Chapter 8
God, my head is pounding like you wouldn’t believe. I force myself to open my eyes, my throat feeling sore and
completely dry as I lick my chapped lips, confused and disorientated. Where was I, I wondered, looking around the
room, realizing it was mine. But how had I gotten here? I distinctly remember being hit on the head by father
downstairs and then nothing. I was certain I had fallen unconscious from the pain in my head. So who had put me to bed? I doubted it was father, but it was equally astonishing to think my brother Damien would show that much care
towards me. But he was the only one who could have possibly done it and I feel a small bit of gratefulness towards
him.
I force myself to roll out of bed, blinking against the bright sunlight and trying not to scream at the pain in my head. I feel the back of my hair and can tell it’s matted with dried blood and I groan, it’s going to take forever to get it all out and I’m hoping I won’t have to do something horrible like cut it. It’s taken forever for me to grow it as long as
this. I hurry to the bathroom and am ecstatic to find I’m able to wash it out with a bit of elbow grease, my hand now fully healed along with my head injury. It’s the small things in life I think to myself sourly, to be grateful for.
the mess that greets me. There are dishes piled
of empty beer bottles scattered all over the lounge room floor. Thankfully, father is snoring loudly in
opportunity to make breakfast, putting his on the table. There’s no way I’m going to wake
been happier this morning. I leave his breakfast out in case and grab my school bag. So far it’s been a non-eventful morning
time in months, and I can’t believe my good fortune.
goddess taken
group of cheerleaders are gathered in the hall and I instinctively duck my head down and try
Whatever, as long as it has nothing to do with me, I
care less.
believe there’s a new
all, guess
speaks up and I flinch, still working on getting
shoulder, a massive smile on her face. “I just know that he’s going to be my
obvious” she almost purrs while her friends look a bit put out.
friends also want a piece of this poor
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