Joan’s POVHe really did it; he hurt mom, just like he promised. I had no idea when it happened as mom slumped on her way out of my room. Due to her closeness to the staircase, she tripped and fell all the way to the base of the stairs, and the last thing that affirmed me was her scream when she fell.Now she was in the ICU, and I couldn’t stop crying; I didn’t want to survive anymore; I hated my life at that point; I didn’t see the reason to survive; every sound existed in my mind yet it felt so quiet; I was so tired of living yet too afraid to end it all; it just didn’t work well with me, not after what had happened."Joan, look at me,” someone said, tapping my chin, but my vision was clouded, and I couldn't see any further than an inch. My body was numb and disconnected; I knew I was whimpering and shivering. When I think of it, that was all I remembered.The scent of blood, the jitter, and the cold shivers—that was all I could recall.“Joan, snap out of this, breathe!" More people
Joan’s POVA week passed like the snap of a finger. Fred didn’t get to visit as frequently; his time spent was rationed, while on the other hand, Jones wasn’t allowed in the building. After his repulsive trigger, he was banned from seeing me or mom, which meant for a week I was trigger-free, so Fred basically brought food and fed mom and me.He would feed mom, then come back to me. While feeding me, he never spoke about what his father did, but he said sorry in so many ways, which made me feel empty and guilty. I was a person at fault, and yes, he was right. I felt selfish because if I had agreed with Jones offers, which I was still considering, maybe everyone would be happy.In one week, I spent it checking out schools over here to see if I would find one that was close enough for a cab drive. I tried to see the bright side, but there was none. I was on fire if I decided to stay, and he would keep on using me till I had nothing to give anymore.It wasn’t because of the money he gave
Joan POVWith a heavy heart, I waited for some days after the event. Mom would be coming back home, so I chose to make it special for her by cleaning the house, and for the first time in a long time, I decided to make dinner. For the record, I chose to make her favourite today.Apple pie, with grandma's recipes, in hopes that she finally talks to me; Fred had volunteered to bring her back from the hospital today, and Jones He still rarely visited for a week; he didn’t get any closer to the hospital and didn’t come home, but I cared less every day because I didn’t have to see his stupid face. But he has a way to ruin things for me; even before, I couldn’t think of staying the whole afternoon blissful in the house.The front door bell rang, so I went to heck out who it was. From the pipe hole, the first thing I noticed were the stubbles around his chin now and his red fury eyes. He looked disturbed, and he held a bottle of liquor in his other hand.“Fucking open the door,” he banged on
Joan’s povI was expecting the worst out of my decision because Jones kept staring at me while we ate. Till I was done, I feared I would wake up to a blood bath, so I chose to do the unimaginable, which was putting myself before anyone, just like mom had said.My body was fidgeting when I went back to my room. I didn’t sleep at night, and every little noise seemed like a threat. I was petrified and too certain that the calmness was uncanny. I didn't sleep all night until the next morning, when everything was bright and beautiful.So I chose to do some checking on my family, but they were alright. I heard mom singing in her bathroom, and Fred was just mowing the lawn outside. Everything seemed well, and it looked too bizarre. I wasn’t used to so much peace, not after exposing electricity to water.I expected everyone to be fidgeting with fright, like I was, but no one was running, so for a moment I felt I was safe, until Jones walked down from the room, our eyes locked, and immediately
Frederick POVFinally in the big city of Boston, Jaon and I were in different rooms, and just like some other student who chose to come around this time, before resumption I was part of them, and Joan mom made it all happen. I really liked her, and if I wasn’t also in love with her daughter, I would pray she was also my birth mother.But she wasn’t, and she didn’t act otherwise.Seated on the bean bag I watched pictures together; she was the only reason I missed home; she taught me how to cook; she bore me with stories till it became my hobby; funny how I found myself reading novels.Because of her, I am inspired to write, in hopes that one day she will hold my books dearly and read them as well. Or maybe read to me; she promised to call me when she got home, so I was waiting for her call when some of my roommates walked into the room.There were two of them: Daniel and Max. Daniel was the second to lodge here; he came from a reputable family, and he was also a gamer and obsessed with
Joan’s pov“Go out with him, girl; you are hot on campus; Max is so hot! I wish Fred would ask me out,” Maisy said, clapping her hands as she jumped up and down. She wouldn’t stop talking about how she found Fred attractive, and it disgusted me, but I held down my disgust with a smiling face."So you are going out with him tonight, right?” She asked. Daisy held my hair, sharing in my eye, “You must not turn him down, Bonita. Papi is looking fire; they don’t make them that way anymore," she said in her Mexican ascent, which made me laugh.I remembered what Fred said about him; maybe what he said was from a position of utter jealousy, and at that point I really wished he would just leave me alone so I could try other things, but he wouldn't. He had been buzzing my phone nonstop about how Max was not a good dude and I should stay away from guys for now. He constantly used Isaac as a starting point.‘Remember the last time you chose a man for yourself; don’t do this to yourself anymore.I
Joan’s POVThe sadness lingered till the next day, and I called mom, but it went straight to voicemail. I didn’t want to ask Jone how she was doing; I just needed to hear from her. It was an hours-long flight back home, and I needed to be in school the next day, so I couldn’t just schedule a flight.The next day, classes would officially resume, and I wasn’t excited. I didn’t want to stand from my bed, not after being miserable for the whole day. My joy had died, and I just wanted to liberate this heavy feeling in my heart.I wasn’t a fan of alcohol, but it was the only thing that came to mind. I just wanted to get drunk. Maybe I would forget some miserable part of my life, which seemed to flourish in my thoughts today. With Maisy and Daisy doing their little pep talk, I walked out of the house with a coat in search of a reputable bar in Boston, and from the google map, a bar was just a few miles away from here, so I did as I desired.“Give me any of your toughest drinks''I said to th
Joan’s POV“I love you,” I said. If I were drunk, I would have tagged my words as an effect of liquor or being overly sad from a hangover that I just wanted to say something, but I haven’t felt any more alive and free than I did. Just saying that word was the first time telling him boldly about this weird feeling that makes me think of him every day.I expected him to move away or, worse, push me off, but he pulled me in with a warm smile on his face, his bulky hands wrapped around me, and he kissed me.“I love you so much," he said, kissing my bare neck. Shivers coursed through me, and a feeling so tender eluded my heart as he looked back at me while holding me at arms length. My cheeks reddened to blush, followed by the nausea.“We have an hour before the first lectures; I can’t have you going late,” he said, pulling me closer. He unbuttoned my clothes till I was fully naked, then lit me up, placing me in the bath. I was smitten by the care and tenderness, making me feel meek, while