Uncovering The Truth

Chapter 2.

I wake up on the cold, hard basement floor, head pounding. I touched my head and removed my hand to see blood. I tried to get up but as I stood, my vision blurred, so I quickly sat back down. I realize my clothes are torn and ripped. I looked around and realized that I was once again in the basement, which was nothing new. Once I finally gain my strength, I move up off the floor and work my way up the 3 steps towards the door. I opened it to see my father Zade passed out on the couch in front of the T. V, an empty beer bottle in his hand. He's extremely tall. His feet hung off the couch. His messy blonde hair hides his face, giving me an opportunity to sneak past him to my room. I shut the door gently and slumped to the floor. A tear gently slides down my face thinking about my mom and how much I missed her. I quickly wiped it away. Getting up off the floor and making my way to my bathroom, I look at myself in the mirror. I looked nothing like my dad, I had long dark chestnut hair that was in a tangled messy bun, dirty and blood-stained. I have dark emerald, green eyes with gold specks. I got my looks from my mom; I didn't recognize the resemblance with all the scratches and dirt covering my face.

Turning towards the shower, I switched the knob to the hottest setting. I began to get undressed, looking at my body in the mirror, hating the way my body looked. So skinny from not eating for days. I must have been out for a while. Kyle is probably freaking out. I'll text him after I shower. Turning back towards the mirror. I glanced down at the birthmark I was born with on my lower back in the shape of a crescent moon. My mom used to tell me I was special. She always makes me feel loved, always telling me how I'm her pretty little girl, even though I hate the way I look. I'm 5'4 and the only thing I like about myself is my eyes. I climbed into the shower and began washing my hair, getting all the dirt and blood off of me from being on the basement floor. I think about all the times my father hit me, yelled and screamed at me, calling me a mistake, saying that I didn't belong anywhere or with anyone. He gets so angry. Sometimes I swear I see his eyes change, but I always tell myself that I'm going crazy or something. I started washing my body and thought about the time before my mother died, when I was 6 years old. She was my favorite person in the world. Believe it or not, we used to be a pretty happy family before everything happened. He changed when my mom died, and he only got worse.... really worse. I used to ask my father what happened to us, to our family. He would get so angry that his dark evil brown eyes would pour into mine, making me scared for my life. And you don't want to know what happened after that. I've learned my lesson and since then I never mentioned it again.

I finished washing my body and climbed out of the shower, grabbed my hairbrush and brushed my hair. I brushed my teeth then walked out of the bathroom into my room, thank God I have my own bathroom, I thought to myself. I went to my dresser and got out a black pair of leggings and a big T-shirt and put them on. I climbed into my hard, uncomfortable bed. As I lay in bed, I began to think about my father again, wondering why he had changed so much; it didn't make sense to me. I didn't understand losing the other half of your soul, because I never had someone that special to me in that way. It was probably painful for him. But this wasn't the dad I remembered when I was 6 years old. No, that man was a loving father who loved his wife and daughter who would spend every morning making breakfast for his family. A man who stayed up late with his daughter whenever there were thunderstorms because he knew she was terrified of them. He would do anything for us. I grabbed my phone off my bed. I have 7 missed calls and 24 text messages from Kyle. "Oh my god he's probably freaking out" I said while sending him a text.

Serena: Hey!

Kyle: OMG Serena, I've been trying to get ahold of you. I thought you were dead. :o

Serena: I'm sorry my dad took my phone.

I felt bad for lying to him, but I didn't really remember and didn't want to worry him.

Kyle: Girl, it's been 7 days. I was worried about you. Did he hurt you?

Serena: Nothing I can't handle.

Kyle: Oh Serena, I'm so sorry I wish I hadn't f*****g fallen asleep.

Serena: Kyle, stop, don't you dare. I fell asleep too.

Kyle: What happened?

Serena: Well, I walked through the door and my father was on the couch drunk as always. He knew I had snuck out; I could tell by the look on his face. Anyway, he got off the couch and.............. I don't really wanna talk about it.

Kyle: Jesus, are you okay?

Serena: Yeah...

Kyle: Are you sure babe?

Serena: Yes, I'm okay, just ready to leave.

Kyle: Me too! Oh, that reminds me I got the cash. Georgie helped me out.

Serena: YES! Now we need dates!

Kyle: Well, my parents are shipping me off in 3 days, some camp. How about tomorrow night? If you're ready?

Serena: I'm ready. I'll meet you at the end of the driveway tomorrow night.

Kyle: I'll be there.

I started thinking about my father that night. How he was so angry, his whole body was shaking with rage. His eye's shifting color. It was like he was possessed. I shook my head trying to get rid of the thoughts. "Maybe I've gone mad?" I asked myself.

Serena: Okay... I'm going to get some rest. I'm so exhausted. I love you. Talk to you soon.

Kyle: Okay, love you too. Please just stay safe.

I laid awake thinking about my dad, wishing the dad I remembered would come back. Wishing I was with my best friend. Finally, letting exhaustion take over, I drift off to sleep.