Filling in the Gap

So...since I don't have anything to write about...I decided to post yet another story for you all to read. Hopefully you guys like this one. It's a little different because I incorporated song lyrics into the story. So, let me know what you think!!

BREAKAWAY

Grew up in a small town
And when the rain would fall down
I'd just stare out my window

She sat motionless in her bedroom. Rain pounded on the roof of her small, run-down house. She listened as the shutters flapped furiously against the wall just outside her bedroom. Barely hanging there, she was sure they would fly off in this storm. Lightning flashed and the lights in the house flickered. She still didn’t move. Thunder rumbled so loud it shook her house. She still didn’t move. The sound of the front door slamming did move her though. That meant her father was home. She quickly closed her shabby curtains and dove onto her mattress on the floor. If her father found her up this late he would make sure she regretted it.

Dreaming of what could be
And if I'd end up happy
I would pray

She had only wanted to do what she loved; to sing. She was the top singer in her choir at school. Her music teacher thought highly of her singing abilities and highly of her as a person. Her father however, had different opinions. To him, singing was a waste of time. He thought she should be at home doing chores and helping her mother rather than staying late after school just to ‘speak songs faster than normal’. He just didn’t understand. Her mother did however, but her fear of her husband often crushed her hopes and dreams for her daughter. At least the ones she displayed publicly. Inside, she believed her daughter could do anything. She would never tell her husband that though.

Trying hard to reach out
But when I tried to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me

She rolled over onto her back and flipped on the lamp next to her bed. Pulling up her sleeves she revealed bruises and scars. Along with some fresh ones she received just that afternoon.
She had stayed late after school to practice with her music teacher, thinking her father would already be at work. Unfortunately she didn’t know he worked a later shift that evening. He was sitting in the living room, waiting for her when she entered the door.
“Where have you been, young lady?” he asked.
“Nowhere,” she answered quietly.
“I said, where have you been?” His voice grew louder.
“At school,” her voice still small.
“At where?” his voice grew louder still.
“School.”
“You weren’t doing that awful singing junk, were you?” He was on his feet now.
“Yes I was,” she whispered and closed her eyes, knowing just what to expect. Sure enough, only seconds later she felt his rough hand ram into her arm, then his heavy boot into her shin. She bit her lower lip to keep from crying out; it would only make things worse. He grunted and then walked away. She ran to her room and had been there ever since. She pulled the sleeves back down. The memories those scars brought were too painful to think about. Her pain ran much deeper than just physically.

Wanted to belong here
But something felt so wrong here
So I prayed I could break away

Hours later she was still awake. She could hear the soft melodic tick of the clock as seconds passed by. Thought after thought kept rolling through her mind. What had she done to deserve this? Wasn’t her best enough? Did he not love her? All she wanted was for him to love her as much as she loved him. Was that too much to ask? She would paint pictures for him in kindergarten and bring them to him with pride. He would take one look at it, mutter something like pathetic or worthless under his breath, and then tear it to pieces and throw it away. Then later, when musicals and performances rolled around she figured he would like those. He never showed up. Not once. In fact, he had forbidden her to continue singing. She couldn’t, of course, so she stopped mentioning her upcoming musical, or choir practice. He still knew though. He always seemed to know. She was determined to get out of there though. She knew something better was out there waiting for her. She just had to find it.

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes til' I touch the sky

The next morning she was up early. She fixed breakfast and left her mother and father each a plate on a table. She grabbed her small backpack of things, the keys to the car, and was gone. By the time anybody missed her, she would be halfway across the state.

And I'll make a wish
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway

Driving down the highway, she knew this may not be her best idea but it was all she had. 45 more minutes and she would be living with her aunt and uncle in LA. She’d be away from all the pain and abuse. Living in a place like LA would give her more of a chance of being discovered too. She wasn’t about to turn around anytime soon either. This was one change that had to be made.

Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget all the ones that I love

She pulled into her aunt and uncle’s driveway and parked the car. She sat in the driver’s seat for a moment. She thought about her poor mother. She should have at least left her some sort of note of explanation. No, it would have been too risky. Her father would have been sure to get a hold of it. Besides, it was much too late to be worrying over things like that. She stepped out of the car with the sense of a new beginning; and this time she was going to start it right.

Wanna feel the warm breeze
Sleep under a palm tree
Feel the rush of the ocean

Months had past since she joined her aunt and uncle. School was going great and she was headed to a possible recording contract. LA’s top talent agent had overheard her one-day after school singing. The rest was history.

Get onboard a fast train
Travel on a jet plane, far away (I will)
And breakaway

She was headed out on her first headlining tour. Tickets were selling out fast, news stations nationally were running stories on her, and she had finally made it. But to her, it wasn’t just the thrill of fame or fortune. It was about the breaking out of her abusive home and stepping into new light. She had finally gotten away from it and made her dreams come true. She knew back at home her father still wouldn’t be proud but she didn’t care. For once, his approval didn’t matter to her. True, the scars were still there and memories flashed through her mind, but they were hurting less and less each day. She was breaking away and that was all that mattered.

She reached her hotel and sat on the edge of the bed facing the window. She sat motionless. Outside, rain poured down. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled. She didn’t move. Out in the hallway, a door to a room slammed shut. Still, she didn’t move.