Hope Anon

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[hope-anon5]

The Truth: Part 3

“Can we go to your house?” Peter asked quietly as Hannah stopped at a red light.

“Depends, what time does your dad get home..?” Hannah’s reply was cautious. She wanted to mention her uncle minimally, but at the same time Peter wasn’t supposed to leave his house. Hannah didn’t want Peter to get in trouble if he wasn't there when her uncle left whatever bar he was at.

“Don’t worry, he’s been coming home later and later. Last night I heard the front door open at around 11:55.” Peter replied in a casual manner. It still freaked Hannah out that he could discuss this so lightly.

Hannah sighed and turned left. Her neighborhood was in that direction, but it would be another 8 minutes before they arrived.

The drive across town was quiet. Peter was looking out the window the whole time, and there wasn’t much to talk about.

Actually, there were a few things, but Hannah couldn’t bear to bring any of it up, so she sat in silence for the next few minutes.

As Hannah turned into her neighborhood, Peter could hardly sit still. He looked excited, but it was hard to tell due to the giant scar that paralyzed the left side of his face, as well as the fact he has to wear an eyepatch from now on.

The doctor said he wouldn’t need any eye removal surgery, but his left eye will be blinded for the rest of his life. A knot twisted in Hannah’s stomach, Peter was only 10. He didn’t deserve to live like this.

Hannah pulled into her parent’s driveway, and as soon as she stopped, Peter opened the car door and hopped out. 

Hannah followed a second later.

[hope-anon5]

This isn’t good.

Promise. What have you done.

[hope-anon5]

The Truth: Part 2

“There’s glass in the cut. Can you tell me what happened?” A nurse was talking to Hannah as she twisted her bracelet in worry.

“I- I don’t know. I came to visit him while his dad was at work, and I saw he had a giant cut so brought him here.” Hannah replied with a shaky voice. She was lying, Peter’s dad didn’t have a job. He stayed at some bar most of the time, either that or he was in the streets holding up a sign that said ‘I’m a single father with a 10 year old son and we need money!’

After some strangers pitch in, he  spends the money on fast food to feed him and Peter, only to use the rest to buy himself drinks.

Since Hannah was a 17 year old with a job, most of her cousin's meals come from her paycheck. Hannah’s parents have a stable income, so she can eat at home whenever.

The nurse nodded and went back to the room where Peter was staying, leaving Hannah to wait quietly. 

After a bit, the nurse came back.

“We can’t get in touch with Peter’s father, could you call your parents?”

Hannah took a breath, and nodded. She pulled out her phone, prepared to have a fake conversation with nobody, but thankfully the battery had gone out.

“Sorry, my phone is dead.” She told the nurse, who nodded, and went back to Peter’s hospital room.

It took a few hours, but surprisingly Peter recovered without the CPS being called. Although Hannah wanted to ask what really happened, it wasn’t until Peter got into her car that she learned the truth.

“My dad hit me with a beer bottle.” 

[hope-anon5]

The Truth: Part 1

As Hannah walked through the house she made sure to watch where she stepped. Her uncle had a policy of no shoes in the house, and the floorboards were so old it was likely she could get a splinter if she wasn’t careful. 

Hannah’s uncle was almost never home, and her own parents didn’t care where she went during the day, so Hannah would often go to her uncle's house to check on her little cousin Peter while he was supposed to be by himself.

Hannah came to a stop in front of an old door. It had once been painted white, but it seemed the paint had started to peel ages ago. There was no telling how old her uncle's house was, but it certainly hadn’t been taken care of for generations. 

Hannah took a deep breath and lightly knocked on the door. As expected, there was no response. Hannah knocked again, and spoke up this time. 

“Peter, It’s Hannah. I brought food.” 

She said it loud enough that she knew Peter heard her. Still, there was nothing. Hannah knew better than to give up though. She waited, and eventually she could hear footsteps coming from the other side.

The door unlocked, and Hannah froze the moment she saw him. Across her cousin’s left eye, was a giant gash. The blood had already dried and it started scabbing over, but the cut still looked infected. 

“I-…” Hannah was too stunned to speak. 

“Where’s the food?” Peter asked, his casual tone shocked Hannah even more.

“What happened to your face!?” She yelled, suddenly a million thoughts ran through her head. The one that stood out the most was; I need to get him to a hospital.

[hope-anon5]

Is our plan ready?

Not yet cousin.