The Bare and Broken Heart

The room was dimly lit with the pale moonlight slowly creeping up the wall through the small window. Amelia sat alone on her bed with her knees held tightly against her chest. A small stream of tears rolled down her cheek as she cried silently. Amelia heard the screams of her mother ripple from the kitchen and bounce off the walls throughout the house. Every scream felt like a spike stabbing into Amelia’s chest. She knew that her stepfather was drunk, but there was nothing that she could do to stop him. He was too big. Too strong. Amelia cradled her legs as she shrunk onto her bed. As her head settled onto her pillow, she sunk into a sleep that was restless and almost pointless. The sound of a screeching alarm woke Amelia with a frightening jump. Her heart raced as she realized that the house was quiet. The horrors of the night before seemed to disappear as the sun rose behind the mountains, but Amelia knew better. Last night was not the first time that her father came into the house like a tornado and it will not be the last. Amelia was careful not to create too much noise as she shuffled around her room to gather her schoolwork and backpack. The floor seemed to be unrealistically squeaky, but Amelia was able to tip-toe to her closet without waking up everyone in the house. She sighed as she looked through the clothes in front of her. She did not like the color pink, but it was the only color that her mother had ever bought for Amelia. Her mother would use a materialistic view and money to attempt to justify her husband’s actions. Fancy clothes, jewelry, new phones, and electronics filled the room but gave Amelia no comfort. Amelia shoved the pink dresses and bedazzled gowns to the side; a small suitcase was tucked away in the back corner. Inside the suitcase was something that Amelia could never let her stepfather see. It was the one thing that could change everything for Amelia. An envelope, sealed inside of a small box alongside her passport. It was the only money that Amelia had been able to keep for herself. Pocket change from her mother and bills that she had snuck from her stepfather’s wallet during his drunken tirades. It was not much, but she hoped that he had finally saved enough for a bus ticket. “All I need is a one-way ticket,” Amelia muttered under her breath as she opened the box. She stuffed her passport and the envelope into the very bottom of her backpack, making sure that her books and papers covered them. She slowly stood up and looked at the clothes in front of her, deciding which outfit was best. She knew that she would be wearing it for a while. She would not be able to pack anything to change into. Amelia had just finished getting dressed when there was a loud banging against the door. “You had better be awake. Breakfast isn’t going to cook itself.” Amelia’s stepfather’s voice penetrated the door as if it were transparent. The harshness sent a chill through Amelia’s spine, and she shuddered in fear. “I am and I will be right there. I promise.” Amelia's voice cracked slightly with fear. Amelia held her breath as the sound of heavy footsteps trailed away down the hallway towards the kitchen. She sighed in relief as her body slowly relaxed slightly and she made her way to the door. Her hand gripped the knob gently as the sound of broken glass came from outside. Her mother and stepfather began to argue again. Shoulders tightened and a look of rage flashed across Amelia’s face. “That’s it. I am done.” Amelia forcefully threw the door open, slamming it against the wall. She dared not look at the damage that it caused. She did not care anymore. She raced to the kitchen with purposeful steps, ensuring that she made it there in only a matter of seconds. She did not have much time. Amelia’s stepfather and mother were frozen in place to the sound of the door slamming. The sudden sound of something that was not caused by their own rage was foreign to them. As they turned towards the hallway, Amelia had already made her way into the kitchen like a speeding train. “What do you think you are doing?” Amelia’s stepfather was barely able to speak the full sentence before Amelia was face to face with him. Standing only a few inches away from him, Aleamia screamed into his face. “How dare you do that? How did you come to think that you owned this house? You came into our house. It isn’t yours and never will be!” Amelia bellowed as she clenched her fists. “Oh, now this is fun. The little girl thinks that she is big and grown up now. Go back to your room and play with your dolls.” Amelia’s stepfather smiled and chuckled as he shooed her away. “I will never listen to you. You are pathetic. A lonely drunk who is so sad in life that he has to make everyone else just as miserable as he is.” Amelia’s words spewed out like venom. Amelia’s stepfather whipped around to face her. Anger steamed from his face. “I am going to get you, little girl.” Without thinking, Amelia threw her fists. She hoped to make contact, but when her fist only met with empty space, panic immediately set in. Her mind was flooded with thoughts. Racing between fear and adrenaline. As Amelia was scrambling within her own mind, her body unconsciously went into fight or flight mode. Fight. Amelia’s mother screamed, begging everyone to stop and fumbling to grab ahold of her to pull her away from the danger. Amelia’s stepfather smiled, it was unreal and disturbing. Almost as though he was waiting for this day to come, and he was happy. Within a second, Amelia’s stepfather lunged forward to grab ahold of her shoulders. Amelia leaped into action herself, sliding out of the way just in time to slam herself against the kitchen counter. Her hands frantically searched for something to throw or hit in defense. There was nothing within her reach. She turned to find that her stepfather had found his footing and turned to face her again. Ready to strike. Amelia stood, back against the counter. Her hands slightly opened the drawer behind her and searched for something, anything. A knife. She gripped the handle. Without a second to think, her stepfather launched himself at her again. She closed her eyes and threw her hands in front of her. The screams of her mother echoed through her ears until the world around her fell silent. Then everything changed.