Darkest Night

It was as if the night was a setting from a movie. Outside the sky was pitch black, the thunder roared like never before and it rained so loudly you could almost hear each rain drop falling down hard onto the roof top of my bedroom. My mother tucked me into bed early that night, she had a smile on her face while she kissed me goodnight. Just before she left my bedroom she whispered, "It'll be just the two of us soon Suzy, just like it used to be". Just then I could feel the cold night running through my night gown and then I realised that something was wrong. What did mother mean by 'It"ll just be the two of us soon', is she finally given up on her and Garry's relationship?

It was harder to fall asleep that night. So many thoughts went through my mind, I felt happy that we would finally have stability in our lives again with more laughter and happiness and less fear and sorrow. I also felt nervous and more scared than I've ever felt before. I had no clue how we would set ourselves free from him when we've tried a thousand times before. I was determined to stay awake until I knew for sure that we would be safe, so I prepared myself for one of many drunken and aggressive arguments between mother and Gary.

An hour had passed, then another and I soon felt more and more sleepy. I found myself fighting with myself to stay awake and all the while trying to build up confidence to face Gary after my mother has confronted him about leaving. The thunder had finally stopped but I could still hear the rain pouring down heavily now through my window. It was a saturday night, the year 95 and today was the begining of a long summer break from school.

Mother and Gary had just celebrated their second anniversary a month ago and even on what was supposed to be a happy day for the couple it ended up in fight. Gary usually causes the arguments, he would get drunk almost everyday and then acted aggressively towards mother. I cant remember the last time he was sober. My mother Catherine was a quiet person and very down to earth before her and Gary started dating. I remember the day her personality changed completely it was almost as if she had to become a different person to survive with him. There became a point where she could't take the bullying from this man so she became a loud mouth and toughened up alot more. At times they would argue for hours and I would just try to keep away and listen through my bedroom door. I would cry myself to sleep every night and would pray just to get a day in my life where I would experience complete and utter happiness.

I had fallen asleep but was suddenly woken up by the sound of the front door slammed shut. Slipping out of bed i put on my slippers and crept to the door to hear my mother say to Gary, "I've packed all ur belongings, and i would like you to leave this instant". All of a sudden it became silent, it was so quiet I could almost hear my heart beating through my chest. Mother raised her voice, "Gary, i'd like you to leave this house right now or i'll have someone come and escort you out, and believe me it aint gonna be preety"
Right then Gary replied with a loud voice, "Do you know who your talking to women?" I quietly opened the door slightly so that i could peep through with one eye. Mother was standing by the kitchen with her back againt the long wall which lead into the open living room area where Gary was standing with complete confusion and shock across his face. "I mean it Gary, I want you out or else" mother said as she reached for the house phone that was left on top of the kitchen counter. Gary slowly walked over to mother, "or else wat catherine", he said "you gonna call the cops on me are ya?" I could tell from my mothers face that she was getting alittle tense as Gary got close to her.

I had no idea what to do I completely froze by the door, I knew mother needed help but what was I supposed to do? I thought to myself if I went out there it would just get him more angry, so I stayed in the small crampt room that had just a single bed and a small dresser that I used to put my clothes in as my room was too small for a cuboard. So I stood there and hoped things wouldnt get worser than just a few nasty words here and there. Little did i know mother wasnt backing down she was determined to put up a fight. She started to dial 911 but as soon as someone on the other end picked up Gary lunged over and grabbed the phone from mothers hands. With that came a smack across mothers face, Gary's hand was so large and firm that it had put a mark on mothers face and instantly threw her across the kicthen floor. I had never seen him this angry, my body shook from head to toe I was starting to fear for my mothers life.

I felt tears coming down my cheek as gary went to grap my mothers legs to drag her into the living room. mother screaming at the top of her lungs tried to grap on to the breakfast table so that she could try and get back up to retaliate but Gary was too strong, he pulled on to mothers legs so hard that the kitchen table followed them into the open living room area. i couldnt watch anymore I just wished this nightmare would end. I crawled back into my bed and covered my whole body with my blanket. I could hear mother crying and at this point screaming for help but who would hear. It was still raining hard outside and the thunder had come back louder than before. At that point everything went quiet and mother had stopped screaming. Silence!

I became more and more nervous and couldn't bare the thought of not knowing what was going on in the living room so I held my breathe and walked over to the door again. Whipping off my tears i built up the courage to open the door and walk into the living room area. I stood there trying to figure out what had happened, the front door was wide open and the cold just came right through to the living room area where i was standing. There was no sign of mother or Gary and I thought to myself, is he finally gone? has this nightmare finally ended? Then I looked to my right and notcied mothers door was opened so I walked toward her bedroom to find her lying on top of her bed.

"Mother?" I called out. "Mother, is it over? is he gone?" there was no reply she lied there still as the leaves on an autumn tree that had never been touched by wind. I slowly walked over to the bed and sat beside her, it was as if she was in a deep sleep so I tried to wake her but nothing. I then shook her as hard as I could but still, nothing. With all my strength I tried to turn her around only to find what looked like blood across her chest. Right then I knew what that meant and I felt my heart drop into my feet my tears just came running down my face like water running from a tap. Gary had hurt my mother and left her to die, I had no idea what to do but blame myself for hiding away in my bedroom instead of trying to be a stronger daughter for the only parent I had in this world. Now my mother is gone and I am left alone. I had never felt so much sorrow in my life, it was as if I had fallen into a deep dark hole and couldn't get out, the only thing I could do is lie beside her and pray that she'd find her way back to me, find her way back from this darkest night..