Opening Up

As I sat at my desk, looking at the empty notebook before me, I still couldn't remember what happened four weeks ago. All I knew was what Vicky had told me. The pain I felt every time I took a breath reminded me that what happened was real. There was no going back and saying it didn't happen when my ribs still healing. I felt horrible for Vicky. She did nothing to be in the place she was that night. She was strong and brave for what she did, standing up to Danny and trying to keep me and herself safe. She was healing better than I thought she would, but then again, she had Dean around all the time and Peter around when he could be. Peter had been around us more since they started dating, and it seemed like he had something new for her every time. Then again, she's strong, and I knew she wouldn't stop trying to heal.

They gave Danny several years in jail; he's allowed out once he is at least 35. This meant that we have at least fifteen years without him. I knew this was a short time, but it was long enough for Peyton to get him to sign over his rights to Thea. We had grown closer than friends.

There was a soft knock on my door. "Come in," my voice was shaky. I looked out my window and noticed that it was dark. I wasn't sure if it was morning or night.

"Eva, honey, have you even been to bed yet?" My mother asked as she walked in.

"No, I haven't. What time is it?" I dropped my pen and turned in my chair. "I'm sorry, Mom. Are you okay?"

"Just worried about you. I don't know what happened, but I want you to be okay, darling." She whispers, and I can hear the worry in her voice.

"I'm okay, mom." As I spoke, I noticed she couldn't make eye contact.

"Okay, well, why not go to bed and get some sleep? Tomorrow, you have a few tests at school. I worry about you," she said as she walked over, wrapped her arms around me, and embraced me.

"I love you, Mommy; goodnight," I spoke as she smiled, kissed my head, and walked out. Without another word, she just walks away from me, and I know she is trying her best, and it's a struggle.

Things wouldn't be easy, but I was ready to finish one part of my life so I could start the next. Sure, things wouldn't always be easy, but I knew one thing for sure: This would not stop me from finishing school early.

Come this summer, Dean and I will move to Lovington, and we will leave this all behind, and things will be better. I was ready to move away and get a fresh start. I watched my mom walk out of my room carefully, almost like she wasn't sure if she should leave me alone.

I was still determining what would happen tomorrow or in the next few hours. I couldn't lie down, but I knew I needed to. With everything that would happen the next few days, I needed to sleep and not be up all night trying to write.

I sat at my desk, looking out the street's window. There was a little snow on the street and even more on the yards. I couldn't believe how little snow we had been getting this year. Even though they said we would get snow, they always seemed to miss us.

"Eva, what's going on?" Dean walks into my room.

It was Thanksgiving break, and it still didn't feel as though we were near the holidays. With me moving away in May, my family has been pulling apart more, and things weren't as easy for my parents as they made them seem. We didn't even decorate for Thanksgiving and hadn't even spoken about Christmas decor, and it almost broke my heart; I loved getting to decorate, and this was the first year I remember us not doing anything.

"Nothing, I'm just working on some last-minute school stuff. I'm considering applying for colleges and seeing if I couldn't take online classes." I whispered, still turning to the door where he had just entered.