Page 9 of Science Project

“Or what?” I said before I could stop myself. I immediately smacked my lips together. “Sorry.”

Dad slammed on the brakes in the middle of the road and seized me by the throat. “Or what?” he repeated. “Or fucking what? You know what will happen to you if you don’t do exactly as I ask, Nicole.”

“I-I’m sorry,” I whispered, attempting to peel his fingers off me so I could breathe. “I’m sorry.”

He ripped Hannah’s gold necklace off my neck. “Don’t forget about your sister.”

After dragging his hand away, he shoved the gold necklace into his pocket. My lips trembled as I stared through the windshield ahead of me, finally having—what I considered—proof that he’d had something to do with her death.

“I’ll have something for you by the end of the week,” I whispered, tugging out my phone.

As we pulled into the doctor’s office parking lot, I scrolled to Akio’s contact. Still in shock.

Me: Wanna work on the project tomorrow night after cheer?

Me: Your house?

“Get out,” Dad ordered.

I followed him out of the car and into the office. “Can I have my necklace back?”

“No.”

So, I snapped my mouth shut and glanced down at my messages with Akio. He typed and typed and typed and didn’t send anything. We walked into a large office and sat across from what looked like a sweet woman with big brown eyes.

“What can I do for you today?” Dr. Aldridge asked.

Dad began diving into everything that he wanted me to get done without my consent while I prayed that Akio would send me a message so I’d have an excuse not to listen to the horrible things that Dad desired.

Akio: Okay.

Me: We don’t have to …

Akio: No, no. I want you to come over.

Akio: My parents won’t be home, if you’re okay with being alone.

Me: That’s totally fine. :) I’d prefer that anyway.

“We can schedule that to be done in a couple of weeks. Sound good?” Dr. Aldridge said.

“The sooner, the better,” Dad said, flashing her a smirk.

“All right, is there anything else you’d like done?” she asked Dad.

Of course she wouldn’t ask the woman who would actually be having the procedure. I didn’t have any say in my body, my life, or even my future. Why would I? All I was, was Dad’s toy that he could do whatever the hell he wanted with.

“Leave, Nicole.”

With tears in my eyes, I grabbed my purse and shuffled out of the doctor’s office before he could force me to stay, before they could ask me more questions, before they could decide my entire life for me.

Once I slipped into the passenger seat of Dad’s car, I burst out into tears. My mascara ran down my cheeks, but I couldn’t care anymore. Dad didn’t have any more work for me to do tonight, and it was too dark for anyone to truly see.

It had always been too dark for people to see my pain.

To see how much I fucking hurt.

I slammed my fist into the dashboard repeatedly and screamed, “Someone, help me!”

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