Flames
Face down
“I’m tired of you whoring yourself around my friends! You’re nothing but a stupid fucking slut! I don’t know why I bother keeping you around. You’re not good for a single fucking thing!” I lay in the fetal position as Trey kicks me again in the stomach taking what little breath I have left in me. I whimper as I try to take a breath in but can’t due to the pain I’m in. Trey grabs my hair forcing me to look him in the eyes. I gag a little from the strong smell of alcohol on his breathe. I try and silence my cry out of pain as he lands a hard punch to my cheek. I feel the room spin as my vision starts to fade.
“You disgust me. You’re nothing but a fucking whore. I should have listened to everyone and stayed away from you. I want you to clean yourself up by the time I get back.” He seethes out before releasing my hair causing my head to hit the floor. Whimpering he sneers at me before giving me one last kick to the ribs. I know at least a few are broken and I close my eyes as darkness starts to overtake me. The last thing I remember before passing out is hearing the front door slam and the start of his truck.
I bolt up from my dream, blindly reaching out for Brian, until I realize I’m in the guest room at Hurley’s house and Brian isn’t going to be around to silence my tears anymore. I feel a pang in my chest at that realization but quickly dismiss it as sadness for Trey. Thinking back to my dream I let out a soft sigh. That was the last time I ever saw him. He got into a wreck that night and died because he had been drinking. It was my entire fault; I caused him to get so upset he had to resort to drinking and driving. I had been a stupid slut. His friends were over and I must have been putting off flirty vibes to his friend Mike. When I went to get a drink Mike followed me, cornering me up against the sink. Trey walked in just as Mike leaned in to kiss me. Trey just cleared his throat and waited for an explanation. Mike explained that I’ve been practically begging him to hook up. Trey just smiled saying that he was sure it was just a misunderstanding. After they headed back into the living room I quietly slipped upstairs to our bedroom to stay out of the way, a few hours later when his friends left he came looking for me. That’s when I knew I was in trouble. He was piss drunk and slammed the door against the wall as he came barreling into the room. I tried to explain that I wasn’t trying to do anything with Mike but he didn’t believe me. That’s when he really lost his temper, he said if I would have just told him the truth he wouldn’t have had to punish me. I brush some tears that have started to fall as I try and tell myself that it’s not my fault, at least that’s what everyone tells me but I know the truth. I know it was my fault, I basically killed Trey. I curl up pulling a pillow next to me and hold it as I let the guilt and sadness take over my body.
“Ads?” I start to come to as I hear the frantic voice of my best friend flooding through the house.
“Adalay are you here? Jesus Chirst! Matt you check downstairs I’m gonna look upstairs.” She yells. I slowly open my eyes and try to sit up as I hear footsteps coming up the stairs but I quickly lay right back down as the pain shoots through me. I hear the bedroom door open and a gasp fall out of Hurls mouth.
“Oh my God Adalay! What happened?” She cries out while rushing to me and dropping to her knees next to my body. “MATT!! Get up here quickly!” She screams while trying to get me to look at her but I can’t because I feel ashamed. Matt comes bounding up the stairs and stops in his tracks as he sees the scene in front of him. I hear him curse before dropping down in a similar fashion to Hurley next to me.
“Ads? Can you hear me? What the hell happened? Hurley call 911.” Matt exclaims while brushing some of my hair out of my face. Hurley jumps up and heads out the room to grab a phone. I whimper as he softly touches my face examining it. I can hear Hurley on the phone telling the police my address and telling them to hurry. Matt goes to pick me up but I cry out as my ribs feel like they are breaking all over again. Matt curses before apologizing.
“I’m so sorry Ads. I won’t try and move you again. I swear to God I’m so sorry.” He says as my eyes meet his. I try to talk but nothing comes out. He nods his head knowingly.
“They are on their way. They said just a few minutes.” Hurley exclaims while rushing back into the room. He nods at her before turning back to me.
“Ads just stay with us for a few minutes. Can you do that for me? I need you to stay strong. Help is on the way.” I blink in response to Matt. I hear Hurley crying and my eyes meet hers. I try to smile at her but I can’t feel my face. A few minutes go by and I hear someone yelling out hello and Hurley running out the room to let the paramedics know where we are. After a painful transition from the floor to the stretcher they carry me down to the ambulance. Hurley climbs in behind as they load me on.
“I’ll follow behind in the car and call everyone.” Matt says before placing a kiss on Hurley’s cheek and heading to the car. I use all the strength I have to grab ahold of her hand giving it a squeeze.
“Oh Ads. It’s over. He’s never going to hurt you again. It’s going to be ok.” She whispers with tears in her eyes. I try to understand what she’s talking about but I can’t push past the fog that’s taking over my mind. I give into it as we speed through the dark streets towards the hospital.
“You disgust me. You’re nothing but a fucking whore. I should have listened to everyone and stayed away from you. I want you to clean yourself up by the time I get back.” He seethes out before releasing my hair causing my head to hit the floor. Whimpering he sneers at me before giving me one last kick to the ribs. I know at least a few are broken and I close my eyes as darkness starts to overtake me. The last thing I remember before passing out is hearing the front door slam and the start of his truck.
I bolt up from my dream, blindly reaching out for Brian, until I realize I’m in the guest room at Hurley’s house and Brian isn’t going to be around to silence my tears anymore. I feel a pang in my chest at that realization but quickly dismiss it as sadness for Trey. Thinking back to my dream I let out a soft sigh. That was the last time I ever saw him. He got into a wreck that night and died because he had been drinking. It was my entire fault; I caused him to get so upset he had to resort to drinking and driving. I had been a stupid slut. His friends were over and I must have been putting off flirty vibes to his friend Mike. When I went to get a drink Mike followed me, cornering me up against the sink. Trey walked in just as Mike leaned in to kiss me. Trey just cleared his throat and waited for an explanation. Mike explained that I’ve been practically begging him to hook up. Trey just smiled saying that he was sure it was just a misunderstanding. After they headed back into the living room I quietly slipped upstairs to our bedroom to stay out of the way, a few hours later when his friends left he came looking for me. That’s when I knew I was in trouble. He was piss drunk and slammed the door against the wall as he came barreling into the room. I tried to explain that I wasn’t trying to do anything with Mike but he didn’t believe me. That’s when he really lost his temper, he said if I would have just told him the truth he wouldn’t have had to punish me. I brush some tears that have started to fall as I try and tell myself that it’s not my fault, at least that’s what everyone tells me but I know the truth. I know it was my fault, I basically killed Trey. I curl up pulling a pillow next to me and hold it as I let the guilt and sadness take over my body.
“Ads?” I start to come to as I hear the frantic voice of my best friend flooding through the house.
“Adalay are you here? Jesus Chirst! Matt you check downstairs I’m gonna look upstairs.” She yells. I slowly open my eyes and try to sit up as I hear footsteps coming up the stairs but I quickly lay right back down as the pain shoots through me. I hear the bedroom door open and a gasp fall out of Hurls mouth.
“Oh my God Adalay! What happened?” She cries out while rushing to me and dropping to her knees next to my body. “MATT!! Get up here quickly!” She screams while trying to get me to look at her but I can’t because I feel ashamed. Matt comes bounding up the stairs and stops in his tracks as he sees the scene in front of him. I hear him curse before dropping down in a similar fashion to Hurley next to me.
“Ads? Can you hear me? What the hell happened? Hurley call 911.” Matt exclaims while brushing some of my hair out of my face. Hurley jumps up and heads out the room to grab a phone. I whimper as he softly touches my face examining it. I can hear Hurley on the phone telling the police my address and telling them to hurry. Matt goes to pick me up but I cry out as my ribs feel like they are breaking all over again. Matt curses before apologizing.
“I’m so sorry Ads. I won’t try and move you again. I swear to God I’m so sorry.” He says as my eyes meet his. I try to talk but nothing comes out. He nods his head knowingly.
“They are on their way. They said just a few minutes.” Hurley exclaims while rushing back into the room. He nods at her before turning back to me.
“Ads just stay with us for a few minutes. Can you do that for me? I need you to stay strong. Help is on the way.” I blink in response to Matt. I hear Hurley crying and my eyes meet hers. I try to smile at her but I can’t feel my face. A few minutes go by and I hear someone yelling out hello and Hurley running out the room to let the paramedics know where we are. After a painful transition from the floor to the stretcher they carry me down to the ambulance. Hurley climbs in behind as they load me on.
“I’ll follow behind in the car and call everyone.” Matt says before placing a kiss on Hurley’s cheek and heading to the car. I use all the strength I have to grab ahold of her hand giving it a squeeze.
“Oh Ads. It’s over. He’s never going to hurt you again. It’s going to be ok.” She whispers with tears in her eyes. I try to understand what she’s talking about but I can’t push past the fog that’s taking over my mind. I give into it as we speed through the dark streets towards the hospital.
10/29/13