Page 308 of Eternal
“They get taken away.”
I get up.Fast.
He says nothing, he simply watches me leave.
But later that night, I found it in my bag anyway.
Back at the house, in the kitchen, pretending I’m not shaking. Christian’s on the couch, drinking already.
I pull my notebook out. The old MP3 player hits the ground, wrapped in a paper scrap, my name on it, and a little heart.
Panic explodes in my chest. I snatch it and shove it into my hoodie pocket, but he’s already standing.
“What the hell was that?”
“Nothing.”
He’s in front of me before I can breathe, rips it from my hand, reads the name, sees the heart…
He’s going to kill me...
“What the fuck is this?”
“It’s just some kid. I didn’t ask for it?—”
He scrolls through the songs on the player, stops, and presses play.
A soft guitar starts up, then a boy’s voice
He stops it.Cold.
“Are you trying to be some kind of tease?” he screams. “You dressing like that? Letting boys write you fucking love songs?”
“No! I didn’t… I didn’t say yes to anything…”
“You didn’t say no either, did you?” The slap comes fast. “You think you’re special?” he hissed. “You think some boy wants you, you dirty little thing? You’ve got bones sticking out of your skin. There’s not even enough of you to fuck.”
I said no to you but it never stopped you…
“I’m not—I didn’t?—”
I promise I didn’t.
He grabs my hair and yanks me down. “Don’t cry now,” he spits. “You wanna open your legs for boys at school? I’ll show you what that gets you.”
“Please. Please not again.”
But it’s too late. The fists land, the floor comes fast. Andshe…she is watching from the stairs like it isn’t new. I’m the only child left here. I was the only one who stayed since my arrival. Some came, stayed for a few days before getting back somewhere else. ButIstayed.
“You’re ugly anyway,” he hisses. “Ain’t even enough meat to hold onto. Those eyes freak me out.”
Another hit. My stomach. My ribs.
I just curl in, small.
He walks away eventually. Says I make him sick.
I make me sick too…
