A Thousand Lies

Temperance I used to think I would be okay if I acted like everything was okay. But the truth is, ‭it didn't ‬work‭. I tried it for seven years. Since I was barely ten.‬ It was a few months after my mother's death. I am always blamed for her death as I was in the car with her. I tiptoe to my house. My shoes skim the sidewalk. I don't want to see what's going on in my own house. Even though I've always known what's going on in there.I stand in front of the small house. ‭My house. ‬Our family had a large house. One that may belong to a ‭Millionaire‬. We ‭were‬ millionaires. I frown. ‭That ended long ago.‬ Everything was perfect until my mother's death. I got a few thousand. Unfortunately, I can't access it till I turn eighteen, which shouldn't be long as I'm past seventeen at present. Most of the funds went to charities. And another larger share, of course, went to father. He eventually blew all his money doing drugs and alcohol. At that time, we could not afford the bills for the h

TemperanceSo warm and comfy. 
I snuggle deeper into the sheets. And that's when I realize it. I'm not in my room. 
I immediately sit up, scanning the room I am in.I am sitting up in an unfamiliar room, on a king-size bed. 
Alec sits at the end of the bed that's presumably his, looking at his phone. I checked myself. I am wearing an oversized black t-shirt and shorts.

I'm not in the clothes I wore when I got to school. Meaning... ‭Alec saw everything on my ‬
body. 
I immediately freak out. Alec looks at me, watching my facial expressions.
He forms a weak smile on his face. "Hey." His voice is soft. 
"Hey," I answer, trying to stay calm, but my heart is beating a million miles an hour. 
He moves closer to me and gets under the covers with me, like a weirdo, and sits 
beside me.I inch back from the stranger that has kidnapped me. 
"I put my number in your phone. In case you need help." He informs me. I nod, staying 
silent, not knowing what to say. 
"I didn't dress you." He a

TemperanceI sit in the car with the five boys, the bulletproof vest Alec made me wear is making me feel claustrophobic. While Connor drives, Alec is in the passenger seat. Zander and Ethan are sitting on either side of me with Damien in the back. Alec and Connor are having their own conversation in the front while me and the boys have ours in the back. Although it’s mostly just them talking and me listening I still find it comforting. After about thirty minutes of driving in the dark Connor stops the car. Everyone gets out of the car with their guns and I follow blindly like a lamb to its slaughter. If I am being fully honest I would tell you I'm scared. But I'm a liar so I'll say I'm brave. "If anything goes south shoot to kill. And Flower. Remember what I told you."He refers to me staying beside him or Zander. I nod, the nickname of flower still irking me. Alec leans closer to me and whispers in my ear, "Stop trembling. I won't let anything happen to you." I didn't even rea

Temperance "And what does that mean for me?” I ask him frantically. "It means if we don't stop this, then you won't make it. "He’s joking, right?" "Anything that could have caused this?" The doctor asks. I tremble as I realize I can’t tell him the truth, the real cause. He won’t know how bad my body has been treated. Internal bleeding? God really hates me, doesn’t he?"I got mugged the other day." I blurt out a lie. Emaline looks at me, thinning her lips before getting distracted by something Ella whispers. "Aside from your face, where are your other beatings?" He asks. "My stomach and back." "Lift your shirt for me." He responds bluntly. I cross my arms in front of my chest, refusing to lift my shirt. I don't want anyone to take advantage of me. I don't want to be touched like I was before. "Temperance, it's ok," Ella tells me, giving me a soft smile. I shake my head, finally agreeing. The doctor turns to Ella and Emaline, "Will you two leave the room, please."As soon as he sa

TemperanceThoughts of my disgusting body storm in my head. Why did I let him know what happened to me? He thinks I'm disgusting. Fuck. Fuck. I'm so disgusting. Its clear to me now that I have to leave. I'll never be safe from my father. No matter where I am.I tried to blind myself but this assault brought me back to my senses. I'll never be safe, and there's no use burdening Alec. I grab a paper and pencil and start writing. I know you find me gross now. Don't worry. I find myself gross too. I will get out of your hair now. And I will go home. I will see you at school if you decide to come. I know you are busy with gang stuff. Xoxo TemperanceI place the note on his nightstand, folding it up neatly. I know people will start looking for me soon, so I have to get out of here quickly. I have nothing to take back with me, so I leave with the clothes on my back and the prescribed pills. I ignore the pain and sneak my way out of the house and down the driveway. I can't stay here an