Next part to The Forgotten Angel

    The next morning, Sage was woken up by a loud pounding on her door. She sat up fast and looked at her clock. I’m late! she thought to herself, jumping up and searching around for her clothes. Before she was fully dressed, the door swung open fast and her father stood in the doorway, staring at his daughter.
“P-poppa?” Sage muttered softly.
    “You’re not even dressed yet?” Her father yelled angrily, stomping into the room. Sage sank back against the wall, holding a soft fluffy brown sweater in front of her bare body.
“I-I’m getting dressed poppa” Sage nearly whispered as her father closed the gap between him and his little girl. Her father grabbed her by the shoulder and dragged her out of her room and to the bathroom. He pushed her in, then shut the door behind him. A slapping sound could be heard, followed by the same small innocent screams that had echoed around the night before. After a few minutes, Sage’s father came out of the bathroom and headed straight downstairs and outside. Sage stayed in the bathroom until the sound of her father’s car had left. She sniffled and snuck out of the bathroom quietly. Tears streamed down her face once more as she ran into her room and got dressed quickly After she got dressed, she went downstairs to get ready for school. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, a little tapping at the door sounded. She went over and opened it. There stood Angelica. Sage blinked, then opened the door wider so Angelica could come in.
“Hey Sage! I thought I’d come over and see if you wanted a ride to school instead of having to walk” she asked happily, pointing over her shoulder at the car sitting outside on the road. “My mom said it would be alright!”
Sage paused, then nodded.
    “Sure, I’d be happy to have a ride to school” she said, hoping Angelica wouldn’t notice the tears in her eyes. Angelica nodded, then frowned.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” she asked, noticing the tears. Sage nodded.
“I’m fine.. I’m still in a bit of pain from falling on the stairs” she lied once again, looking at the floor. Angelica shrugged.
“Ok then” she said. “Well, grab your bag and lets go!”
Sage nodded and opened the fridge fast. She grabbed a piece of lunch meat and scarfed it down hungrily. Then she grabbed her school bag and zipped it shut before heading outside after Angelica. At the end of the day, when Sage got home, she walked up the walkway slowly, not looking forward to opening her door. She sighed and stepped up the front steps and turned the handle on the door. It was locked. She stepped back and frowned, looking up at the door towering over her, then turning around and looking into the driveway. Her father wasn’t home yet, his car wasn’t in the yard. Her mother should have kept the door unlocked. Her mother should have been home. She sighed, sat on the doorstep and pouted.
“Why me?” she muttered, looking around. After a few minutes she got up and started down the walkway. She headed for the small pond and sat on a stump beside it. She stared into the murky water as tears welled up in her eyes. She heard voices, and turned to look at the nearby road. Walking down the sidewalk past the pond was a family of four, laughing happily. The mother was carrying a toddler in her arms, kissing him and hugging him and loving him. Sage sighed deeply and looked at the little girl and her father. The little girl was seated on her father’s shoulders, playfully messing up his hair and laughing. The father was laughing also, making faces and jokes. Sage watched them, then looked in the pond once again. Why can’t I be happy like that? Why can’t I be loved like that? she thought, gently putting a finger into the murky water. She sighed again and stood up. She turned and headed for home.
When she got there, she noticed her father’s truck in the yard. She looked at the ground as she headed into the house, knowing what was going to happen next. Her father was standing in the kitchen arguing with Sage’s mother. He turned to glare at his little girl.
“WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?” he yelled angrily, grabbing Sage by the shoulder and holding her tightly. She winced, and cried out in pain.
“Poppa!!! Please, let me go!!” she begged, tears falling down her cheeks. Her mother put a hand to her forehead and walked into the other room, lighting a cigarette as she did. Sage’s father didn’t let go, but rather held her more tightly.
“I said, Where the hell have you been??” he yelled louder this time. “Don’t make me repeat myself!!!”
Sage cried out loudly as her father tightened his grip on her tiny shoulder.
“I’ve been out poppa!!!”
“Where!!!”
“At the pond!!! The door was locked!!! I couldn’t get in and you and momma weren't home!” Sage cried loudly, struggling to get away from her father’s grasp. Her father let go of her shoulder, shoving her backwards roughly against the cupboards.
“I told you never to go there alone!” he hissed in an angered voice. Sage held her shoulder, crying lightly.
“I’m sorry poppa” she nearly whispered. Her father was frowning angrily.
“Go to your room”
Sage looked at her father fast. “Why poppa?” Her father glared daggers at her.
“I said, GO!” he kicked at her legs to get her moving. She jumped up and ran up the stairs as fast as she could, tripping over her own feet. She landed on one of the stairs, her cheek against the edge of the stair. Her cheek cut open and blood began oozing out. She quickly put a hand to her face and ran into her room. She slammed the door and looked into the mirror at her cut cheek. She desperately tried to wipe the endless tears away as blood now trickled down her cheek.
“Why can’t he care.. Even a bit??” she whispered to herself before taking a Kleenex and putting it on her cheek. She winced with the slight pain before sitting on her bed and sighing again.

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The Forgotten Angel Part 3[<--- next!]