Chapter 11: Why me? Part 1
Freya’s P.O.V
Rummaging through the bottom bathroom cabinet in my room, I finally breathed a sigh of relief when I found the packet of cup noodles at the very back of the storage unit, right behind the sanitary napkins that I stored away.
I wasn’t just starving at this point, but my entire body was trembling in exhaustion and low blood sugar levels. I was shaking like a leaf as I searched the entire house for food that I had hidden in safe places, so that when my dad left after finishing up all of our resources, me and Julian would still have food to eat.
Taking the carton out of the cabinet, I found that there were an entire pack of the noodles left. I think I had bought it from a sale last year, when the offer had been five noodles for $3. And I had taken it without questions. Now, I found the noodles still intact and much to my surprise, only a month shy of their expiry date.
Thank you God for little mercies. I closed my eyes in a silent prayer before I got off the floor and came out of my room, so I could cook a packet or two for dinner.
Julian had gone to bed as soon as we had returned. He had an early day tomorrow and I had to get to school on time as well so I could start working on some of the math problems that Mr. Agnes handed me today.
Just thinking about our little ‘mistake’ encounter after class made a shiver run down my spine. Was I reading the situation wrong? Did Mr. Agnes really say something vile and degrading to me today, while handing over the papers? Or was I being paranoid and overreacting?
Once I was half-way down the stairs, I scanned the entire house properly with my eyes. Nothing looked out of place since I arrived with Julian and no sudden movements in the shadows told me that my father hadn't decided to show up today. I went to check the lock on the front door once again, only to find it secure enough and bolted correctly.
My paranoia wasn’t for nothing, I thought to myself as I took out an ice pack from the fridge and began to apply it to my cheek.
Whenever my father decided to come home, I was the one who suffered. Blow after blow after blow, until he was tired of hitting me or until I was bleeding and near unconscious. It didn’t matter to him that I was his own blood, the daughter who was once the apple of his eyes. Now, he couldn’t stand me at all. Julian knew that he wasn’t to come out of his room if he heard noises in the living room, no matter who those noises came from.
When he was younger, he would start wailing and banging on the door, trying to get out so he could come to me. He had successfully even managed to open the door once and reached the living area…only to be slapped so hard that he had had a bruise for two weeks. So after that day, I usually kept his door locked. I could handle anything that came my way, but to see Julian hurt was a wound too deep on my heart. He was the reason I was alive. He was the reason I was going to have to survive.
After I boiled some water and hydrated my noodles with it, I kept two packets inside the cabinet so Julian and I could have them for breakfast tomorrow. I also needed to go to the grocery store, to check if I could still get some stuff on a discount.
Finishing up my noodles, I had just about done with the dishes when I heard a knock from Julian’s door.
Frowning, I went to open it, only to find him wide awake and staring up at me through big blue eyes full of guilt.
“Julian?” I crouched down to his level. “What’s wrong baby? Did you wet the bed again?”
But Julian shook his head instantly, his eyes brimming with tears. It broke my heart to see him like this. Cupping his cheek, I looked him in the eyes, making sure he understood what I said.
“You can tell me anything, okay? No matter what it is, I’ll listen.” I told him calmly. “So tell me what’s bothering you, munchkin? Tell me so I can fix it.”