chapter
two
"JoAnna,
snap out of it! Jo, you're okay, please God be
okay!" I heard Mr. Parker yelling. But
how could he be yelling? He was attacked. I
knew how being attacked felt; there was no way he'd
be able to sound so strong. I heard someone else
screaming too. It was a blood-curldling scream.
With a jolt I realized it was me screaming.
I stopped yelling and shook my head. I could see
Mr. Parker kneeling in front of me, and I realized I was
laying down on the dirty tiled floor. I felt my
face and sure enough there were wet streaks where my
tears must have fallen.
"JoAnna, what happened?" Mr. Parker's
blue eyes scanned my entire face. He just wanted to
make sure I was okay.
"I keep seeing everyone I love get hurt. With
a man in a mask. I never see his face. I keep
seeing blood; so much blood." I pulled my legs up to
my chest and hid my face. This constant fear, this
constant nightmare needed to stop.
"Jo, let me take you home. The buses all left
twenty minutes ago, you've been passing in and out of
conciousness for hours," Mr. Parker tried to grab my
arms to help me up, but I started to yell again.
"Don't touch me! Just don't...
Don't touch me. God no not again.
Don't... Not again. I-I
can't..." I knew I was crying. I
knew I was having a meltdown. But I just couldn't
care.
"Okay, JoAnna, I don't have to touch you,"
He knelt down again next to me, but made sure to keep his
distance, "But I do need to take you home."
"Please don't," I snapped my head towards
him, "I can't go back there. I can't
go there looking like this."
My older cousin took me in after my father was arrested.
Kyle was great, but I knew I was a burden to him.
He was a surgical intern at our local hospital, and
supporting me was too difficult on his salary. Most
nights he wasn't home because of the long shifts, but
when he was, he always tried to get me to talk about what
happened to me. And I couldn't deal with that-
not after a meltdown.
"Where can I take you then? Is there anywhere
you can go?" Mr. Parker ran his fingers
through his curls. I shook my head and sniffed.
I knew I had no one. "Well, Jo, I guess
technically I'm not your teacher anymore. Here,
I'll take you to one of my favorite places, but you
have to promise me something."
"What's that?"
"You can never show anyone what I'm about to
show you," He smiled at me.
"Deal," I stood up and followed him out of the
room.