Chapter 50 There Is No Choice
Gracie
I am at the table having breakfast with Ryland and his mom. I am playing with the food on my plate. I am too nervous to eat because soon, I need to face my father, and I dread it. I really hope he isn’t home when I go.
Ryland places his hand over mine, making me look up at him. “Gracie, are you okay?”
I sigh. “I don’t want to go home and get my things. I need to, though.”
“I promise it will be fine. I will be there with you.”
I nod and smile. “I know.”
My dad won’t care that I am moving out. The only thing he will miss is that I won’t be there to clean up his mess, prepare his meals and be his personal punching bag.
“Sweetie, do you want me to come with you both?” Melissa asks, but seems nervous.
I shake my head. “No, but thank you for the offer.”
I don’t want to put her in such a position, especially after everything she has been through at the hands of a man. I don’t need her meeting another monster. I sigh and try to push it to the back of my mind and focus on my breakfast. Melissa has taken her time to make it, and I don’t want to waste it.
“I need to get to work, but please let me know how you get on. I meant it, Gracie, you can stay here for as long as you need.” She says.
“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
Melissa heads off to get ready. We finish our breakfast and head upstairs to get ready to go get my things before we go to school. Ryland hands some clothes to me to wear until I get mine. We quickly change, exiting his place and strolling towards mine. Ryland has my hand tightly in his.
“Are you ready for this?” he asks.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
The sooner I get this over with, the better. My hand is shaking, and my palm is sweating. Ryland squeezes it. With a deep breath, I lead us inside, no matter how hesitant I am to open it.
“I am right here.” He encourages.
The second we step inside, my dad appears, brows furrowed, fists clenched, and face red from anger. “Where the fuck have you been?”
He glances between Ryland and me before he shakes his head in disgust. “Don’t answer that. You have clearly been out acting like a little whore.” He hisses.
Ryland tenses next to me, his fist now clenching. He is trying to contain his temper. I know all he wants to do is knock my father out. I would let him, but knowing my dad, he wouldn’t even hesitate to get Ryland into trouble.
“Gracie, go and get your things,” Ryland says softly.
“And where do you think she is going?” Dad hisses.
“Away from you, somewhere she is safe.”
I want to go and get my thighs, but it is like I have frozen on the spot. I can’t move.
My dad steps closer to us. “You aren’t taking her anywhere.”
Ryland steps in front of me, putting a block between my father and me.
“Yes, I am, watch me. If you don’t let her go, I will make your life hell. I will make sure you are reported to both the police and social services. I will make sure you get charged for every little thing you have done to her. “ Ryland warns.
I watch as my dad slowly backs off, fear taking over his face. He has always known I wouldn’t do such things because I would have nowhere to go. He doesn’t know Ryland, and he can’t be sure if he is bluffing or telling the truth.
“You know what, take her,” dad snaps, “But don’t send her back to me when you realise she is nothing, worthless and not worth your time and effort.” He adds with a dark chuckle.
Ryland is ready to pounce on him, but I wasn’t going to let that happen. I grab Ryland’s wrist and pull him away, going towards the stairs to go to my room and get my things.
“Let’s get what we need and get out of here,” I say.
I am trying my best not to cry. I don’t want to shed any more tears because of that horrible man. He has taken enough from me already, and I just want to get away from him. Yes, it is only next door, but at least I won’t be staying in the same house as him. My dad won’t try to start anything at Melissa’s and Ryland’s house. He knows if he does, the neighbours will see who he really is, and that is the last thing he wants. He likes everything, believing he is a good man who works hard and takes care of his daughter.
I gather as much as I can, essential things, everything else can wait. “I will take what I need. I can get the rest another time.”
Ryland grabs a couple of the bags, while I grab the other, and we head back downstairs. My dad is standing in the very spot we left him.
“Once you walk out of that front door, don’t ever step back through it. You will not be welcome here ever again.” He warns.
If I didn’t know any better, it is his way of giving me a choice. One I don’t even need to think about. I never left before now because no one knew the truth, and I had nowhere to go. That is all different now.
“Why would you think I wanted to stay? You make my life hell every single day. You use me as your slave. You hurt me just because you can. I wish it was mom here and not you. You don’t deserve to be in this world, she did,” I say, shaking my head.
He flinches at my words. He doesn’t show any other emotion. I didn’t expect it either. He doesn’t have a heart or a caring bone in his body.
“I hope you find a way to get better dad. Maybe one day you will find a way to get rid of the monster inside of you. Goodbye.” The tears brim in my eyes.
I walk straight out of the door without looking back