Layla

She stood, stiff as a board, on the other side of the railing. Her feet barely keeping balance on the ledge, fists clenched. Tears flowed down her cheek like a gentle stream in the woods and looked up to the heavens.

She whispers, “please, please, please.” As if waiting for the heavens to answer, she stood silently, patiently, waiting. When her plea went unanswered, she took a deep breath, a breath of courage. She leaned ever so slightly forward ready to seal her fate. Ready to let go, not exist, not feel the pain that had consumed her.

Just as she could feel gravity pull her down, two hands reach out and around her dainty waist. Held her tight and drew her back over to the other side of the railing. Opening her eyes she’s met with a pair of piercing hazel eyes; eyes that were staring into the depths of her soul, she takes a step back, feeling exposed.

“Are you okay?”

Taking another step back, she looks her savior up and down. Standing at 5’3”, athletic build, there was something about her that was shamefully captivating.

“Yo, are you okay?”

Snapping back to reality, she replied, “Yeah, just fine. Thanks.”

“You sure about that? ‘Cause it looked to me like you were about to jump.”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“Alright then, if you say so. What’s your name?”

“Layla. I’m Layla.” She replied shakily, still captivated by this mysterious savior.

“I’m Michelle, but everyone calls me Mitchy.” She replied, reaching her hand out. As Layla grabbed her hand, Mitchy drew her close. As if they were in a crowded room and needed to share a secret, Mitchy whispered, “I don’t know what you’re going through, but just know that, what you were bout to do; that ain't the answer.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I wasn’t doing anything.” Retreating, Layla let go of Mitchy and began to walk away. Mitchy turned to head home, but took a look back at Layla. Fighting the urge to go after her, she kept walking, glancing back every few steps. She tried hard to silence the little voice inside her head, telling her to go after Layla. Taking a deep breath, she turns and runs after her. Finally, catching up with Layla, she quickly fell into a steady pace, matching stride for stride.

“So what’s your story?” Mitchy asks with a look of innocent curiosity.

“You know, we don't have to do this. You can go about your ways and I’ll go about mine.” Layla quickened her pace in hopes that Mitchy would leave it at that. Pausing for a moment, all Mitchy wanted was to go home, but that little voice was so persistent. Reluctantly, she follows after Layla.

“So what’s your story?”

“Why does it matter to you?” Slightly irritated, Layla stops and faces Mitchy. Layla looked Mitchy in the eyes and suddenly felt a strange sense of security.

“I’ll be honest with you, I don’t know. What I do know is I can’t let you walk away without knowing and believing that you’re going to be okay.”

“I don’t even know you. Plus you wouldn’t even understand.”

“Try me.” Mitchy replies, an annoyingly genuine smile spreading across her face.

“You’re really not going to let this go, huh?

“Nope, and I got all night.”

They continued walking, not saying a word. After a few minutes they found themselves at the park. Still walking silently they head to the swings. As they sat on the swings a tender breeze passed through; refreshing for a warm summer night.

“So...What’s your story?” Mitchy kicks off the ground and begins to swing.

“It’s a lot, you sure you want to hear about it?”

“Yeah, so go on.”

Cautiously, Layla begins to tell her story. Mitchy stops swinging and stares off into the park, listening intently

“To be honest, I don’t know where to begin. I just don’t see the point of life. I’m in a constant state of pain. I just feel like there’s no purpose for me. I feel useless and inadequate.” She pauses, debating if she continues. She glances over to Mitchy, who stares right back at her as if waiting for something.

“Go on. I hear what you’re feeling, but you’ve yet to start your story.”

Sighing Layla stared back at Mitchy, thinking to herself, why does she want to know so bad? And why do I feel like I could tell her? Hesitantly, Layla began once again.

Drawing in a quick breath to calm her nerves. She just can’t believe that a complete stranger can be so persistent to know about her. Not only that, but she can’t believe she felt comfortable enough to tell her.

“I’m not really sure where to start. Growing up wasn’t ideal. I mean, to everyone I had a pretty good childhood, but behind closed doors my house was hell. A lot of yelling and fighting. My dad was a drunk. My siblings and I always lived in a constant state of fear.”

“Your dad, was he abusive towards you guys?”

“Kind of, yeah. He’d get drunk and lose his temper for no reason. He’d come at one of us, sometimes he’d catch one of us and lay a punch. But most of the time he’d stumble and pass out.”

“And your mom? Where was she?”

“Scared and honestly, looking out for herself. I need to get out of here. Things have gotten worse and I just can’t take it anymore.” Layla turns away as a tear begins to fall. A scene replayed in her mind, a scene she never wanted to find herself in again. She wiped away her tears, staring off into the park. A calm silence surrounded them as the park started to become empty.

“You wanna sit on that bench over there?” She pointed to a bench under a giant, magnificent willow. Mitchy got off her swing and waited for Layla. As they walked together, a chilling breeze passed by. Noticing Layla shivered, Mitchy gave Layla her hoodie.

“You’re not cold?” Layla asks, taking the hoodie and zipping it up.

“Nah, I run hot most of the time. The chill actually feels nice to me.”

They reach the bench, sitting and staring off in the distance. A calm, eeriness surrounds the park. Layla looks over to Mitchy and notices that she’s staring intensely at the bushes. A bit concerned, she looks over to see what’s gotten Mitchy so tense.

“Mitchy, you okay?”

“Uh, yeah. There was just a big ass bird over, I thought it was going to come out and eat me, or something.”

“What the hell?” Laughing, Layla shakes her head at Mitchy.

“Anyway, continue?”

Letting out a deep sigh, Layla continued with her story, doing the best she could to hold back the tears she felt coming.

“Things have gotten worse. My dad has gotten more and more violent. He’s thrown things and has really done a number on my mom a few times. He broke my brother’s arm the other week. When I tried to tell the police my mom covered for the man.” Clenching her fists, Layla takes a moment to collect herself. Tears freely start to fall down her cheeks.

“Just some days ago he got really drunk. We thought it was going to be another drunken night of yelling and possible beatings. Instead, though, he was unusually quiet, observant almost. He watched me and my sister very intently. That gave me the creeps. When it was time for bed, I had my sister sleep in my brother’s room. I walked back towards my room, checking the living room as I passed by. I wanted to see if he was still there and he wasn’t. I thought, no I hoped that he had left or passed out somewhere. But as I opened my bedroom door, I could smell the harsh stench of scotch. The door swung open and he grabbed me by my throat, dragging me inside and slamming the door behind us.”

Replaying the scene in her mind, Layla haunches over and buries her face in her arms, tears streaming down. Mitchy scooches closer, putting her arm around Layla, doing her best to try to comfort her. After a few minutes, Layla sits up, takes a deep breath, and continues.

“He pinned me down on my bed. I fought as hard as I could to push him away, but he was too strong. Suddenly, my door swung open again and my little brother stood in the doorway. He came to tell me that my sister needed me. My dad got up and left, shoving my brother out of the way. I laid there crying for a while when my brother crawled up next to me and just held me. We got up and all of us slept in his room that night. Since then we all have been sleeping in my room. I’m scared. I just can’t live like this anymore. I don’t want to be here. I don’t see the point of living like this.”

“I’m so sorry that you’ve gone through and are still going through all of that. Can I ask you something?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t take offense, okay? But with how dreadful things are, how could you even think of leaving your siblings to fend for themselves like that?”

Taken aback by the question, Layla sat silently, staring off into the distance. The question rang loud in her head. Mitchy was right, how could she leave her siblings like that? How could she be that selfish? But what can she do? Who will believe a 16-year-old, who’s mother makes it a point to say that she’s just seeking attention from anywhere she can get it?

“Layla? You okay?”

“No, yeah, I’m okay. I just… I just didn’t think about what would happen to them. I don’t know.”

“I’m just saying, I get it. I wouldn’t want to be here either. I’d say fuck it too, but you got two people who depend on you. Suicide is one of the most selfish acts you could ever do. I know it’s hard and it’s easier said than done, but you gotta fight, you gotta keep pushing through; if not for you, for them. Like you, they don’t deserve it either. They especially don’t deserve to know what life would be like without you.”

“You’re right. I’m just, I don’t know. I don’t know what to do. And if I’m being honest, even if I knew what to do, I’d be scared to do it. What if it all blows up in my face? Then what?”

“What do you think would eventually happen if you don’t even try?”

Layla lets out a deep sigh. They sat silently for a while before getting up and leaving the park. Without saying a word they walked to Layla’s house. A single-story family house. Outside it looked like the perfect home. Clean cut yard, a short wooden fence surrounded the yard and white gardenia flowers all along the fence. A pastel yellow house with a bright red door. A beautiful home, but behind that red door was a living nightmare. A certain gloominess hovered over the house.

“So this you?” Mitchy asks looking at the house.

“Yeah, but I don’t want to go in right now.”

“Where’s your brother and sister?”

“At my aunt’s house. She picked them up before I left the house earlier.”

“Ah, I see. So what do you want to do?”

“You can go home. I’ll probably just walk around for a bit.”

“Nah, I’m good. So where are we walking?”

“What’s your deal? You know other people would’ve just left me alone and gone about their ways?” Layla stares at Mitchy, still trying to figure out this stranger who saved her life. She couldn’t figure out why Mitchy insisted on getting to know her, but thinking about the night she was grateful that Mitchy walked by at the time that she did.

“Yeah, I’m not like most people. I’ll be honest, I don’t know why I decided to stick around. But now, I’ll tell you, I ain’t going anywhere. No kid deserves to be treated like that, especially by someone who is supposed to protect them.”

They walked and talked until the sun came up. Walking all the way to Layla’s aunt’s house, the sun began to peak just above the horizon. The night’s sky began to lighten, changing from midnight blue to purple, pink, and finally to a clear baby blue sky. They made plans to meet again later in the day after they’ve both gotten some sleep. Lethargic, Mitchy started to walk home. Replaying the night’s events in her mind, she just couldn’t believe it.

She literally saved someone’s life and the war has yet to even begin. As she walked across the bridge, a memory came to the surface of her mind. Not too long ago she was standing on that same ledge. Contemplating whether or not life is worth living. The only difference was she didn’t have someone to pull her back to the other side. Now that she thought about it, she didn't really know why she didn’t jump.

Mitchy finally made it home. Sneaking back in through her bedroom window, she could smell the savory aroma of breakfast floating in the air. As she changed into some basketball shorts and a tall tee, her grandmother called to come eat. She went to the kitchen and silently watched her grandmother fix the table and instantly remembered why she didn’t jump off that bridge weeks ago.

As the weeks went on, Mitchy spent as much time as possible with Layla and her siblings. She became a buffer, a security blanket for them. As long as Mitchy was there, their dad didn’t try anything, no matter how drunk he got. Most nights Mitchy would stay over long enough until their dad passed out. Although this worked for the most, Mitchy couldn’t always be there. Nights that she wasn’t were the worst for Layla and her siblings.

One weekend Mitchy had gone out of town. Layla and her siblings got home from school, found their mom passed out in the bedroom and their dad not home. After settling in the three of them started to do homework, hoping that their dad won’t come home. After homework was finished their mom woke up and asked Layla to help with dinner.

“Is dad coming home?” Layla asks nervously as she starts chopping the garlic.

“Why?” Her mom snaps at her in disgust.

“No reason, just wondering.”

“Hmm, daddy’s little princess misses him huh?” Spiteful, her mom stares Layla as if she was the most wretched being in the world.

After dinner was ready they all sat down to eat. They ate silently, not making eye contact with each other. Their dad suddenly busted through the front door, drunk. He stumbled his way into the kitchen, yelling for his wife. Layla quickly grabs her siblings and carries them to her brother’s room, locking the door. Layla held them in her arms as they listened to the beating happening behind the closed door.

Everything went silent after about 20 minutes. All Layla could hear were her siblings’ sniffles. She held onto them, tight until she could hear their soft snores. Getting off the bed Layla looked at her siblings, thinking to herself, something needs to be done.

Layla leaves the room to check the damage of what happened. She found her mom in the middle of the living room floor, in the fetal position. As she picks her mom off the floor, her dad stumbles in and passes out on the couch.

“Mom, we gotta call the police. This isn’t okay.” Layla pleaded with her mom.

“What happens if they lock him up? I’ll lose this house, the cars. You going to start selling yourself so we could keep this roof over our heads?” Her mom snapped back at her as she struggled to change out of her torn clothes. Layla tried to help her, but she snapped and started beating Layla. Suddenly, her brother came between them to stop their mom. He was able to get her to stop and she went to her room, slammed the door behind her.

“C’mon let's get you back to bed. We got school tomorrow.” Layla got up and motioned for him to start walking to the room. Her brother turned to grab his phone before heading to the room. Layla followed behind him, thinking to herself how he should not have to do things like that. He slid into bed with their sister. Layla tucked him in, gently kissing him and their sister on the forehead.

As the days went on it felt as though things were getting worse. Layla had called the police once and when they arrived, her mom convinced them that nothing was wrong and that it was just a misunderstanding. She and her siblings were in a constant state of fear. Mitchy did everything she could to help them. She spent almost every free moment she had with them, just to be a safety net, a buffer.

They had a whole daily routine down. Mitchy would come over a little after dinner, they would all do homework and just hang out. Most nights everything would be fine. Their dad would come home, drunk, and pass out. Some nights after Mitchy leaves, their dad would wake up and start yelling about something or another; sometimes it would escalate past yelling to a violent rampage. After each rampage, Layla would pick up all the broken pieces. Her brother would help her every time. The first thing he would do was grab the cellphone he had left somewhere and give Layla a huge hug.

“This is going to end.” He said as though he was promising her that it would.

“Yes, it will. It will.” Layla promises back.

One day Mitchy and Layla decided to go out to the movies. Layla was actually having a good time. Her dad was out of town, so she didn't have to worry about her siblings at home. They had gone to the movies, the arcade, and were on the way to grab some food.

“It’s good to see you smiling.” Mitchy glanced over as they waited to cross the street.

“This is nice. I wish I can have more nights like this.”

“You can, you all can. We gotta get you guys outta that house and that man behind bars.”

“I know.”

Just as they were crossing the street, Layla’s phone started going off. She answered the phone and she could hear her brother and sister screaming for help, for her to come home. Immediately Layla and Mitchie took off running to the house.

“Layla, call 911 now! Hopefully, they get there by the time we do.” Mitchy picks up her pace, from a run to a full-on sprint. Without missing a beat, Layla speeds up as well, out of breath calling 911. They get to the house and Mitchy hops the fence.

“Wait for the police!” Layla screams after Mitchy. Her siblings’ cries could be heard clear as day. Mitchy busts through the front door, not wanting to risk waiting for the police to arrive; Layla followed right after her.

They could hear the kids’ screams piercing through the home; accompanied by the robust pounding of their dad trying to get through the bedroom door. Moving quietly and swiftly, they enter the kitchen. Layla’s mom was laying on the floor in a pool of her own blood. Shocked, Layla opened her mouth to scream, but she was muffled by Mitchy.

“Shhh, he doesn’t know we’re here. Check on your mom and I got your dad.”Mitchy whispers firmly. Layla quietly goes over to her mom, praying that she was still alive. Even with all that they’ve gone through, at the end of the day, she was still their mom.

Mitchy moves past the kitchen and peeks her head around the corner into the hallway. She could see the dad pounding away at the door. The only thing that ran through her mind was that she couldn’t let him get through that door. Without actually thinking, her body just reacted, charging at him as fast as she could. Using all the strength she had, she tackled this 6’2”, 280 lb man to the ground. Not wanting to lose momentum, Mitchy started punching him with everything she got. She got a few solid hits before he was able to get hold of himself and fight back.

He grabbed Mitchy by the throat and threw her across the living room. She crashed into the corner table, landing on the floor beside the couch. He looks at Mitchy for a moment, lustfully. He starts to walk over to her, unbuttoning his pants. Before he could get to Mitchy, Layla tried to get the kids to open the door. Hearing her, he quickly turned around and rushed toward her. He grabbed Layla’s neck and pinned her against the wall. She struggled under his grasp.

“I knew I’d get you. I knew it, even with that lil bitch hanging around. I’m gonna have my way with you princess.” He sneered, licking her cheek.

“Please, stop. Dad, please.” Layla pleaded, tears streaming down her cheek, trying hard to loosen his grip.

“I’m gonna have you and then your sister.” He started to undo his pants, pushing them down. He reached for Layla’s pants, grabbing them, ready to pull them off. Just as he was about to rip them off, Mitchy came to and got up. Acting as fast as she could, she grabbed the glass table and smashed it against his head. He instantly went down, passing out from the blow. Layla dropped to her knees, gasping for air. Mitchy rushes over to her to help her.

Layla pushes past Mitchy and heads for the bedroom. Her brother opens the door and they fall into Layla’s arms. She hugs her brother and sister, tight, not wanting to let them go. Mitchy joins them as the police came through the front door.

“Is this over?” Her brother looks up at her, with tear-filled, beautiful hazel eyes.

“Yeah. I promised you that it will end. I don’t care what it takes, I’ll make sure we’ll never see him again.” Squeezing her siblings tighter, Layla looks at Mitchy and mouths a simple, ‘thank you,’ to her friend.

The paramedics came rushing in, immediately working on their mom. They took both parents and rushed them to the hospital. Moving on to the kids, they checked them, making sure that they were physically okay. Layla was giving her statement to one of the officers when her brother stepped between them.

“Everything he’s done to us is on here. Please, I’m begging sir, we can’t live like this anymore.” Her brother hands the officer his phone that he had recorded every incident. The officer takes the phone, gets down on one knee, and bent over so he was eye to eye with her brother.

“I promise you, kid, you and your sisters will never live like this again. No matter what it takes, I will make sure he can never harm you again.”

All three siblings hugged the officer, not wanting to let go. For the first time, Layla and her siblings felt a sense of security; they finally felt safe. It was a sight to see, the house felt lighter. Mitchie started to slip out the front, but before she left, she glanced back. She and Layla locked eyes, exchanging unspoken words of gratitude and a promise to be there for each other, no matter where life takes them.

END