Short Story - The rain was teeming down from the overflowing gutters outside.

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Short Story

The rain was teeming down from the overflowing gutters outside. A flash of lightening illuminated the dark, dank room, which I had been forced to call home. Bare, apart from a decrepit mattress in one corner and an ancient chair, ridden with woodworm in the other. The electricity had long since been cut off and the rotting windows kept out little wind or rain.

I used to love the rain. We’d go out for a walk in the park and splash in all of the puddles. When we got home we would be drenched from head to toe, but mum would just roll her eyes, find out some warm, clean, dry clothes and make us a steaming mug of hot chocolate. We’d sit in front of the roaring fire and watch the rain continue to pour outside. Warm, safe and loved.

I awoke to the heavy footsteps on the stairs. I closed my eyes and prayed that he’d walk by and not come in. To my dismay the footsteps stopped and there was a loud thud on the door. I held my breath and tried not to make a noise.

“Claire” came his booming voice “I know you’re in there, you always are. As if you’d go out”.

I released my breath and my eyes stung with tears. His harsh sarcastic tones carried through the door.

“It’s that time again. Your rents due by the end of the week”.

I heard him turn and walk back down the corridor. My heart sank to the pit of my stomach and I felt the hot tears I’d been holding back, sliding down my cheeks. How was I going to get enough money to pay him by Friday?

Money was never really a big deal at home. That was until he came onto the scene. From the day that he moved in things started to change. At first it was just little things like we all had to eat together and if the phone rang when we were eating then he wouldn’t let us get up to answer it. Over the months he gradually took over and we all had to follow his rules. Even mum had to be in for his curfews and she had to ask his permission to buy something new for herself.

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I hadn’t had anything new for as long as I could remember. I hadn’t had any money for even longer. I reluctantly got to my feet and walked over to the window. The midday sun was obscured by the heavy black clouds. A young family walked by, carefree and oblivious to any problems. The two young children ran ahead of their parents who were walking hand in hand, staring lovingly at each other. On the other side of the road was a young businesswoman. Dressed smartly in a pinstripe suit talking animatedly into her mobile phone. That could have ...

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