3

It hurts. Everything hurts. I roll onto the left side of the hotel bed. My head is pounding in ways I was hoping to never feel again. The itchy blankets irritate my skin enough to finally convince me to sit up in hopes of relief from the rough covers. No sooner than it took to take the blankets off did I throw them back on. I was NAKED. Not the 'oh I slept in my underwear' naked. it was the 'newborn baby' naked. I yank the comforter off the bed and quickly gather my garments from around the room wincing with every step.

'Kat. You are never drinking again.' I tell myself as a bent to pick up my skinny jeans and t-shirt that was thrown on the floor. I pick up my shoes and then inch around the bed focusing on the bathroom. That was until I saw a foot sticking out from beside the bed. I swear I died a little inside. Clutching the covers, I slowly make my way over to where the owner of the foot was. My eyes trailed from the tips of the toes to the face. Engraving every inch of his well-formed legs and sexy six-pack into my memory, and then my blood went cold. This was no stranger. No. I wouldn't be able to mistake that chocolate brown hair and high cheekbones on that flawlessly tawny skin with anyone else. It was Michael Reese. My very own bully and tormenter. I slowly backed up and threw on my clothes forgetting altogether about a shower and my missing underwear. I ran out of the room and out to the street.

'Did I get so drunk that night that I slept with Michael?' The funny thing is that I can't even remember drinking.

I hail the first taxi I see and give him my address. Anxiety fills me every second that passes until panic sets in.

" Are you ok, Miss?" the taxi driver asks while looking at me through the rearview mirror.

Giving a fake smile and a quick nod I choke out a small yes. I turn and look out my window distracting myself with the rising sun. soon my house comes into view. I thank the driver and pay him the $20 that I owe then head to the door. Slightly shaking I open the door and slip inside. I cautiously look around before making my way upstairs to my room. Once inside I close my door behind me. I quickly walk over to my small almost empty wardrobe and pull out a well-worn pair of black skinny jeans and a baggie army green t-shirt. Pairing that with my favorite black army boots I grab my shower bag and other essentials and head across the hall into the bathroom.

'You never came home yesterday."

My heart stops beating in my chest.

"I'm sorry dad. I was at my friend's house studying and lost track of time." I plead desperately. I can not see any mercy in his black soul. He grabs me roughly by the throat and slams me into the wall. He pulls the neckline of my shirt fully exposing the hickey Michael gave me. My eyes blur as my head bounces off the wall. "You're a whore. Just like your mother was," he growls his face inches away from mine. A small whimper escapes my lips. He sets his jaw and I close my eyes. I feel the weight of his fist connecting with my cheek. He then releases me and my body slides to the ground as darkness claims me. I wake up a couple of hours later. I groan as soon as I slowly move off the hard wooden floor. As soon as I fully stand up I clutch my hand over my mouth as a wave of nausea slams into me. I make a mad dash to the bathroom and empty the contents of my stomach into the toilet. I stand and walk back into the hallway and collect my things before returning to the bathroom. I peel off my clothes one piece at a time while glancing at the mirror counting every bruise and scar, both old and new. I climb into the shower and turn the water on. I quickly wash my hair watching the red water run down the drain. After in done conditioning my hair I turn the water off and throw on my clothes not caring to dry myself but not forgetting to put some deodorant on. I put my shower bag in my school bag along with the money I had been saving on my mattress. And just like that, I leave. My mind flickers to all the times I stayed and endured the beatings. No more. It's best not to be there when my father wakes up again.