Silence

[ The girl's POV ]

The girl, her skin pale and flawless, with a hint of blush from the harsh coldness around her. Puffs of air breathed out from her lips, her tongue occasionally sliding across them to keep them moist.

The cold bit at her exposed legs, she shivered uncontrollably and pulled the black cloak tighter around her shoulders to cover her small frame.

The night was freezing, ruthless as they released gusts of icy-cold winds at her vulnerable form on the dark and exposed street. The girl's fingers slowly turned numb, her grasp on her cloak slipping off.

Her footsteps were, quick yet unsteady, threatening to fall at any moment. It was then, that she crashed into a dark figure. She let out a loud gasp as she felt herself falling downwards, her view turning skywards, into dark oblivion. 

Something..no, someone was shaking her. Yes, she could hear the voice. His voice. It was slghtly rough, yet words escaped his mouth smoothly. His voice was loud, panic lacing his every word. Panic? Why is he panicking? The girl slowly opened her eyes, to a face that was forever imprinted in her mind.

His eyebrows were drawn together in a deep frown, his troubled eyes an ashy grey, staring worriedly at her. He was handsome, but most importantly, he was concerned. No one had cared for the girl, ever. Only one person, but she is on this world no longer.

Uncontrollable memories flashed through her head and soon, tears were slipping down her face. But the man could not see, as her face was hidden in the shadow of her hood.

The girl cried silently, biting her lips to muffle the noise. She cannot show this weakened state to anyone. No one is to be trusted, she repeated in her mind as her arms grabbed the man's arm to lift herself up.

The warm and strong arms slid off her back, taking its heat away, and the girl shivered once more. Making sure to keep her face hidden, she gave a quick nod and stepped around him, walking in the same direction she was heading before she collapsed.

She shook her head and sighed. Father would be angry at her lateness. It is already past dinner time. She prayed to anyone above, that he would be sober enough not to injure her too much.

Goosebumps covered her arms as her skin remembered the previous beating they suffered. Some of the bruises from then still had not healed. Anything but the belt..anything but the belt..

The dreaded moment came as she mounted the steps up to the front door. The house was silent. Dread and relief battled in her stomach, making her feel nausated.

As she unlocked the door, she looked left and right. He's not home yet. The girl frowned, she was beyond puzzled. Father rarely stepped out of the house, except when he goes to buy alchohol at the convienience store.

However, he always stocks up during the day, and drink in the night while watching the sports channel. Not today though. The girl, although curious, wasn't going to ignore such a huge blessing bestowed upon her on this day.

She hurried up the stairs and into her room, afraid that Father was going to jump out at her any moment from the shadows. Once safe inside her bedroom, she let out a breath of relief and her knees gave out due to exhaustion. She relaxed her body for a few moments on the cool wooden floor. 

After what seemed like hours, her eyes were still wide awake, despite the tired state of her body. She has insomnia, ever since that day. Sighing, she agonisingly stood up and shuffled over to her bed. After dressing down to her comfy sleepwear, which consists of her favourite black cotton tee-shirt and underwear. 

The front door slammed and her heart quickened. Her clammy fingers clutching her shirt in fear, eyes widened in panic. And he came. He came to her, as always. A beer in one hand, his belt in the other. He grabbed her shirt and pulled her in so near, she could smell the rancid and foul smell from his breath.

Her neck hurts, her lungs screamed for air, she couldn't breathe, she was going to die. Then he dropped her, her body falling like a doll. Her head slammed onto the hard concrete, and she gasp at the impact.

Blood tainted the floor as the first lash of pain came on her back. It's searing heat reached so deep that she could not stop herself from crying out in agony. 

"SHUT THE **** UP!" He screamed at her and kicked her in the stomach, his face contorted in fury. She grabbed her stomach tightly, tears streaked down her face, her mouth opened in a silent scream.

The belt he wielded like a weapon, flew across the air and coming into contact, with her bare skin. She whimpered at the pain, her eyes were shut tightly.

Her teeth drew blood from her lips as he gave a final lash, on the top of her thighs, and it left a mark so dark, it was imprinted onto her heart. Hushed swearing and heavy footsteps echoed in the corridoor, he left her with a final parting gift. 

The bottle crashed onto the floor, exploding upon impact. Tiny shards flew across the room, yet none reached her. It is a blessing, one that she hated as much as she needed. She would have to clean her room again.

She breathed laboured breaths as pain stabbed at her across different parts of her body, the torment still active. There is only the one solution to end the pain. As despair blanketed her, she curled up on her side, silently sobbing. The tears were endless, as the dark came, it beckoned to her.

And she went.

She went.

∞ ∞ ∞

Sitting alone under the night sky so black,

Nobody knows what she's holding back,

Pulling her sleeves past the black and blue,

Once these bruises fade they'll come back anew.

Looking up at the stars so high,

Sometimes she wishes she could melt into the sky,

Out of her eye drops a single tear,

As she realizes she has to face her worst fear.

At the thought of home she shutters,

And a prayer for help she mutters,

Her angry father's face shakes in her head,

And her broken heart fills with dread.

The front door creaks as she steps inside,

Jumping over beer bottles she runs to hide,

Sliding under her bed she tries not to make a sound,

Too late: the floor creaks as she touches the ground.

She tries to hold back the tears, he hits her harder when she cries,

But they slip out as the heavy steps get closer, she's terrified,

The door slams open, the pain is about to come,

Her dad's clothes smell like smoke and rum.

He lifts her up by a chunk of her hair,

Taking the first punch he begins to swear,

She cries for help, but it's to late,

He won't stop till he's got out all the hate.

A daily routine, but tonight it's not the same,

Tonight the end of the beating never came,

A few hours later the ambulance arrives,

Her life is over at the age of 5.

- J.D