The Accident

The school year seemed to go by pretty fast. Which most kids like... but not me. Unlike everyone else - summer does not bring me friends, vacations, late nights watching movies or the summer skies. Summer brings me Hell. All day, stuck at home being Mother's slave. By now, I'm used to her punishments. But, I try to be as obedient as possible, because I know it wouldn't take long for her to whip up some new, dreadful, punishments. Just as the school year passed, so were my days of stealing food. During the summer, I'm hardly ever given the chance to eat. If I'm lucky, I'll get a couple nibbles every couple days. On one particular day, she -as usual- called me up after dinner to clean the kitchen. She seemed angry, and started screaming at me. For some strange reason, I knew something was off. I couldn't quite put my finger on it though, so I just continued to listen to her. Screaming and screaming at me. She even raised a knife to threaten me, but I didn't too scared. I know how her games work now. Finally, she commanded eye contact. I slowly raised my head to meet her eyes. And I knew instantly what was off. It was Mother, herself! I could tell by the look in her eyes. She began to wobble, and I froze. Do I ask if she's okay? Do I try to help stabilize her? Just as reality hit me, I saw something coming at me from the corner of my eye. Suddenly, I felt a horribly sharp pain just above my stomach. I couldn't believe my eyes... she stabbed me. I hurled over to the floor and everything went black. I woke up in the bath room. Mother was by my side, trying to stop the bleeding and clean me up. Though she practiced to be a nurse, I knew this was too much for her to handle. In a matter of seconds, I realized this very well could be the end! She'll have to take me to the hospital now. And no lie, no matter how great, can get her out of this. They'll catch her this time. I'll finally escape this living Hell. But, to my surprise, she just sat there. Cleaning my up - dressing my wound. She had determination in her eyes. Then, I knew she intended to keep this our little secret. There was no hospital in my future. No salvation. My shirt was completely and utterly soaked with my, now cold, blood. After I could stand, I still had to finish the kitchen. I found it nearly impossible to stand, walk, and even breathe. Mother did give me a glass of water and a few bites of food. Then she let me go out with my brothers and light sparklers. I soaked up the suns warmth, just before watching it set. I couldn't believe it. And I even woke up to her giving my cold cloths during the night. She told me I had a fever, but I already knew that much. I wouldn't dare ask for an advil. Mother even slept in my brothers basement room, so she was closer to me. This made me feel safe. I couldn't help but to think... could this really be the end? Will I be part of the family again? In the morning, I came to realize nothing had changed. I woke up to her telling me to clean the kitchen. Before I did so, I checked my wound. I hurt so bad, still. And as soon as I looked at it, I could tell why. It was swollen with puss and looked like something out of a horror movie. I managed to clean myself up - even though I wanted to puke from how bad it hurt. I thought 'Superman can do it, so can I,' and I did! I cleaned myself pretty well. I couldn't really show or even feel proud to the fullest, for how horribly bad I still ached. But, I am alive, am I not? I then knew I truly could survive anything.