Kratika Joshi

Crafting Short Fiction

Prof. Vikram Kapur
Rough Draft
14th April 2020

Final Battle

Last night Ann tried to kill herself. She failed miserably, she didn't realise she would back
down as soon as she saw the sudden gush of red, that oozed out of her wrist. The blood was
too much and so was the panic. She rummaged through shelves for bandages, washed the
wound with water and somehow got it under control. This was going to leave a deep scar, she
thought. She wrapped the bandage on her wrist. Suddenly her body felt like slime, and she
plopped on the bed. The next day it didn't come as a surprise to her mother about what she
had tried to do.
"Don't forget to hide it when your father comes, you don't want him to see it," 
"Yes," she replied meekly. Ann knew, her mother was disappointed in her. Oh, how she
wished she didn't bailout. She didn't want to attend school, but she didn't want to stay home
either. 
"Good morning Annie," Her father chirped, clearly forgotten about last night or maybe he
didn’t care enough to remember.
"Morning," she mumbled, hands fiddling under the table. She pulled the sleeves of the top
lower while her father took the seat besides her. 
"So, how's school?" He asked, an attempt for small talk. 
"Good,"
"Tell me more. How did the essay come up you were working on?" 
To say Ann was surprised would be an understatement. She didn’t expect the man who cares
about nothing but himself even knew she was working on something. Her father was a writer
years ago, not a popular one. But, then came his last book "The Artist's Sense" which, to
everyone's surprise, caught the attention of many critics, not for good. They were brutal, to
say the least. It’s still unanswered why that book got so much attention. The hate was so
much that her dad had to block all contacts and avoid meeting anyone to be saved from his
humiliation that they craved. 
Though, it wasn’t enough to stop him from writing. It was his only passion. But that didn’t
last long, he kept working no hard, and no matter how many publishers he went up to, all of
them, since they were not big enough to hold his bad reputation, declined from publishing his
works. Even his friends in the industry left him hanging. He hit rock bottom and started to
find comfort in alcohol when Ann was five. Both of her parents then decided to become store
owners for a stable income. Things were normal for a while, or Ann thought, but one day
when she was ten. She was waiting for her mother to be back home from the shop for dinner,
her father was already at home. As soon as she entered the house, Ann father shouted at her, 
"Do you realise what the time it is?"
Ann's mother noticed she was there and said, "Honey, why don't you go back to your room?
I'll call you for dinner," 
"Look at me while I am talking to you," raged Ann's father and slapped her across the cheek.
Ann started crying. What she didn't know was that her father was relying more and more on
alcohol every day and stopped going to the store long ago. Her mother had to do everything
on her own. Now when Ann thinks of that day, she remembers the strong sour smell of
alcohol fogging the house. Ann couldn't sleep that night, she kept hearing her mother's cries
from the other room, and her dad shouting at her. It sounded like they were fighting, or that
her mother was trying to escape. She kept shouting, "please stop," "no!" "let me go". She
didn't know what that was all about but she cried with her mother the whole night. She didn't
know why her father would not let her mother go.  
So, when Ann's father asked her about the essay which was so important to her, she tried to
think of the father she lost when she was five, she couldn’t picture him.
"It went well," she replied simply. Her mother was smiling. But it wasn't the real one, it was
the one she used in front of her father. Ann was suspicious.
"I know you worked hard. I saw you working kiddo," He said and patted her head. Ann
flinched at the sudden sign of affection but sat still. A sad look flashed on his face before he
composed himself. 
I'll be off to the store. See you there," He said to her mom with a kiss on her cheek. Ann’s
blood boiled, all she wanted to rip his limbs piece by piece. There was no emotion on her
mother’s face, she stood still.
As he was out of sight Ann made her way to her mother.
"Is he okay? Are you okay?" she asked impatiently, searching her face for any new sign of
abuse. 
"I am fine. He's been like this since the morning. He woke me up with a cup of coffee," 
"What? Does he want something?" Ann asked, her father had days where it seemed like he
could be the best parent anyone ever had. But she had to admit, he had never been like this.
But this made him more sickening to her. Or maybe, after last night he finally realised his
mistakes. But, no one changes in a few hours, she thought. Before Ann turned 15, the abuse
went added Ann to the list with her mother. Stinging pain in her lower abdomen reminded her
of how he kicked till she can’t move the last night. She had refused to massage his feet. Her
mother pushed him away and came between them, begging him to stop kicking her when Ann
suddenly stopped screaming. When she woke up in her room, the house was quiet, as if
nothing had happened there. Wincing in pain as soon as she got up, Ann decided to end
everything once and for all. She paused thinking of her mother but shook the idea out her
mind. Just this once she wanted to be selfish. But it didn't work out.
"I don’t know honey, maybe he’s getting better finally," She answered and Ann could hear
the trace of hope in her words. She felt sick.

Ann was in her last year of high school, unlike others she wasn’t excited for it to end. Not
because she loved it here, but because of school she gets to go outside her house. But that
didn’t help her much either, she lived in a small town. Everybody knew everybody and
everyone knew everything.
“Hey Freak, how’s everything a home? A voice called out, “Oh is that a bandage? Did you
try to kill yourself? What a shame it didn’t work out,” said another.
“Guys! Be quiet. Why do you all have to be so rude?” A squeaky voice reprimanded the two
and looked over where Ann was. 
“Hey Ann, I am sorry for these asshats. And I am sorry for what happened,” she said and
took a seat next to her.
Ann was staring outside the window. Looking at nothing in particular. She flinched as a hand
rested on her shoulder, she looked up. Her eyes were still red from last night, hair unkempt,
bitten and chapped lips. 
“Are you okay? I am here if you want to talk,” The girl suggested, her chest puffing a little.
Another one who wants to be a bigger person by helping the one in need, thought Ann. She
stared at her, wondering why do people like her pretend to bother? 
“Why would I want to waste my time?” replied Ann, knowing fully well what an answer like
this might do, and focused her attention back on the window. 
“Hey! She’s trying to help your sorry self. People like you don’t even deserve to live.
Everybody knows you did it for attention and now you’re acting like you don’t want it, what
a fucking loser,”
“Ashton!” The teacher cried out as soon as she entered the room. “Outside, right now” she
commanded and stared at Ann, who didn’t respond to any of it.
All eyes were at Ann, some disgusted, some angry and some sorrowful. None of it was new
to her. The girl with squeaky got up from the seat staring at Ann for a little longer before
leaving. 
“Ann, the teacher is calling you,”
Ann sighed and got up. Ms Brown, the teacher was busy scolding Ashton when Ann got
there. 
“Apologize,” She ordered him.
“I am sorry. It was very insensitive of me,” he apologized, rolling his eyes at the end. Ann
simply nodded, she didn’t want any of this to escalate and she’d rather have all of this to
come to an end as soon as possible.
“Leave now,” Ms Brown told him.
When he left, Ms Brown looked at Ann and then her wrist. Ann swiftly hid her hands behind
her back. 
“They will never stop treating you like this if you don’t learn to stand up for yourself.
Nobody is going to fight your battles, Ann” Ms Brown said.
How easy it was to give people advice, but they don’t consider the consequences of it, Ann
thought.
“Did you try to…to do it?” She asked cautiously
“No,”
“Then what is that? Listen, if you did try to do it, you can tell me,” She asked pointing at her
wrist.
“I didn’t!” Ann screamed her eyes widened at the teacher’s expression. “I am sorry,” She said
looking down.
“I got burned,” Ann continued simply, but not meeting her eyes. She had practiced it many
times in front of the mirror the night before.
“Okay, I believe you. But if there is something please know I am here to talk,” 
Another one thought Ann. 
“Sure, thank you,” 
“Now about your essay. I must say, I am very impressed,” 
Ann looked up, suddenly excited at the new topic. She’d worked really hard, locking herself
in her room which is against the rules and working five hours straight on the essay.
“A few tweaking and I think it will be enough to win the inter-school essay competition,” Ms
Brown said, trying to read her expression. 
“Competition?” Ann was curious but more than that she was excited. Her hands held tightly
together as if to contain her excitement because good things didn’t happen to her. She didn’t
want to get her hopes high.
“Yes, I’d like you to submit your essay for the competition. It will look really good on your
college applications,” Ms Brown added, wiggling her eyebrows at her. Happy to see her
being finally excited. But it left as soon as it came.
“College?” she murmured, looking down again. “I don’t think I will ever go to one,” 
“Why can’t you? You only can’t do the things; you think you can’t do,” 
Ann knew all this was cramped up bullshit. But she wanted to believe her. Just this once,
maybe she can get something completely out of her reach. She had always imagined herself
outside of this town, but the dream felt too big, so she always shut herself down. 
Still unsure about all this, she didn’t want to say it out loud, afraid it might just come crashing
down in front of her.
“I am not sure about college. But I’ll work on the essay and show it to you soon. Thank you
for the opportunity,” Ann's fingers fiddled with each other.
“Great, I’ll be waiting,” Ms Brown said. They both left for the class.

On her way back home, Ann usually took the longer route. The road on this route was usually
empty because of its bad condition. Ann loved it, whenever she saw it all she wanted to do
was run as fast as she could. She wondered how it felt to let loose. She knew it was time to be
at home, her mother needed her. But pushing her luck, she gripped the strap of the bag tightly
and as she was about to take the first step her mobile beeped in her pocket. It was her mother.
“Honey, can you be a little early today? I left work early to prepare a special dinner for us. I
need some help! Thanks, sweetie. Love u.” It read. She crossed the road, slipping her mobile
back into her pocket. 

“I am home,” Ann announced, removing her shoes.

“I am in the kitchen,” Her mother called out. The house was filled with sound the microwave
beeping. 
“What’s the occasion?” Ann asked entering. 
“Well, your father behaved so well the whole day! Can you believe it?” Her eyes twinkled
with glee. It had been years since she saw her mother like this. But Ann couldn’t fight the
feeling that it was all too good to be true. 
“He must want something, mom. More money? Maybe he exhausted his stash,” Ann tried to
reason with her, she didn’t want to make her unhappy but somebody had to be realistic.
“Will you stop it?” 
“What?”
“He is trying hard, can’t you too? We can all be happy again, Ann,” Ann couldn’t recognise
the woman she was looking at. It was as if years and years abuse was nothing to her.
“We were never happy mom,”
“What was that?” Ann froze into her place. Her dad was standing on the entrance. His eyes
were bloodshot red. He lazily held a nearly empty bottle. He walked up to Ann with slow
staggering steps. She didn’t move, she knew better than that. 
“You are not happy, Annie?” He cooed in her ears. Ann felt bile rising in her stomach. She
held her breath. 
“I didn’t mean it that way,” Ann said and took the plate filled with vegetables to distract him
and herself. It was a mistake. As she moved to grab the plate. The sleeves of her top moved
up too and revealed the bandage. She hid it the same instant, but it was too late. He swiftly
grabbed her hand and rolled up her sleeves, the huge bandage was on display. 
“What is this Ann?” He growled in her ears; he was too close. She wanted to throw up.
“I-I got burned,” she tried,
“Show it to me then,”
“No, honey it’s fine. I put some ointment, she’ll be okay,” Her mother piped in.
“Did I ask you?” He screamed at her. Just like he did when Ann was five. She knew that the
neighbours heard it.
“I am sorry, I am sorry,” Ann pleaded pathetically.
He moved away from her and grabbed the kitchen scissors. He made his way back to her,
Ann moved away slowly, staggering a little. He held her by the arm and grabbed her by the
ponytail. Ann screamed in pain. Then he took the rubber band between his fingers and
yanked it out, letting her hair loose. 
“Your hair has gotten so long, Annie. Here,” he handed her the scissors. “Cut them,” he
whispered in her ears, her body broke out in cold sweat. Her mother was visibly trembling
and held the slab to stand upright. 
Ann didn’t want to do it. It was just hair, she never cared about how she looked anyway, then
why did it matter so much, she questioned herself.
“Please, no,” She begged.
“Oh, you don’t want to?” Suddenly he smashed the bottle on the floor, both of the women
jumped up in fear. He walked towards her mother and grabbed her by the neck. Her mother’s
eyes instantly filled with tears and her hands flailed around to move him away.
“You still don’t want to?” Ann vision got blurred. The vein on her forehead popped out, her
body was heated.
“I will do it!” She screamed at the top of her lungs, as loud as her trembling lips let her.
“Don’t touch her!” “I’ll do it,” she kept repeating as she took a handful of hair and snapped
them with the scissors without a second thought. Clenching her eyes shut, kept going until he
told her to stop. 
“You can stop,” he told her, a shit-eating grin rested on his face.
“Let her go now,” He loosened the grip and she saw her mother relaxing after all.
“You know what?” He said and then grabbed her throat tightly once again, this time worse
than before.
“What the hell. I did what you told me to! Leave her!” Ann shouted and ran towards her
mother; her father slapped her hard enough to throw her on the floor. Ann looked up and
found her mother struggling to breathe, eyes were about to pop out, face turned blue. 
“Leave her you monster!”
“She lied to me Annie, she said she put the ointment on you. It was a lie, wasn’t it?” He
shouted the last part, clenching her throat tighter with every word. He pushed her mother into
the walls, with his iron grip on her.
Ann’s hands shivered uncontrollably. Her body shouted for her to move, but she stayed put. It
was over now she thought, this time she’ll not fail to kill herself. She looked at her mother,
her eyes were slowly drooping.
“They will never stop treating you like this if you don’t learn to stand up for yourself.
Nobody is going to fight your battles Ann”
The words of her teacher as useless as they seemed initially, stirred something in Ann. She
looked around and grabbed the knife on the table. His back faced her, busy strangling her. 
“You are my fucking battle,” She seethed and stabbed him in the ribcage. Her father fell on
the floor, his hands dropping to cover his wound. He looked at her, that riled Ann to do more.
Make him suffer as much as they did, every day. She plunged the knife in and out, in and out
again and again in his stomach. He was staring at her. 
“Stop it! Ann, stop it. You are going to kill him. Ann!” Her mother screamed and tried to
grab her, she merely pushed her away and kept on stabbing him. His eyes didn’t close. He
was still staring at her. Ann kept on going, face, hands, his shirt, everything was covered in
blood. It didn’t scare her this time. 
“He’s dead, Ann! Stop! He’s dead!” Her mother was wailing besides. His eyes were still
open, thought Ann. She stopped and looked at her mother. She was crying, lying limply on
the floor. 
“What did you do Ann! What did you do!” She kept on crying.
The sirens of the police car echoed outside the house. Suddenly Ann felt like running freely
on the empty road.