I got back to my room with fresh bruises and a couple of scratches. One of my mother’s heels had made contact and slashed my wrist. It wasn’t deep, but it was bleeding. I cleaned it up and put a bandaid over it before I passed out on my bed in all my clothes.

I woke up the next morning and went through my morning routine. After I ate breakfast, I went to my room and packed up my backpack. When I grabbed my cell, I noticed I had a voicemail. I smiled when I heard Nathaniel’s sweet voice telling me he was always there for me. I saved the message just as my bus pulled up.

I raced out of my house and up the bus steps. I quickly located Nathaniel in his normal seat and walked back to him.

“This seat taken?” I joked, sitting next to him.

“Now it is.” He answered.

“Thanks for last night…” I said, my smile faultering and my gaze dropping from his face. I fiddled with my fingers in my lap.

“Any time, Anabell.” He told me. His gaze was attrached to my fingers and he exclaimed quietly, “Anabell, are you okay?”