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Hell Into Heaven

Based on a True Story

By J.A.K. HansenPublished 6 years ago 7 min read
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Chapter 1: Nikki

November, 2009

[Nightmare: “I want you to marry me and be my wife,” said Gil.

“Your wife? You’re too old for me, silly. I’m like 6-years-old,” I said and gave Gil my tiny fist to his arm.

I skipped my way back to my motel room to grab myself a popsicle to cool myself off on this hot summer day. I was quick about it so that I made sure I didn’t disturb my mom and dad watching their TV.

I finished my popsicle, but I was stuck dealing with the popsicle wrapper and the popsicle stick. I knew Mom and Dad would be scream and yell at me and force me to stay inside for the rest of the day. I hate being inside. I could always walk to the dumpster that’s all the way at the other side of the motel building.

“Oh well I’ll be quick about it,” I told myself as I walked off to the dumpster.

I always read the motel rooms that I passed by in my head. I started with my motel room. Number 104. Then shortly came 105, then 106, 107,108, 109, 110. At 111, I see a familiar face and give him a smile.

“Hi, Gil, how is Ms. Lousie doing?” I said as I walked passed him.

“She’s doing okay, Nikki, just a little under the weather,” Gil said after giving me a wink.

I continued on with reading the rest of the motel numbers in my head. 119 was the last number before hitting the dumpster. I tossed my garbage away and made my way back to my motel room. The sun was in my eyes so I couldn’t look up and read the motel numbers back to my room. I’m about to pass Gil’s motel room again when suddenly I felt something grab me and pull me in…

The room was dark. I heard the door close without it slamming. I was turned around and saw the door so close that it was touching my nose. I heard a raspy whisper and a set of what felt like lips touching my ear.

“Just relax, baby girl. I love you.” Finally, I recognized that it was Gil who grabbed me.

I felt a hand go below my chin and push it all the way up where a pair of lips overtook my mouth. I felt his tongue try to get into my mouth but I didn’t let him in. As he was doing this I noticed my shorts and underwear going down my legs.]

I wake up in a cold sweat to the sound of my alarm going off. Another nightmare coming and going. I used to be good at blocking out the unwanted nightmares. I don’t know how much longer I could handle these nightmares. Without giving them another thought, I decide to clear my head fast and get myself ready for today.

I get up off the floor and quietly fold my bedding up and put it away so no one bumps into it on their way out the door. I grab my clothes and head to the bathroom really quickly. I come out of the bathroom with my shirt, a towel, and shampoo in my hand. I go to the kitchen and move the basin full of the usual dirty dishes filled with dirty water and my favorite part, the cockroaches, hearing them scatter over the aluminum foil on the stove and watching them run away from the light. I finish clearing the kitchen sink and begin to wash my hair in the sink, still quick enough not to disturb my dad before I have to wake him up. I finish washing my hair and drying it off. I usually put it in a ponytail but today I felt like doing a braid. I put my shirt on and then my sweater on before checking myself in the little bathroom mirror, making sure everything was covering in the right places.

I look at the clock that’s on my mom’s couch and noticed that it’s time to wake up my dad. I go to my dad’s couch and try to wake him up.

“Dad, wake up, it’s five o’clock,” I said gently.

“Five more minutes,” growled my father.

I rolled my eyes and said nothing. He did this every time I had to wake him up. I go back to the kitchen and gather up our lunches I premade before going to sleep. I knew my dad’s five minutes were up and I went back to wake my dad again.

He huffed and puffed and tried to say something to me but it came out muffled. I already knew what he was asking of me. I go to the bedroom doorway and grab the black garbage bag of crushed cans. The stove was full of empty beer cans, some regular sized and a couple of the double sized cans that would still have more than a quart of beer still in them. I started to pull off their tabs and shake/pour out the last drops of the beer cans in the kitchen sink before crushing them. Some mornings I would count the number of beer cans I crushed and realize that my numbers would always be in the high teens and a few twenties even.

“Dad, I finished crushing the cans. The bag is full so I’m just gonna put it in the van for you and wait for you in the van. I already have your lunch inside your work bag that I’m also taking with me to the car.”

“Okay then, I’ll be out in a few,” was always my dad’s last words.

I walk out the door, still trying to be quiet with the door being right next to my mom’s couch. First thing I always looked forward to when I walked out was the sun coming up. It just made me feel like it was going to be a good day.

“Good morning, honey.”

I turned and saw Gil walking toward me. I knew what he did to me as a child was wrong. But when no one believes you, what do you do with yourself when you’re not of age to be on your own?

“Morning, Gil. How are you?” I said with a smile as I began walking to my dad’s van.

“I’m doing good. How about you?” He catches up to me and put his hand around my shoulder. Now that I was a teenager, I was about the same height as him.

“I’m doing okay,” I replied back, not wanting to say anything more to him.

“That’s beautiful. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,” was Gil’s famous line.

I made it to the van and said goodbye to Gil before he continued on walking to the nearest gas station for a pack of cigarettes as his usual.

My dad finally got into the van and dropped me off at school at 6 o’clock on the dot. No one was hardly ever there but the janitors and some of the teachers and jocks that would be working out in the gym already. I walked to my usual spot where I know my friends would be later. I sat on the floor, put my hood over my head, and rested my head on the bench and let myself doze off until I heard my friends coming, one of them practically tackling me in a big hug.

“Nikkkkkiiiii! What’s up?” said Ray Ray as she pulled me up from the ground.

“The ceiling, what else? I was just catching a few ZZs before I was brutally attacked by one of my friends.” I laughed out and gave Ray Ray a real hug.

Behind her, I see Em and Francis practically glued at the hips as always. They’ve been together for as long as I’ve known them. When Ray Ray and I were done hugging, I went to hug Em and Francis. We started talking and doing our usual catch up on how we’ve been since the last morning we were together. Francis was a Junior, Ray Ray and Em are both Sophomores, and thanks to the lovely late birthday rule, I am the same age as Ray Ray and Em but a Freshman in high school.

“Are you ready for Homecoming, Nikki?” Em asked.

“As ready as I’ll ever be. I mean it’s just a dance, right? I just hope I can stay out of trouble for the night. For some reason, most of the Juniors and Seniors are still mistaking me for my older sister.” I trailed off on the sister.

I didn’t want to bring her up. Out of my mind, out of my heart. I was looking forward to having some me time that wasn’t class related. I was going dateless and that was fine with me.

relationships
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About the Creator

J.A.K. Hansen

Happily married with two angels and one fur angel.

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