"no"
"yes"
"I refuse"
"you have no right to refuse"
"isn't that unfair?"
"life's unfair"
"we could make it unfair"
"how so?"
"by letting me not go"
"that wouldn't be fair to your siblings"
"life's unfair"
"touchè"
"is that a 'okay you don't have to go'?"
"no"
"how unfair"
"life's unfair"
"agreed…"
For the past two hours, my mother, Leanne, and I have been fighting over the move. I, personally, don't want to go even though everyone else is super excited. But who get's excited about living in a old house that all your annoying relatives lived and died in. certainly not me, but I'm being forced to anyway.
All of our stuff has been packed by my mom when my sister, Sarah, my brother, Brandon, and I were at school. Everything was already in the moving van when we arrived home and now we are all ready to go, even though I'm not. I wanted to stay in this house forever, or at least until the end of the school year…
"come on Michelle, a whole new adventure awaits you at our new house."
"I haven't finished this one"
"YOUR GOING AND THAT'S IT!" my father yelled at her picked me up and threw me into the car. My father, Calleb, is abusive, though nobody in our family is willing to admit it. He glared at my shocked mom, "GET INTO THE CAR WOMAN!"
As she did what she was told she lowered her head so that her bangs covered her eyes, but I can see the tears that flowed from her eyes. Seeing that, I remembered what she told me when she married him.
"he can be nice, but he get's angry easily" she said as she tucked me into my bed.
"then why did you marry him?" I asked as she sat down next to me
"I married him because…well I love him." she said smiling.
"do you, really? In all honesty?" I asked as I saw her smile falter for a second.
"I…your so mature for your young age of five. Asking questions that make your own mother confused." she said laughing softly. I frowned at her.
"but it was such a simple questio-" she placed her finger against my lips.
"good night honey"
I could tell she was lying to me, to all of us. But I know she is scared of what will happen if she doesn't act like she loves him. She's scared he'll do something to us, the children, because she's selfless like that. She doesn't care what happens to her as long as everyone is healthy and happy…well, at least healthy. I love my mom, but I can handle pain, so it's okay if she divorces him. I'll protect Sarah and Brandon too, if that is what it takes to repay mother for all her kindness.
"I'll move if it'll make mother happy." I mumbled as I looked out the window. Several cars passed my us on a highway, mostly black and white ones. But…when exactly did we start moving?
"your not the only one, Chelle." Sarah whispered and Brandon nodded. "we want her happy too."
"that's why we didn't put up a fight like you did." Brandon whispered. "by the way, are you okay? He threw you pretty hard"
I looked at my body and saw blood dripping down my shoulder. I looked up and saw mom looking at me, waiting for an answer.
"yeah, I'm good" I said, never looking away from mother.
whatever it takes to make you make you happy.
Suddenly, the car jerked and flipped. I can hear my older sister scream on the other side of my brother as he put his arm around our waists. I can see mother holding onto her seat for dear life and father's calm expression as he folded his arms. I reached out my arms and held onto mom.
I'll protect you.
Father's rough hands grabbed my arms and tore me away from mother with a snarl. The car flipped again as something went through the windshield, it went straight through her stomach.
No…no!
"Momma!" I screamed as I saw the blood stain her white sweater. Brandon pulled me back onto his chest and whispered into my ear.
"stop! He has a knife." he wiped my tears from my face with his sleeve and made me huddle together with him and Sarah. I looked over to where his hands were gripping the steering wheel. Sure enough, there was a knife that was small enough to go unnoticed, but big enough to actually hurt someone.
Calleb, he…he did this on purpose!
The car stopped. And father laughed.