Should've Stayed in Bed

By Shelly Small

Liz had never led a charmed life.

In fact, some might say it downright sucked.

But nothing could have prepared her for

the nightmare she'd found herself in.

 

Is there light at the end, or will

darkness be all she sees?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shelly Small
• Release date: Feb 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215764848

Book preview

prologue

Liz worked hard all her life. She’d been on her own since she was a teenager. Life for her didn’t come easy. Her parents were not the loving type. They would abuse her. Even her siblings had dealt their unique style of hatred for her.

Her mother made Liz into her own slave. Liz cooked and cleaned the house from top to bottom twice a day. She woke up three hours before anyone else and started her housework before Liz got breakfast ready for the household.

Once finished and everyone sat to eat, Liz went to get ready for school. She barely had time to eat herself, but she snuck food when she could. School wasn’t any better for her. She got bullied by her peers and sometimes her siblings instigated the situation.

Liz doesn’t have any friends. She kept to herself and studied so she could do great things with her life. At least that was her plan when she was younger. As she got older, life and people had her changing her perspective of how things would go.

On the eve of her sixteenth birthday, Liz swept the last of the crumbs into the dustbin, went over to the trash to empty it. She gazed over the kitchen to make sure everything was in order, before she dragged her tired body up the stairs to get ready for bed. She was halfway up, Liz heard voices coming from her room. She stopped at the opened door and listened to her sister and mother talking about how Liz looked.

Liz didn’t want to hear anymore, so she continued on toward the bathroom. She left some pajamas in a cabinet for times like this. Liz bent down to grab the items from the back and as she reached in, she felt someone come up behind her.

Frozen in fear, Liz tried to move away. The person behind her grabbed her hips and kept her in place. Don’t move. I’m going to finally have my way with you tonight, her father whispered in her ear.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she started to fight to get away. Why are you doing this to me?

You look at me with those eyes, and this body of yours temps me every day and night…

But I’m your daughter.

No, you’re not. So, as you see, I can do what I want to you.

The fight in Liz kicked in and she kicked her legs and swung her arms to get away. Liz knew she’d be fighting for her life. He punched her everywhere he could reach as he tried to subdue her so he could have his way with her. When the others heard the scuffle, her mother and sister came in and added to her heartache. They used scissors and cut her long hair, they kicked and punched her enough times that Liz thought she had to have a few broken bones.

Liz acted like she passed out so they would stop, but she hoped she didn’t actually lose consciousness. She was afraid of what he might do to her. Liz heard their whispers and steps as they left her on the bathroom floor.

Liz waited until the house was quiet before she tried to move. Her body hurt with each movement but knew she had to get out of this situation. Slowly, Liz continued through the pain and grabbed hold of the sink to help pull herself up.

Once on her feet, she took a look at herself in the mirror to see the damage that was done to her. They were her family or at least that’s what she thought. Now she wondered if any of them were related to her at all. If not, then how she’d been treated all these years would make sense and if she was, well she didn’t know what to think.

Liz gathered all the strength she had left in her body and spirit to leave this place behind. She wanted to live and Liz didn’t know how long that would continue if she stayed in this house with these people any longer.

one

Liz knew she wouldn’t be on time for her second job, she hoped that her boss would understand. The manager of the corner store had her stay a few hours over her scheduled clock out time, because she needed Liz to take inventory and deal with the incoming delivery.

She’d ran out the back door hoping to catch the next bus, but as Liz rounded the corner, she saw the plume of smoke coming from the exhaust as it pulled away from the stop. Liz knew the next one didn’t come for another hour. By then, she’d be extremely late to her second job and might even get fired. Liz didn’t have enough cash on her to take a cab, so she decided to walk the ten miles, and pray she wasn’t about to lose her job. Liz couldn’t afford any lost wages.

The remnants of rain showers from earlier in the day were present in the form of large puddles, and Liz made sure to watch for oncoming vehicles so she didn’t get splashed with water from the road. Luck was a fickle mistress, Liz got sprayed with water about a few blocks away from her waitress job.

Liz didn’t give it much thought as she continued forward toward the restaurant. Unsure of the time, she hoped to still be employed even though she was late. Liz walked to the back and opened the door for employees.

Her boss stood there, arms crossed over his chest and his foot tapped on the floor. You’re late again, his gaze scanned her from head to toe, and wet. What the hell happened to you?

Liz tilted her head down to see what the damage was to her outfit and cringed. She was soaked but she saw the mud on her clothes. My other job made me stay later than I normally would, and then I missed the last bus to make it on time. If I waited, I’d not even be here now. I walked and a car drove through a puddle on the road and splashed me. I’m sorry I’m late again, please I really need this job.

A tear made its way down the left side of her face. Liz quickly wiped the traitor away before her boss saw it. She didn’t want his pity but his understanding and hopefully his need for her as a waitress.

Do you have a clean outfit here?

Yes, sir.

"Clock in and change fast. We’re busy tonight so we needed you on the floor