10

~Aurelia Williams~

"Dad? What have you done?"

If he did something to Steven just to punish me, I could never forgive myself. If Steven is injured or even dead because of me...

"He got on my nerves so I shot," he slurred. But I couldn't process what he was saying properly. Everything around me started to blur and my ears started to roar.

My thoughts were only with Steven. Was he dead or did he survive? Did someone get help? Would the police get here any minute?

Please. He can't be dead. First my mother and now him. It must not end like this.

I blamed myself for not going to the police sooner, but my father would never have allowed that. But I didn't rate him for shooting anyone either.

I couldn't stand the pain that was spreading in my chest anymore and sobbed loudly. I can not anymore. Don't want to live this life anymore... Why is life so mean to me?

"Please Dad," I sobbed, "I need to know how he's doing. Is he alive?"

My sobs grew louder, but instead of an answer, I just got another slap in the face. Again on my broken cheekbones. I cried out and curled up on the floor.

I wished he would just end it once and for all. Why does he let me live when he's been telling me all these years that I'm worthless.

I've been living with this kind of pain for years that it's slowly becoming normal for me. But I always had a dream to move away from here and take my life into my own hands. But I didn't want that without Steven. I couldn't imagine going on living without my best friend.

He was just always there for me. I do not want to any more.

"Now you're crying like your stupid mother did before she left me," my father said, and then kicked me three times in the stomach. I couldn't breathe and tried to gasp for oxygen.

" 'I'll go. Whether you like it or not , '" he repeated the words I said earlier. "Those were the same words she said before she disappeared." Then he kicks me hard on my right shin and it cracks. A loud scream went through the house. it was mine

This pain was unbearable. I don't want to live anymore, I don't want to live anymore. Why can't I have a normal life and be like others?

But then my blurred vision fell on his waistband, in which a pistol was stuck.

Is this my chance? My spark of hope that I thought was gone?

My father crouched down in front of me and gave me that disappointed look again and shook his head.

In that moment of inattention, I grabbed the gun and, without even thinking about it, shot my father. He whimpered and fell backwards.

I was tired, but I had to get out of this place once and for all.

I don't know how I got up, probably from adrenaline, but I didn't think too much about it and started running. But my father grabbed my good leg and the next moment I lost my balance and ended up on the damp ground again.

Startled, I turned to my father and realized that I had only hit his shoulder. He glared at me in anger and then tried to grab the gun I had dropped.

I fought my way free and hobbled up the basement stairs as fast as I could.

My father yelled after me, "You stupid bitch, come back immediately!" But I didn't even think about it. Then a shot rang out behind me.

I ran towards the back door. Behind me I heard my father's heavy footsteps, who was probably now also running up the cellar stairs.

With the help of adrenaline, I reached the back door, but it was locked. It felt like an eternity until I finally unlocked it and immediately ran into the forest.

My heart was pounding so loud I thought he would hear it.

Outside it was already pitch black and the night was cold. But I have no choice. I have to get out of here. There is no more time to pack things.

After clearing some trees, more shots rang out behind me. A bullet penetrated the bark of a tree next to me, causing the bark to flake off and fall to the ground.

I started and turned as I ran, only to see my father running out of the house, pointing his gun at me.

But he wasn't that fast and staggered a bit. For once, I thought it was good that he was drunk, because that was my chance.

"AURELIAAAA," he yelled after me, but I just kept walking.

Further into the cool forest, without shoes, without a jacket. But if I still wanted to live, then I had to leave now. Going back wasn't an option. I wouldn't survive that.

-----

After a while the adrenaline seemed to wear off and I noticed my shin was sore. I tried to continue limping, but the pain only became more unbearable. My head started pounding too and I really needed a break.

I cried out in pain with the next step, landing on the broken leg. It just hurt like hell, so I couldn't go any further.

Finally, I dropped to the floor and curled up into a ball.

Although it was already spring, the nights here were still very cold. In this curled up position, I tried to keep myself at least somewhat warm.

I had to think of Steven, was he still alive? Maybe he's looking for me and maybe he'll find me too. Because maybe my father lied to cause me emotional pain. It would be noticeable if there was an injured or dead person in front of our house, wouldn't it?

Those were the last thoughts that calmed me down at least a little before everything around me went black.