Home Is An Escape From School

Creak

Click

“I’m home…”

There had been no point in wearing the shirt anymore, so you’d taken it off and draped it over your shoulders as a makeshift scarf to hide your bruise. No one had seen you walk home under the dreary gray sky - not that you would have cared.

Ruff!

A furry ball of energy leapt up into your arms, and you caught her readily. The faintest of smiles graced your lip, and you enjoyed the warmth and wagging tail of your pet dog for a moment.

“Hey there Xena.”

Kisses to the face were customary - but as soon as Xena’s tongue began to lap you couldn’t help but recoil, hissing in pain. Letting her go to reach up to your face, you were reminded again of the scars.

Sigh.

Xena – a black Labrador with chocolate brown eyes – stared up at you, guilty. She nuzzled your leg with her fur, as if to apologize.

“It’s alright.” You comforted her, brushing the side of her face. She was one of two people you ever spoke to so gently.

The mood immediately brought down to a mellow, Xena plodded along beside you through your big old house in search of aid. After flicking a few lights and dragging a bright red case out from where it rested beneath the kitchen island, you sat together in the dim, warm glow of the kitchen, treating your wounds in companionable silence.

Dab with the ****, resist hissing in pain. Apply Neosporin, screaming internally. Finish with a band-aid, rinse and repeat.

You didn’t dare look in a mirror tonight.

You didn’t have the strength to take a shower anyway.

Straight to bed with you.

Flopping heavily onto the mattress, Xena followed soon after, circling once or twice before flumping down and settling in herself. With a deep breath in, then a deep breath out, the tension of the day finally left your shoulders, and you wrapped your arms around her.

“If only you were human, Xena.”

In the comforting pitch black darkness of your room, you only felt her warmth, and heard her breaths calming down for sleep.

“Maybe then, this would all be a little easier.”

Your breathing fell in sync, and you fell into the black with it, melting into that cozy, blissful abyss…