A Desolate Morning

The darkness still lingered, clinging to me like a shroud as I slowly opened my eyes to the harsh light of a new day. I didn't want to get up, didn't want to wake up, the weight of yesterday's trauma crushing me beneath its unyielding pressure. The memories of my father's brutality still seared my mind, the pain and humiliation threatening to consume me whole. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of despair, the thought of facing another day suffocating me. I wanted to die, to escape the agony that had become my life. As I lay there, I could hear the muffled sounds of my parents arguing in the kitchen, their voices raised in a familiar, toxic dance. The words were indistinct, but the anger and venom in their tones were unmistakable. I closed my eyes, trying to shut out the sounds, but they only seemed to grow louder, more intense. Just as I was starting to drift back into the safety of unconsciousness, I heard the door to my room open, and Sevain's voice called out to me. "Hey, kiddo, time to get up for school." I groggily opened my eyes to find her standing in the doorway, a concerned look on her face. I didn't respond, didn't move, just lay there, frozen in misery. Sevain came over to the bed and gently shook my shoulder. "Come on, we need to get you up and ready for school." I slowly sat up, my body aching, my mind numb. I mechanically threw on some clothes, not even caring that they were the first things I grabbed. Sevain watched me with a worried expression, but said nothing, just helped me get dressed. As we trudged to school, the bright sunlight and fresh air only seemed to make things worse. My bruises were visible, a painful reminder of what had happened, and I felt like everyone was staring at me, seeing the shame and humiliation etched on my skin. I kept my head down, avoiding eye contact with anyone, just wanting to get to my locker and escape into the anonymity of the crowded hallways. Sevain walked beside me, her presence a comforting, steady presence, but even she couldn't dispel the darkness that had taken up residence inside me. I felt like I was walking through a nightmare, unable to wake up, unable to escape the pain and fear that had become my reality.