Getting Out

Riley, I never liked that name every much. Isabelle, or Dahlia, names that make boys jump. Those are names, names I would have gladly taken over Riley. I roll off my bed annoyed, because I can hear my mother about to knock on my door. The paper-thin walls of our apartment tell me everything. “Riley, it's time for school, I need you to go today”. Why today, what about the three days before that? I don't want to go everyone makes fun of me, they all know I am not normal, they know my family's not normal. I want to be normal. I feel the anxiety coming, it always comes. I hear my dad stomping his way to my room, I can’t feel anything, he’s coming to yell, I hate when he yells. I roll under my bed, my safe space. My mother looks at me with pleading eyes to get up, and I do. My dad comes to the doorway, drink in hand probably before he even brushes his teeth tries to kiss my mom, she accepts it. We both know what would happen if she doesn't, another reason for one of us to stay home for three more days. I don't want him looking at me. My mom can feel it, because she tells him breakfast is ready. I pull on some ripped jeans and, a black crop top. I don't want breakfast I want to get out of this house, because when I am in it with him, I feel like I can’t breathe. I zoom out the house, but I turn when I hear my little sister Raven calling my name. “Riley, I love you”. “I love you to Ray, I’ll fly home from school so we can play super heroes later”. She does her big girl smile and waves bye. She has to stay home today, because of the bruise on her leg. I really don't want to leave her here, but I am selfish. I want to save myself.

Reviews

[PandaPeaceful]

There's a lot of emotion here. Much is of it intense and fragile. The way you use the repetition of "normal" is brilliant because I feel it is incredibly relevant. However, the most fascinating thing about this piece is how raw it is. How so much fear is present in this home (which doesn't feel like a home) and yet, when Riley leaves her home, she is not comforted by her school either. Most impacting was the very last line, "I really don't want to leave her here, but I am selfish. I want to save myself." It's this honest component which I truly adore because it doesn't picture something beautified. Abuse is real, it's happening, and we have to stop it-- No matter how impossible the goal may seem. Well done!

P.S: Just watch out for grammar mistakes. (E.x. "I love you too")

[WritersBlock7]

Thank you so much for the review! I felt when I was writing it a-lot of the things you wrote . Im happy they came across well. (Im horrible with grammar, but i'm working on it.) Thank you !!

[PandaPeaceful]

Of course! I look forward to reading more from you.