my mom met anthony when i was nine. he was nice for a little while, long enough to get the marriage papers signed, but i came to realize that it wouldn't last.
i thought the first few times he hit us were accidental and that sometimes, he just drank a little too much. but when it got worse and my mom continued to stand by him, i thought i should just get used to it.
anthony told me it was his way of showing he loved us, the same way his parents had loved him. so it never mattered how many cuts and bruises littered my face, that's what i learned love to be.
and i didn't mean to tell anyone, but i did. and then everything blew up.
~w~
"ok, willow. this is it." shannon, my case worker, spoke, turning around from the front seat to face me. i still didn't know what to say to her, even though i'd been through this routine four times now.
her face softened into some kind of pity stare, making me want to simultaneously cry and laugh. instead, i grabbed the white garbage bag with all my things in it and climbed out of the car.
the house was giant, probably three stories up with a balcony spanning the entire upper half. every corner of the road was dusted with sand and i'd been smelling the salt water air for miles. at least i'd enjoy the location for the duration of my stay.
"so, this is figure eight." sharon smiled, falling into line next to me as we walked up the grassy lawn of the large house. "i think you're really gonna like this couple. they're young and hip, like you."
i let the silence between us continue on in its ever-growing awkwardness until we got to the front door. shannon poked the doorbell, bouncing up and down on her heels in excitement, like she did every time.
i'd been excited the first time, too.
"mike! mike, they're here." a shrill voice called out from inside, before the door swung open. the lady was, in fact, rather young but looked to be the farthest thing from "hip." i'd never seen so much vineyard vines in my life.
she and sharon exchanged their greetings before she turned to me.
the first meeting was my absolute least favorite part of each new house i went to. you could never tell how things were gonna go. some couples already had kids and were burnt out, some didn't want kids but needed the check, and others wanted to play mommy and daddy.
it was also extremely clear she was nervous, which i didn't blame her for. i'd be nervous too, if i signed up for a baby and got me instead. it didn't stop her from opening her arms and pulling me into a hug. she smelled rich.
i inwardly hoped she couldn't smell the dollar store soap i'd used as i tried to weasel myself out of her grasp.
"it's so nice to meet you, willow." she squealed, finally pulling back from me and looking me over from head to toe. "mike and i are so excited you're here." she said, before whisking us inside the house, which was even nicer than the outside, if even possible.
when we got to their living room, the guy, mike, was fluffing the pillows, like i was here to judge them on their cleanliness and ability to prepare for guests.
"we, um, we set up some food in case you were hungry." the woman, who's name i'd forgotten to listen to at the door, said. she ushered me over to the couch and mike took my garbage bag.
"let me bring that upstairs for you, sweetie." he smiled.
sweetie? i'd rather them ignore me than call me sweetie.
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all my friends | outer banks
Fanfictionthe newbie on the island who might just be the difference between finding the gold or not. - all my friends are wasted and i hate this club man, i drink too much another friday night i wasted - outer banks, season one