I start to hyperventilate, realizing what I had just done.
“My life is over,” I whisper to myself in fear.
The next thing I remember is that I am in a hospital bed with an I.V. drip hooked to my arm. My parents across the room stare at me deeply with disappointment.
“Why would you do this?” my mom asks.
I stay quiet.
“Why would you do this?” my mom asks, getting louder.
I still stay quiet.
“Why would you do this!” my dad yells.
Tears burn in my eyes, but I stop them from falling. I stare at the ceiling, my throat scratchy and my hands in a fist under the hospital’s blanket.
”Answer us!” my mom demands, her voice shaking.
I open my mouth but no words come out.
But what am I supposed to say? That I was tired? That I couldn’t take it anymore? That everyday I felt like I was disappearing and no one cared to notice?
“I don’t know,” I whisper.
My dad scoffs. “You don’t know?” His voice is sharp, cutting through the air like a blade. “You had everything! A home, food, a family. And this is how you repay us?”
Repay them? Like I owe them something for simply existing?
My mom covers her face with her hands, shaking her head. “We raised you better than this.”
I turned away, staring out the window. The sky is a dull gray, just like the weight pressing down on my chest. I wish I could disappear into it.
The door creaks open. “I think that’s enough for today now,” the nurse says firmly.
My parents exchange a look, but don’t argue. My dad exhales sharply before turning towards the door. My mom stays for a moment, her eyes softening just a bit, but then she follows him without another word.
As soon as they’re gone, the tears fall over. I press my hand against my mouth to keep the sobs silent.
I don’t know what happens next.
But for now, I’m still here.
The nurse closes the door behind her with relief on her face when my parents left.
“Phew, their gone!”
“Yeah. I really don’t understand how I’ve put up with them for majority of my life.”
“Do you mind if I ask you what happened to your eye?” she asks.
“Well, it all started when I was at an unexpected sleepover with my best friend and I totally forgot to tell my parents, so I left early in the morning to come back home, hoping they wouldn’t notice but I was totally wrong. But when I walked in, all I saw was my mom and dad sitting in the two living room chairs just waiting for me to get home, then they started yelling and hitting me and that’s the story of my black eye.”
”Wow. That’s a lot to unpack.”
“Yeah.”
“But also that’s a violation of the law. So therefore I have no choice but to report your parents for what they have done to you.”
My heartbeat grows faster and my fists clench tighter, and I sprint out of the room, having no idea where I’m going. But my goal is to get out of here. Safely.
