The Story Of My Life

Chapter 4

Mum became more suspicious about my falling from stairs and fighting in school. She was more than sure that I was lying, but had no choice but to believe. 

Things grew worse for me, my grade dropped from A's to F9's. Mum was furious, she forced me to study, I just couldn't concentrate. The memories of him belting me were constantly popping in my mind and the fear that I'll still get beaten up send shivers to my spine. I tried telling her only to end up sobbing. She was so disappointed in me, I didn't really blame her if only she knew what I was undergoing. She wouldn't be yelling about my grades. 

However she was not the only person worried about this sudden change coming from me, her best male friend Charlie Weston, a cop, was too. When he saw the little bruises on my face, he was quick to ask questions. I would always tell him what I told mum, "I got into a fight in school or I tripped and fell." With the way he nodded each time, I knew he didn't believe. He suspected dad for a reason I ignored. 

Mum became stern and strict toward me, but I knew she loved me and shared my pain. I was determined to tell her everything, once I gathered enough courage to confront my beast of a father. The question was when? 

My question was soon to be answered one Saturday afternoon. 

You may be wondering why mum had work on Saturdays, she had many different jobs, we needed money, he wasn't working rather spending on alcohol and drugs, she had tried reasoning him many times, he was just too deaf to realize his errors. He told her that it wasn't affecting me and he'll soon stop. She actually believed him. She loved him, more than I taught.

I wave Mum off that Saturday, returning to my room. I bit my lip before taking that decision, I grabbed my school books and a diary, I need to express myself, I needed to tell someone. I took a long breath reaching for a pen. I started with

       Alexander Douglas's diary

I am Alexander Douglas, people call me Alex. I loved my parents curse they loved me, but one Sunday morning everything change, papa Mr. Anthony Douglas belted me for no reason.....

After 20 minutes of writing in my diary, I finally closed it. I had tears on my cheeks, I wipe them, before hiding my diary behind my drawer. I started studying my school books, trying hard to concentrate, preventing all the horrible memories from popping out. I had a test to pass, mum said if I failed she'll s***k me severely, but if I got good grades she'll take me out for a surprise. I hated disappointing her, that was why I tried. As for Anthony, he was out, probably playing some games in the bar. I heard a sound downstairs, I tiptoed to the door, cracking it open, I looked down through the bars of the stairs. He was setting some bottles of beer on the glass table, he grabbed one bringing it to his lips. He mistakenly dropped his keys, he cursed under his breath while bending to reach for his keys, he grabbed his keys but paused to grab another thing. When he rose I saw an envelope, the one I dropped a few weeks ago. I watched as he opened it, he stared at the letter reading it. He muttered something, I couldn't hear what he said but I heard "...that little brat." I gasped when he loosed his belt, folding it in two. Double pain I thought. I ran to my room shutting the door, I locked it, pushed my wooden toy box in front of the door blocking it. I hid in my closet. He'll kill me if he gets up here. 

I heard angry footsteps coming towards my room and the cracking sound of the knob as it was twisted several times. Then came a bang, "Alexander open this f*****g door!" He yelled from behind the door, still banging it. "If I get there I'll kill you!" He threatens. "OPEN THE DOOR!" The bangs on the door increased to louder ones, he was trying to break down the door. 

Tears streamed down my face, I was very scared. Suddenly the heavy sound stopped. Was he gone? I blink my eyes trying to hear any sound or noise. CLASH! The loud sound made me jump, my heart beating faster. The knob dropped to the floor, and the door was kicked open, my toy box couldn't withstand his muscles. More tears ran down my cheeks as I whimpered. My heart was pounding in my chest.

"Lex, I'll give you one last chance to come out, come see papa like the good boy you are," his voice sounded evil. I brace myself, squeezing my eyes shut. 

"Alex Alex, you can't hide from me, I'll always find you, and you'll be punished like the little naughty brat that you are," he spoke softly with a charming maniac tone. My closet door flew open, "Gotcha!" He then yanked me out of the closet. I screamed while trembling. He pushed me to the wall landing hard swats to my back as I screamed and sobbed. "Hush!" He yelled, I was still screaming and crying. "Shut up or I gag you!" He said delivering a strong blow to my lower back cursing me to wail. "This is it! I can't take your whiny s**t!" He moved around the room looking for something, I was too busy crying. He returned with a rope, binding my hands, he forced a cloth in my mouth muffling the sound of my screams. He began hitting harder than before, I tried screaming but the rag in my mouth won't let the sound out. 

"You wanted to trap me, you left that letter there for her to see, you wanted her to know of our little secret, yes, you wanted to escape your fate, never! You can never escape your twisted destiny, got that? All this is your fault, if you weren't born, Jessi and I would still be dancing in nightclubs and getting drunk, just because of you she ceased the fun! She's suffering from it, she'll soon die and it will be your fault, why were you born for f**k sake?! Just to please your mother, I was forced to love you! You rot my life! Just die If you really love us!" He punctuated his words with a blow from the belt. His words hurt me more than the belt. 

"Alex!" I heard her voice, my heroine, my first love, my comforter, the reason for my smile, my mama. The beating had stopped, my hands were quickly untied, the rag was pulled out of my mouth and I was engulfed in a bear hug. I sobbed and hiccupped on her chest, I was unable to breathe. 

"HOW DARE YOU ANTHONY? YOU CHEATED ON ME AND ABUSED MY SON! YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!" She roared. I heard two struggling in the room, she was not alone.

"I'll personally throw you in jail!" Charlie said. 

"Jessi, I never cheated on you," he lied softly. 

"I read the letter she wrote to you, you forgot to hide it. Tony, you disgust me. Remember I told you if you don't stop your crap you'll equally lose us? I wanna divorce." She said with courage and determination as she wiped her eyes.

"Y-you c-can't do this to me, he is the curse of our problems, he needs to pay!" He screamed.

"Shut up! You may take him to jail Charlie, where he'll rot." She said, 

My body couldn't bear the horrible pain, my vision went blurry, I felt dizzy, I couldn't hear what they were saying, It felt like I was underwater. The words I heard were, "baby, I'm here, everything is okay," then I passed out. 

I woke up with tears on my cheeks, I was crying in my dream, but it came out really. I looked around the room, a heart monitor that didn't stop making a Beep Beep sound. Tubes were attached to my body and a liquid was running through them. I was scared mama was gone, she was not there, just me laying on the bed, I didn't know where I was. I only remember Anthony beating the hell out of me, and my body was aching. I curled in a ball burying my head, I started sobbing. The door swung open, mum ran in hugging me. 

"Baby, why are you crying? it's alright mama is here, shush, calm down." She consoled me.

"H-he h-hit m-me," I hiccupped, hugging her tightly.

"I know, baby, I know. It's over now, he'll never hurt you again." She said while breaking the hug. Her words were reassuring. At least I won't get to see him ever again, that was what I thought. 

"Honey, we're going to Charlie's house, till we rent our own house, are you okay with that?" She said once my sobs were reduced to occasional sniffs. I nodded still recovering from my trauma. 

That Saturday night I was released from the hospital and we went to Charlie's apartment, it was comfortable and nice, mum didn't stop cuddling me, before bedtime she asked.

"Alex, why didn't you tell me?" 

"H-he said h-he will h-hurt me, a-and make y-you h-hate me," I replied with glossy eyes recalling all Anthony's threats. 

"Oh Alex," she exclaimed while pulling me in a hug."

"A-am sorry mama," I choke a sob. 

"No baby, sorry for being too busy, I am such a bad mother, you were passing through all these and I didn't know, I should have known you were being abused, I could've prevented this. Is all my fault baby, not yours, I'm very sorry." She sobbed on my shoulders. I hated seeing her cry, it always made me feel guilty. 

"I love you, mama," I kissed her and she returned the gesture.

"I love you forever and always," she whispered in my ears.