Read Online Pieces in Chance by Juli Valenti - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Juli Valenti
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happy birthday. The door is over there.” Her brother winced at her words but she ignored his reaction. She hadn’t been upset with him in a long time, but she was now.
Turning her head away, she allowed silent tears to fall. After what seemed like forever, the weight beside her vanished. He placed a hand on hers and kissed her head before moving away. Still, she didn’t turn.
Seconds passed, minutes, who knew how many, before Drew finally straightened her head, finding the room blessedly empty. Sighing, she awkwardly lowered the bed and shifted uncomfortably. Once her tears subsided, she closed her eyes, mentally begging for sleep. It didn’t take long for exhaustion to win over pain; sleep overtook her and she welcomed the escape.
“No! Please, don’t! I swear I didn’t do it; I didn’t break the bowl,” she screamed, backpedaling on her butt, the wood floor cold beneath her hands. Despite her words he continued advancing toward her, his fist raised above his head.
“Don’t lie to me, you ungrateful little bitch,” he snarled at her, anger and hatred written on his face. “I work all fucking day, keeping a roof over your head and food on the table. How do you repay me?! By breaking an irreplaceable heirloom. It was your mother’s!”
Drew cringed at each spat word, his voice rising until he was screaming, the floor vibrating from it. She wanted to yell back. She hadn’t broken the damn bowl and he knew it. If he hadn’t been drunk, stumbling into the house and running into furniture, it wouldn’t have happened. Hell, she wasn’t even in the room when it happened. She had been upstairs in her room, reading. The loud shatter of glass had brought her down to check on things. Why had she cared if he was okay or hurt? Unfortunately she didn’t have an answer and was paying for her compassion.
A hand tangled in her hair, yanking her up harshly before she could back out of his reach. Searing pain lanced through her head and she scrambled, trying to get her feet underneath her. Excruciating seconds passed, her socks causing her to slip, and she finally stood steady. The relief to her scalp was fleeting though, as a meaty hand struck her. Shocked tears filled her eyes as she cradled her cheek.
It wasn’t the first time he’d hit her, but she was still surprised each time. As his fist came at her again she attempted to move, finding only a wall at her back and his free hand still tangled in her long red hair. The blow landed forcefully and he let go, simultaneously knocking Drew to her knees. She expected him to stop, too drunk to follow her down, but he didn’t. Instead, his heel replaced his fist, stomping on her thighs, her stomach.
Helpless, she curled into a ball as he continued screaming, continued beating her. Pleas fell unheard from her lips. Time passed slowly and quickly – each second an eternity but then he was gone. Her only remaining parent left her hurting on the floor, repeating ‘No, no, please, no,’ over and over.
Gentle shaking had Drew bolting upright, wetness coursing down her face. Heart beating frantically, breaths coming in pants, her eyes darted around the room. Panic filled her throat as she took in a man peering down at her. Unthinking, she shoved her hands outward, attempting to ward him off. A fist met his face and she gasped, recognition finally overpowering the dream fog, a second too late. It wasn’t the monster from her nightmares – he was the exact opposite. She’d inadvertently just punched a cop. Officer Marks.
“Oh my God! I’m so sorry,” she exclaimed, sure she was all but shouting yet unable to help it. Now you’ve done it, Drew. You just punched the guy you’re crushing on. The older, very handsome police officer you’re crushing on. “I’m so mortified! Are you okay?”
Every inch of her wanted to disappear, to be anywhere but there. Perhaps if she closed her eyes and clicked her heels a house would fall on her or however that story
Turning her head away, she allowed silent tears to fall. After what seemed like forever, the weight beside her vanished. He placed a hand on hers and kissed her head before moving away. Still, she didn’t turn.
Seconds passed, minutes, who knew how many, before Drew finally straightened her head, finding the room blessedly empty. Sighing, she awkwardly lowered the bed and shifted uncomfortably. Once her tears subsided, she closed her eyes, mentally begging for sleep. It didn’t take long for exhaustion to win over pain; sleep overtook her and she welcomed the escape.
“No! Please, don’t! I swear I didn’t do it; I didn’t break the bowl,” she screamed, backpedaling on her butt, the wood floor cold beneath her hands. Despite her words he continued advancing toward her, his fist raised above his head.
“Don’t lie to me, you ungrateful little bitch,” he snarled at her, anger and hatred written on his face. “I work all fucking day, keeping a roof over your head and food on the table. How do you repay me?! By breaking an irreplaceable heirloom. It was your mother’s!”
Drew cringed at each spat word, his voice rising until he was screaming, the floor vibrating from it. She wanted to yell back. She hadn’t broken the damn bowl and he knew it. If he hadn’t been drunk, stumbling into the house and running into furniture, it wouldn’t have happened. Hell, she wasn’t even in the room when it happened. She had been upstairs in her room, reading. The loud shatter of glass had brought her down to check on things. Why had she cared if he was okay or hurt? Unfortunately she didn’t have an answer and was paying for her compassion.
A hand tangled in her hair, yanking her up harshly before she could back out of his reach. Searing pain lanced through her head and she scrambled, trying to get her feet underneath her. Excruciating seconds passed, her socks causing her to slip, and she finally stood steady. The relief to her scalp was fleeting though, as a meaty hand struck her. Shocked tears filled her eyes as she cradled her cheek.
It wasn’t the first time he’d hit her, but she was still surprised each time. As his fist came at her again she attempted to move, finding only a wall at her back and his free hand still tangled in her long red hair. The blow landed forcefully and he let go, simultaneously knocking Drew to her knees. She expected him to stop, too drunk to follow her down, but he didn’t. Instead, his heel replaced his fist, stomping on her thighs, her stomach.
Helpless, she curled into a ball as he continued screaming, continued beating her. Pleas fell unheard from her lips. Time passed slowly and quickly – each second an eternity but then he was gone. Her only remaining parent left her hurting on the floor, repeating ‘No, no, please, no,’ over and over.
Gentle shaking had Drew bolting upright, wetness coursing down her face. Heart beating frantically, breaths coming in pants, her eyes darted around the room. Panic filled her throat as she took in a man peering down at her. Unthinking, she shoved her hands outward, attempting to ward him off. A fist met his face and she gasped, recognition finally overpowering the dream fog, a second too late. It wasn’t the monster from her nightmares – he was the exact opposite. She’d inadvertently just punched a cop. Officer Marks.
“Oh my God! I’m so sorry,” she exclaimed, sure she was all but shouting yet unable to help it. Now you’ve done it, Drew. You just punched the guy you’re crushing on. The older, very handsome police officer you’re crushing on. “I’m so mortified! Are you okay?”
Every inch of her wanted to disappear, to be anywhere but there. Perhaps if she closed her eyes and clicked her heels a house would fall on her or however that story
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