A New Beginning Novel – Alyssa, I’m really sorry to tell you that your mother got in a car accident and died on scene. I’m truly sorry for your loss. I was stunned for a long time, feeling mixed emotions as I processed what he had just said. My mother. Dead. I lost my mother, but more importantly, no one would abuse me anymore. I suppressed my excitement and said, ‘So what happens now? I get sent to an orphanage or…’ ‘Actually, your brothers have offered to take you in. Your moving to Canada, Alyssa.’ Brothers? No, no my mom never mentioned that we even had any other family, let alone that I had brothers! And more than one by the sounds of it. God, what’s even happening right now.
Shaking, I threw the attic door shut, locking it as fast as I could with my trembling fingers. Finally having escaped my mother’s drunken yelling, I flung myself into the corner of the room I called mine when, in reality, it was nothing more than a blanket, a pillow and a broken window that served as the only air con I got in the sweltering Arizona heat. Tears now creating a constant flow down my face, I curled myself tighter into a ball in an effort to contain my shivering. I’m safe I repeated to myself. Safe- not that the word meant anything to me I scoffed to myself. My breathing finally having returned to a steady pace, I took in my injuries- some cuts on my arms and knees from where my oh-so-loving mother threw her beer bottle at me and the usual bruises on my ribs and face. It hurt trying to move but I knew I had to or it would be way worse in the morning.
Frowning, I reached for my painkillers I had managed to sneak from school and dry-swallowed them. Next, I reached for the rubbing alcohol and bandages. Time for the worst part. Gritting my teeth, I poured it onto my cuts then bandaged them carefully up. Now that was finished, I decided it was probably best I tried to sleep. Curling up on my makeshift bed, I drifted off into a dreamless sleep. Sunlight poured through into my room, my daily alarm clock. Groggily, I rolled onto my side. Oops, big mistake. A hiss of pain escaped my lips as the stench of blood and alcohol met my nose reminding me of last nights events. Sighing, I got dressed in my usual hoodie and leggings and decided it would be better to face my mother now rather than later. As I expected, there she sat in her usual morning after haze. ‘Hey honey,’ Watching her with weary eyes, I didn’t even bother to reply.
It always ended up like this. She wastes the money on drinking, gets mad when she eventually gets drunk, blames it on me for being a quote on quote ‘ungrateful bimbo who’s also a waste of space’ -I love having such a complimentary mother- and then hits me. Then, the next day, acts all remorseful and expresses her unconditional love for me. Right, yeah ‘love’. Tell that to my scars. And its not like I can just leave- I mean I did, once. I’m not making that mistake again. Besides, I prefer the doting mother act than the raging drunk mess that comes out at night. Saying a hasty goodbye, I don’t even bother to check the cupboards for something to eat- I know they’ll be empty. Thank god for the dunkin bins or I may not have survived the last few years purely because of starvation. Thanks to last night, I was slower getting to school today and so usually I would get there before everyone else- I hated busy crowds because people would always knock into my injuries- but I guess karmas been wanting to get me back lately so, of course, I had to arrive just when all the buses arrived and the main corridor was at its busiest.
So great. Yup, the hood was definitely coming up today. Making my way through the halls- I only got shoved into a locker once- I finally reached first period. And it was maths. Seriously, I thought, whoever’s controlling my life really needs to take a break cus this ain’t funny- was it too much to ask for a normal day? If only I knew how much more was about to happen. Taking my usual place at the back, I at least tried to listen to what the teacher was saying. However, the searing pain in my side due to my bruised ribs really was not helping. It wasn’t until I heard ‘Alyssa Matthews please report to the front office’ being called from the booming speakers that I truly jerked awake. Oh god. What’s happening now. With shaky legs, I gathered up my stuff and walked out the door, ignoring the accompanying jeers and mocks of ‘someone’s in trouble’. Reaching the door, I hesitated before taking a deep breath and knocking twice. ‘Come in!’ a voice calls. Going through, I take in my surroundings. Immediately, I spot the police and another man in a smart Armani suit. Swallowing down my panic, I faced the principle, Mr Briery. ‘Hi Alyssa, I’m really sorry to call you out of class like this but unfortunately there’s been an accident regarding your mother. She’s gotten in a car accident and died on scene.
I’m truly sorry for your loss and understand this will be a difficult time for you’. A faint ringing registered in my ears as I processed what he had just said. My mother. Dead. A numb feeling spread through my body and I simply stopped. Stuck in my mind, I watched as Mr Briery’s mouth moved once, twice, a third time. But I was stuck, unable to move. Hands suddenly cupped my face and there was a deep voice telling me to breathe. Just breathe Alyssa. Letting loose a breath I hadn’t realised I was holding; I came back into reality. The hand that was gripping my face let go and I looked up to a pair of blue stormy eyes. A lot like mine actually. Caught in his gaze, I quickly looked away shaking my head and focused my attention back on my principle. Trying to find my voice I asked quietly, ‘So what happens now? I get sent to an orphanage or…’ Honestly, an orphanage couldn’t be any worse than what I had already suffered. To my surprise, Mr Briery shook his head. ‘Actually, your brothers have offered to take you in. Your moving to Canada, Alyssa.’ At this, my eyes widened. Brothers? No, no my mum never mentioned that we even had any other family, let alone that I had brothers! And more than one by the sounds of it.
God, what’s even happening right now. The look of shock must have been evident on my face because Mr Briery gently spoke again, ‘I know this is a great change for you but you’re truly lucky that your brothers are here to take you in. Mr MartÃnez here is now your guardian.’ At this I once again swiveled my head, mouth now hanging open in shock. This stranger, this blue Armani suited guy who just so happened to prevent me from having a panic attack is my BROTHER. Well, at least it explains the eyes. ‘Come on now Alyssa, we don’t have much time before the private jet leaves.’ My mouth now is a permanent state of wide open, I just watched as he rose (Jesus, my brother’s tall) and walked out. My mind felt like it was in catch up- the only words my mind could actually process were god,and private jet? Mumbling a weak goodbye, I hurried after the man claiming to be my brother and caught up just as he left the building.
Outside, a shiny Mercedes was waiting and I silently followed my brother into the back. ‘D-do we need to get my stuff from my house?’ I asked quietly, secretly cursing myself for stuttering in my head. He raised his eyebrows slightly before replying in the same monotone voice, ‘No my men will go there to retrieve everything.’ Nodding, I returned my gaze to the window- partly because my new brother was incredibly intimidating and also because I didn’t want to talk. Today’s events had fully drained me and I felt myself sinking into unconsciousness. Opening my eyes, I found myself locked once again in the stormy eyes of my newly discovered brother. ‘H-hi sorry I didn’t realise I feel asleep.’ ‘Its alright’ he said emotionlessly and I sighed wondering if my brother was always going to be this closed off. I mean, its not like I was here expressing my every emotion either but maybe if my brother wasn’t so scarily intimidating it would be easier to talk to him.
It was then that I realised I didn’t actually know his name. Gathering courage, I asked ‘Hey um sorry but I just realised that I don’t actually know your name.’ Slowly, he turned his eyes giving me a formidable look before replying with a simple ‘It’s Wyatt and we need to leave’. Right, okay then, clearly not very chatty. Rolling my eyes slightly, I mumbled a ‘oh okay’ and realised that we had arrived at what looked like a landing strip. ‘Are we not going to the airport?’. To my surprise this actually got a smile from Wyatt. A very tiny smile- more of just a slight lift in his lips- but a smile to me none the less. ‘This is the airport, hun.’ My mouth for the third time today rounded into a ‘o’ shape- I remembered back, when in the office, he had mentioned a private jet. Knees feeling slightly weaker than before, I followed my brother onto the jet.
We got inside and I blinked. Woah, I could 100 percent get used to being rich. Red, plush carpet covered the floor, the recliner seats covered in a similar colour but leather instead. A couch and bar occupied one corner whereas a small team of 5 waited on the other side, clearly awaiting instruction. Yup, to say I was gobsmacked was an understatement. While I had been gawking however Wyatt had been making himself comfortable on one of the many seats. He patted the seat next to him and I joined him, eyebrows raised slightly in a sort of ‘well what am I supposed to do now’ kind of way. Again, he smiled that small smirk and said ‘Come on now, make yourself comfy, we have a 3-hour flight till home.’ At the mention of ‘home’ I was filled with a warmish feeling- not love; just the knowing that finally I could be safe. I must have drifted of to sleep again because the next thing I knew I was once again being shaken awake by Wyatt. ‘We’re here’ he said.
Smiling, I nodded and followed him out saying a quick thank you to the crew as I left. Of course, another posh looking Mercedes awaited us. After our 30-minute drive, I was starting to get really nervous; thoughts flooded through my head at high speed- what if my brothers hated me? Would they beat me as well? What if they hated me so much, they just decided to get rid of me all together? Somehow, I think Wyatt sensed this because he grabbed the fingers I had started to twist in my hands and held them. ‘Hey,’ he said softly, ‘they’re going to love you don’t worry.’ A bit shocked, I looked up at him. What, how had he managed to not only stop my panic but also read the exact thoughts running through my head?