Sitting in my bedroom’s window seat as I sigh heavily. Picking the bright pink polish covering my short nails, I look out the window. The waves crashing into the beach, people running around the beach with their families. I felt everything that I thought I had known about my father was so true, but now—now I was second guessing everything about him.

I hear a faint knock on the door as it pushed open squeaking a tad bit. I looked over at the door to see Dahlia walking in as she pushes the door shut. She stands there and opens her arms up as I run over clinging onto her and sobbing into her chest, “He yelled at me. He bruised my arm.” I whispered into her stomach sobbing harder.

“Sweets, he was upset,” She rubs my back soothingly. “You know your father would never do anything to harm you.” She assures me.

I push her away and go back over to the window sitting down and pulling my knees up to my chest. “He may not have, but he did.” I whisper leaning into the window watching my father leave the house and soon leave in his car.

“Sweets,” Dahlia says coming over and sitting at my feet looking me square in the eyes. “Zoe, your dad loves you more than anything in this world and you know that for a fact,” She pauses looking out the window. “He would never hurt you at all. It might had been—“ She’s cut off by a knock on my room door with it opening up to reveal Matt.

“Babe, can I talk to you?” Matt asks her.

She nods her head and smiles at me pushing herself up and going out of the room with Matt. Matt pulled the door up as I heard the two hush talking outside of the bedroom. Rolling my eyes I push myself up and go into my bathroom. I pull the door up and lock it as I take in a deep breath I stand there quietly to hear my phone go off as I grab it from the counter seeing my mom call, “Hello?” I answer.

“Zoe.” She whispers, she had been crying and ached my heart to hear her voice like this.

Even though she has treated me awful since my dad and she divorced, I still loved her. “Mom, what’s wrong?” I ask her.

“Jonas,” She mutters as I could hear Jonas shouting from a door.

“What did he do?” I question her.

“Just—“ She stops as she takes a deep breath, “Can you swing by here and maybe we can go out and talk?” She asks.

“Sure mom.” I end the call and walk out of my bathroom and get some clothes on.

After getting my jacket tossed onto my shoulders I pushed my room window open after grabbing my purse, car keys, and phone. Climbing down from the window with the sheets I had tied together. I managed to hit bottom as I dashed for my car. Getting inside of it, I start it up and back out speeding away before anyone has a chance to see me leaving.

Forty minutes later I pull up outside of my mom’s house. I frown seeing my mom rip from Jonas’s grip and running for my car. I unlock the doors as she gets in and shuts it hard, as I lock the doors back in case of Jonas trying something. Mom turns towards me as I look at her in complete shock, “What happened mom?” I ask taking my hand up to her face tracing over the cut above her right eyebrow.

Cuts, dried and caked up blood, and bruises were all over her face, shoulders, and neck. She was wearing a black tank top and it had a few dried blood splatters on it. “Mom, what happened?” I asked her again.

She shook her head and pointed to go. I put the car into park and pulled out driving. “I’m leaving Jonas.” She says.

“Why?” I ask not looking off from the road.

“He’s abusive, Zoe.” She sighs heavily. “I’m moving back in with your mamaw and papaw.” She says.

“Okay.” I say.

“So you can come over anytime if you want too sweetie,” She pauses and looks over at me from what I can see out of the corner of my eye. “I am so sorry for the hurtful things i’ve done to you over the past years.” She tells me.

“It’s ok mom, I never really held any of it against you.” I remove one hand from the steering wheel patting her leg gently.

I continue driving towards my grandparent’s home, glad to finally have my old mom back. And Jonas completely out of our lives, maybe things would turn around.



Turning the curve to the street I lived on. Few minutes later I pull into the driveway to see my dad’s car back, and another’s. I kill the engine of the car and get out quietly. I rush over to my window to see the sheets gone. I kick the side of the house and turn around to see my dad standing there, arms crossed over his chest. “In the house, now.” He hisses the now part out pointing.

I roll my eyes going to the front door and going into the house. He shuts the door and pushes me along with him to the living room. I stop in the doorway to see a dirty blondesitting on the sofa. She turns around and smiles at me as I shot her a dirty glare along with my dad, “What?” I ask.

“Come and sit the fuck down, Zoe!” Dad snaps at me pointing to the recliner.

“No thanks, I’d rather just go upstairs and sleep.” I grumble.

“Where were you, Zoe?” He asks me looking at me.

“With my mother.” I say crossing my arms.

“You know—“ I cut him off.

“She isn’t with Jonas anymore; she was at mamaw and papaw’s house. I think I want to stay with them tonight. I’m going to get some of my clothes and go over.” I snarl starting out of the room.

“You’re grounded, that means staying no where’s but inside of your room and this house, understood?” He snaps.

“Oh sure, captain!” I snarl out at him.

“Two more weeks added onto the two month period, for sassing.” Dad says.

“Fine by me.” I turn around and point to the slut beside of him, “Who’s this bimbo? Meet her at your favorite strip joint?” I say with sarcasm.

“She’s our neighbor, Pearl.” Dad smiles at her, the smile he always gave mom when they were in love. “She’s also our new assistant at the office.” Dad says.

“You mean the band or the clothing line?” I ask playing dumb.

“For fucks sake, Zoe. The clothing line.” Dad yells at me.

I just shoot him another glare and walk off not saying another word. I jog up the stairs and into my room slamming the door shut. I shake my head and plop down onto my bed shrugging out of the jacket. I look down at my knees and sigh heavily. I had no idea what had happened to my dad in the past hours, from the school till now. But he hated me, and for what godly reason, I had no idea.