Black Roses

Dawn Till Dusk

Beth walked up the rocky path that led to her home, walking in through the door she collapsed behind the closed door. Unable to catch a breath her tears grew louder and louder, no one was there, the sound hadn’t gone away, it was louder than ever, there was nothing left for her, at least not that she could see.

Stairs squeaked, jumped in fright, it was her mum, “Mum” she cried out as she flung herself into the safety of someone she loved.

“Mum, I’m sorry” she cried into the shoulder of a hero.

“Honey, I heard about___” Jules stopped herself before making anything worse

“I missed you” the room was quiet as they continued to whisper to one another

Alone in the darkness, a dim candle burning in the corner, the scents of coconut and Vanilla filled the open air around them. “Is dad here still?” Pulling out of the warm hug Beth’s eyes grew big, filled with fear and angst she stepped back as the silence filled the empty gap, she covered her mouth and fell to the floor.

“I can’t leave him” Jules’s eyes welled up with tears as she went in for another hug, Bethany pulled away, she needed to get out of where she was, if he woke up she would be in hell again, she’d gotten away once, and now she was scared of the fact that he had come back. Bethany slowly made her way back to the door, her face in denial, shaking her head as tears flowed out of her crystalized eyes, “No, no, no, no, I’ve got to go, I can’t, I love you, but, I’m sorry”, Bethany stumbled over her feet as she heard a squeak coming from the room above them.

“Honey, I promise he’s changed, you can come back, I’ll take care of you” Her mum pleaded for her not to leave, un-wanting to accept the reality that she was with the man she promised she’d get away form.

“Mum, don’t, you were the one who told em to leave, don’t make me feel bad now, look, you know I love you, but he’s coming” Beth whispered in fright as she held her mum by the shoulders pinching her checks slightly with her thumb, as she twisted the handle of the door sliding it open trying not to make a sound; “Mum, he’s coming I have to go”.

“Beth___” Jules whispered at the door which shut in her face, Beth was gone, she had disappeared into the dark night.

Running down the street she knocked on the door of a house in hopes they’d open up and welcome her into their house, an old friend, a familiar face, yet it all felt so strange, the world looked different, everything around her was never going to be the same, the loss of her childhood was catching up with her, she needed warm arms to hold her tight, so scared of everything that was ahead of her.

A tall man opened the door, a young face, chocolate brown eyes, he ran his hands through his short sandy hair; “Can I help you?” the man asked politely as he hinted at her with a smile.

Everything was small, the nights became harder and harder, sleep was less and less often, anxiety filled her bones and depression affected her mind, was it ever going to go away? Kept behind a locked door, showers were rare, food was never in her system, Beth’s door squeaked open, a face appeared around wood, “Hey, honey, everything okay? Do you want some food?” her mother asked politely.

“Mum, I need to get out of here” Beth replied hesitant

Her mother sat down on the bed beside her as Beth’s hair fell over her face, her arched back and teary eyes was a sight for sore eyes. Her mother asked what was wrong as they sat for what must have been at least an hour talking about the struggles in life.

Jules told Beth that she should try and get some rest cause tomorrow was a new day. a decision had to be made, what had to be done had to be done, "Mum, we can't live like this anymore, i can't take it" Bethany's eyes watered as tears fell from her green eyes.

"Honey, i know what you're thinking, but we can't, we can't call the police, dad loves you and me, and he doesn't mean the things that he does" Jules held Beth tight in her arms.

"Mum, he raped me" Bethany's sharp response was not enough for her mother to agree to her calling for help.

Bethany's head spun round in circles as she laid back in her bed resting her head against her small rounded pillow she prayed to the roof wondering if there was a God up there to answer her prayers and help her with the relationship she was stuck in.

As time went by, darkness filled the quiet room squeaking floor boards, light cracking in through the door as a man stood at the edge of her bed Beth tried to act as if she were asleep, he didn't fall for it, he sat down on the blanket covering Bethany's body, "Darling" he whispered sending shivers up her spine.

"Look, let em get something straight with you okay" He continued on turning on the light, "LOOK AT ME WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU, YOU w***e" he yelled out, Bethany sat frightened frozen like a picture in a frame.

as her father got closer he pulled the sheets down off of Bethany's cold body, nothing but bra and undies keeping her covered as her father grabbed her roughly holding her arms to the bed forcing himself on her she cried, calling for her mum who had been locked in a cupboard.

Jules was done, she was over it, opening up to her daughters ideas she grabbed the phone, Bethany begin used and abused by the man she once looked up to as a fatherly figure, someone she was once scared to disappoint, Jules dialled the number for the police.