the hell was wrong with me.
By the time I dried myself and threw on the baggiest t-shirt I could find, I knew dawn was approaching fast. I could sleep a day if I wanted to but, instead, I set the alarm near my bed for afternoon. If something important happened, someone would wake me up.
Sometime later, an annoyi
