April 6, 2019

I said goodbye to my mother as I did every morning. I didn’t even expect a response as I once did because I already knew she was too busy making her first drink of the day. As I stepped outside of that dreary house with those ominous curtains that never let a drop of light in, I was instantly greeted with the fresh air as I let out a sigh of relief. Unlike most children, I actually enjoy school because it is a chance to get away from the house that always sends chills running down my spine. Also, school means I get to go to Mrs. Robinson's class. Mrs. Robinson is my favorite teacher with her kind disposition that can make me forget about the dark times at home.

I watched the clock tick through all of my classes, and it seemed at points as if the clock was even moving backward. While I sat through all those boring classes in the bleak rooms with the concrete walls, I couldn't help but be excited for ninth period, my favorite class. Finally, the bell rang for the last period of the day, and I think I knocked over some students as I bolted by to get to my language arts class. I was pleasantly greeted by the warm air as I entered Mrs. Robinson’s room and I looked around at the colorful caterpillar rug and the decorations we had hanging around the room. Mrs. Robinson’s bright smile glistened as she floated across the room like a cloud. I hurried to my seat with “Kyle” written on the front as to not waste a minute of my time in her class. The sunshine poured through the windows like a stream through a forest. The skies were as blue as the waters I had seen in Greece. Even on frigid, rainy days, that room was somehow filled with light. Every word that came out of Mrs. Robinson’s mouth was a beautiful symphony that caught every student’s attention. During reading time, I sank into the fluffy bean bag and devoured a book from my favorite series, My Weird School.

Just like that, the class was over, I could have sworn I just sat down, but now it was time to go. I left the classroom after giving a hug to Mrs. Robinson and saying goodbye. Then, I jumped on the bus and started to head home. As I looked out the window, raindrops began to fall and the sky turned dark. By the time I was home, the rain was pounding down as hard as hooves. I walked to the door drenched. I hesitated before grabbing the cold door handle as a crow flew right overhead, questioning if today would be the day I decided not to return home. However, yet again there I was back inside. My ears immediately began to ring as my mom screeched at me for dripping water inside. She practically dragged me by the ear to the old, worn out, brown couch, and then proceeded to slap me across the face. I fell to the ground in pain due to the lightning bolt that just struck me. The cold, hard, jet black floor did not seem to ease my fall. I got up quickly because I knew that if I didn’t, I would be hit even more, and I sulked to my room.

Now I sit here and write in my journal as I do every night. My cheek throbs and I look down to see the bruises on my legs and arms from previous encounters. I shut my eyes but I can not seem to escape the darkness of this house, so I wait here until it is time to go to school tomorrow and I can escape this nightmare even if it’s just for a few hours.

-Kyle