The Girl with the Broken Smile
By Priscilla, age 14, California
The girl with the broken smile and the hidden tears. She has the worst parents who seem to know everything. As she lays there across the bathroom, blood running across the floor, her tears running down her cheeks. Her parents yelling at her like she wasn't worth a thing.
She had a sister who felt the same way. Crash had a best friend named Brian. He cared a lot for her. He always wanted to help her, but he couldn't. Crash always convinced him not to tell anyone.
The next night, same as always, Brian felt that something wasn't right. He ran into the bathroom and saw blood all over the floor. Crash stood there with a knife over her wrist. Brian ran toward her and grabbed her and took the knife away from her. Crash pushed him and kicked. But he wouldn't let her go. She stopped kicking and pushing. He kept holding onto her and laid there with her, holding her wrist, and made the blood stop running. He told her he wasn't going to leave her, that he was going to help her.
She attended her therapy sessions and began to get better. She stayed at Brian's house for the week so she could attend her therapies. Four weeks passed, and she thought it was time to go home. Brian didn't want her to leave. He did everything to convince her to stay, but she wouldn't listen to him. She went upstairs and packed her stuff. She headed toward the front door. Brian stood there holding the door, trying not to let her go. Crash kissed him and said, "Thank you. But it's time for me to go."
She smiled at him and he smiled back and helped her put all her stuff in the car. He told her, "If you need help call me." She giggled and smiled. She replied, "okay", and drove away. He watched as she drove off. Crash got home. Everything looked the same. Crash's mom teared up. Her dad hugged her. She teared a bit and hugged them. She walked into her sister's room and saw her talking on the phone. Crash's sister ran toward her and hugged her. Her parents stopped fighting. It was the perfect family she always wanted.
One night Crash heard yelling and hitting. As she went downstairs she saw her sister crying. Crash asked, "What's wrong?" Her sister remained quiet. She went to the living room and saw her dad drunk. Staying hidden she saw her dad become even more violent, hitting her mom. Crash tried to help her mom, but her dad swung his fist and hit her, opening her lip. She started bleeding.
Her dad tried to help her up, but she yelled at her dad, and said, "DON'T TOUCH ME!!!" She left the house crying. Crash's sister called Brian and told him that Crash had left crying. She also told him, "If you find her, I want you to take her with you."
He ran to his car and started to search the streets going door to door, but he couldn't find her. He saw a girl walking barefoot in a lonely park. He ran toward her and hugged her tightly. Crash cried and hugged him. She asked him, "Why is this happening to me?" He stayed quiet and didn't say a word, as he carried her to the car.
They arrived home. She went to take a warm shower, trying to forget about everything. She came out and Brian had food prepared for her. He looked at her as she tried to smile. They started to eat. Brian just kept looking at her. Crash looked up and told him she was sorry for everything that was going on. He got up, leaned over toward her, and kissed her.
The next day he took her out for breakfast. They laughed. She blushed. They had forgotten about yesterday. He told her how much he loved her, and without her love he would die. As night was falling, he decided to take her to the beach. They walked by the water. She splashed water on him and ran. He laughed and ran after her. She giggled. He ran behind her and grabbed her. The sun was going down, and they sat watching the sunset. Brian stood on one knee as he held Crash's hand. Crash was curious as she stood there. He reached into his pocket and took out a ring. He said, "Crash, will you marry me?" She was speechless and began to cry. She said, "Yes." He picked her up and kissed her. Now she wasn't known as the girl with the broken smile, but as the girl who fell in love.
