Okay, Alanna,
When I was a child, you know I did not have the best upbringing, my father left when I was two and Alice never got over it. She went from guy to guy sleeping around and staying out for days at a time, drinking. One time when I was six Alice locked me in the cupboard under the stairs, with nothing to eat and a single candle for light. All I remember was being so scared and cold and I was sure that she was never coming back.
That is terrible Adrian, did she ever come back.
Yes, she came home three days later, with her face all covered in bruises. Her clothes were hanging from her and she stank so bad I could not stand near her.
Adrian I do not know what to say, I am so sorry that you had to go through that.
You said you wanted to know ,so here I am telling you. Can you not handle it? Are you seeing me differently now?
Of course, not I am just a bit shocked please go on.
Things started to get a little better in the months after that, Alice got a job and started spending a little more time with me. She actually took me to the park and to me that was the best feeling in the world. Until one night, she got so drunk, that she striped herself naked and was lying on the floor. She looked as if she had passed out from drink, I tried to throw an old ripped sheet over her and to take away the alcohol she had. However, she was not asleep and what she did next I will never forget. She lifted a black leather belt that was sitting on the one chair we had in our living room, and began to hit me so hard on the back of my neck with it that I could not even cry with the pain. That was not the first time she had beat me, but it was one of the worst times. I still have the scares today and I will always remember that feeling of pain. Alanna I wish that I had never had to share these awful memories with you.
No, I am glad you did Adrian, now I can begin to understand the real you. It is all becoming clear now and I cannot thank you enough for sharing this with me. I know it must be so hard to think back on such a terrible event.
I have had so much pain and misery in my life, you are the one pure and honest thing I have ever had, and I do not feel like I deserve you.
Do not think like that Adrian.
You know the reason I always go for blonde haired women.
I have no idea.
It is because Alice had dark hair, and I never want to be reminded of her in anyway. I never had anything but pain and misery from her, and there is no way I could ever be with a dark haired girl, fearing they would do the same to me, as she did.
Then it is a good thing I have blonde hair, you know I would never hurt you?
I know you would not and even now, with all this dark stuff around me, you still do not even flinch and try to get away from me. Alanna I have never met anyone like you before, you are so pure and kind, I do not deserve you. I am not good enough for you.
Adrian I told you not to think like that, I would not be here with you, if I thought you were not good enough.
I know that, but I do not see what you see in me. I am bad Alanna does all this not tell you that?
I do not think you are bad, you cannot blame yourself for what she did to you, and you were just a child.
I know, but what I did it does not even bear to think about.
Adrian what did you do?
I cannot tell that part Alanna, It would be too much for you to accept.
Let me be the judge of that.
No, Alanna.
All right then.
Do you have any classes today?
No, I am studying all day.
I have to go just now I am late for a meeting; I will email you later on to check if you are okay.
Okay, then Adrian Black,
I cannot believe what Adrian has just told me, how awful it must have been for him. What kind of woman would do that to her son? I have no Idea what kind of person she must be, and I cannot begin to deal with how he must have felt. He was alone in the dark for three days, wondering if she would ever come home. The beatings she gave him were just unforgivable. I cannot hold back my tears as sit there and reflect on all this. I cannot help but feel grateful that my own childhood was as happy as it was. Sure, there were a few minor arguments between my mom and dad, but never anything like that. When I was a child, I could have never imagined another child going through that. Adrian was so young at the time, there is no other way describe Adrian’s childhood but as abusive.
Sixteen
The next few days consist mostly of studying and going all over town with Michael. The story is that Michael is an exchange student from Oxford and, other than being here to protect me, he is also here on business. Therefore, a lot of time I am trailing around companies and waiting outside offices, for him to finish whatever business he is doing. Unlike when we first met, Michael is not so talkative now. He barely speaks to me and when he does is just,
“Are you ready?”
“Let’s go,” and “come this way.”